How to Perform Salah -Prayer- As A Muslim Or A Non-Muslim
Salah is the basis of Deen. So, because Muslims all over the world pray Salah prayer as their parents did, they all have taken it from Imams (preachers) or scholars of Islam to match that with the teachings of Prophet Mohammed (peace and prayers be upon him and all the other messengers).
You’re learning — or “sharpening” your mind about the Salah- Prayer today.
And, for millions of reasons, people just don’t know how to pray; so why not learn today?
Why You Pray
It’s a great tool, a Muslim can create so much peace, tranquility, or guidance, just by doing it regularly.
You also learn more about yourself when doing it.
For non-Muslims, prayer takes different shapes. That’s not why I’m writing this article though.
Let’s Get Started:
1. Make up the intention of the Salah — prayer.
النوايا: نية الصلاة Intention
You make up the intention, don’t pronounce it, and put yourself on true faith.
2. Wudu and Ablution
Wudu, or Ablution, is the act of cleaning one’s self with water. It’s called Wudu Al Asghar — There’s a difference between Wudu, which is the partial form of purity, and full form, called Ghusl.
You begin by saying “Bismillah”.
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قُمْتُمْ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ فَاغْسِلُوا وُجُوهَكُمْ وَأَيْدِيَكُمْ إِلَى الْمَرَافِقِ … }
- Starting with the hands,
2. Then your mouth,
3. The nose
4. Washing your face,
5. Now washing your hands until the elbows
(right to left, right?),
6. Time for your hair. Do what’s called Masah
Masah is different from Ghusl or washing. The act of Masah is using the wet on your hands to cleanse the hair — or your hand and face when doing another form of purity called Tayammum (stone-based cleansing).
7. Ears (with the wet left on your fingers)
8. Finally your feet.
SUPERB.
Here’s a nice tip for you: Say this prayer as you do Wudu, as the Prophet (Alih Salam) did.
Don’t get me wrong, there’s enough on this article to get you going with prayer -you’ll start enjoying it today.
Allahummaghfirli Dhanbi, Wa Wassi Li Fi Dari, Wa Barik li Fima Razaqtani :)
O Allah, forgive me my sin, and expand for me my abode, and bless for me that which You have provided me’
3. Qibla
Dress properly and face the Qibla. No spirituality, just dress properly.
If you’re a woman reading this, then there is more to it.
However, for men, look at your picture from a non-summery time haha, and try to do even bit better.
Looking better goes beyond your prayer though, it should take you 5 minutes to do, and a lifetime to master. REWARDS COME WITH TIME.
If you find Qibla easily then it’s wonderful. But, for whatever reason you can’t find it, use an app or a mobile compass to do so.
#1 choice: Google’s Qibla Finder
4. Establish Salah With The Proven Form
Now, if you’re an individual who’s doing the prayer, you can find out how to do Iqama — or the establishing of prayer.
As a group: There’s a person called Ma’a Moum, who performs Iqama or establishing prayer. And if you’re the one to perform this one act, you’re doing great.
Here’s how to do Iqama:
( allh akbar allh akbar ) once. ( ashhad an laa ‘ilah ‘ilaa allh ) once. ( ashhad ana muhamadaan rasul allh ) once. ( haya ealaa alsala ) once. ( haya ealaa alfalah ) once. ( qad qamat alsala ) twice. ( allh akbar ) once. ( la ‘ilah ‘ilaa allh ) once
5. Say, Allahù Akbar
God is Greater [than everything]
Read Al Fatiha, The Opening [Chapter of the Quran]
As prophet Mohammed said:
لا صلاة لمن لم يقرأ بفاتحة الكتاب
There is no prayer (Salat) for the one who does not recite Al-Fatihah.
Now, it’s flowing magically, because you’re in the hands of the One, Allah.
Here’s a nice Youtube video.
Tips and tidbits:
Sing up for my email newsletter and don’t miss a tidbit.
- Prayer, as mentioned, is very important (haven’t mentioned it so here it is: Prayer is the first thing you’ll be asked about thejudgmentt day…
روى أبو داود (864) ، والترمذي (413) ، والنسائي (465) عن أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رضي الله عنه قَالَ : سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ : ( إِنَّ أَوَّلَ مَا يُحَاسَبُ بِهِ الْعَبْدُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ مِنْ عَمَلِهِ صَلَاتُهُ فَإِنْ صَلُحَتْ فَقَدْ أَفْلَحَ وَأَنْجَحَ وَإِنْ فَسَدَتْ فَقَدْ خَابَ وَخَسِرَ ، فَإِنْ انْتَقَصَ مِنْ فَرِيضَتِهِ شَيْءٌ قَالَ الرَّبُّ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ : انْظُرُوا هَلْ لِعَبْدِي مِنْ تَطَوُّعٍ فَيُكَمَّلَ بِهَا مَا انْتَقَصَ مِنْ الْفَرِيضَةِ ؟ ثُمَّ يَكُونُ سَائِرُ عَمَلِهِ عَلَى ذَلِكَ ) ، وصححه الألباني في “ صحيح سنن الترمذي “ .
If it’s well done, then all of your other work, including normal day life like interactions with strangers, etc., are all done well.
2. Pay attention, to where you put your forehead. Salat requires focus and it’s what makes or breaks your day’s work, as Our prophet, peace be upon him said “إذا صلحت صلح العمل كله”
3. This single tool -performed routinely well — can be a game changer in your life.
4. Do other types of prayer other than Fajr, Doher, Asr, Maghreb, and Ishaa. Pray the voluntary ones: They complete any deficit found within the five pillar ones.
5. Pray, do Duaa when you’re free
6. When something positive happens that you like, do Sujud as Mohammed Sala Lah Alih Wasallam did -It’s the act of putting your nose, hands, knees, and feet on the ground, with your forehand as well.
عن أبي هريرة -رضي الله عنه- عن النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- قال:
«أقْرَبُ ما يَكون العبد مِنْ رَبِّهِ وهو ساجد، فَأَكْثروا الدُّعاء»
The closest a servant is to God is when he is in prostration, so pray a lot.”7. Enjoy it
I hope you found your answers, it’s a long post. I do like to see your thoughts on the subject.
Salah is manageable and easy to do. Start practicing it today.
Source:
- Wikipedia
- Youtube,
- Islamqan.info
- binbaz.org.sa: Fatwa
- BBC: Wudu.
