Policy Statement

Teachings of Islam

Comment:
Asalaam Alaikum, pls feel free to correct me if yuo notice any unknowing mistakes for which inshallah Allah will forgive me. This maybe more useful for recent converts as it is a simplified instruction sheet(s). Obviously the web sites with pictures are more useful, but not always convenient.
How to perform salaat :

There are 5 daily compulsory daily prayers/ salaats.

After completing wudu, being in a clean state (body and clothes) and being in a clean area:-

Stand on prayer mat or clean cloth/ towel facing Kabaah/ Qiblaah. If you cant at this stage say the prayers in Arabic, then say them in English if you find it easier(but when you can over time, learn the Arabic). Keep your hands by your sides, facing downwards, your eyes focused where your head would touch around the top central part of the cloth(you are not to look around, must stay focused at 1 point), and feet and toes straight - slightly apart facing the direction in which you will pray. You will stand as though there is only you and Allah, no one between you, you are in direct contact with Allah fulfilling his commandments as best as you can. Forget all worldly matters. Just think of it this way, imagine the next second you may die (as Muslims we should always remember death), so concentrate and have a lot of feeling and passion in your prayers. After the prayer is over, you should feel lighter and refreshed inshallah.

There are seven conditions and steps for any salaat to be followed:-

1-Niyyat (intention)
2-Tahrima (To say Allah Akbar)
3-Qiyam (Standing)
4-Qiraat (Recitation of Quran by mouth gently)
5-Ruku (To bow)
6-Sajda (Prostration)
7-Qa'da-i- Akhira (Last sitting)


The Niyyat / Intention of prayer:-

At this stage we will keep it nice and simple. Please remember to whisper all prayers. Before every salaat you must make an intention like an introduction into the specific salaat you are about to do. Niyyat (intention) of the heart for Salaat is sufficient. A simple statement, "I am reading 4 rakaat Dhuhr Salaat Farz (for example), ...for Allah facing Kabah, Allah please accept" this will suffice inshallah before raising your hands to your ears.

If you find the below too difficult, please atleast pray 5 times a day following the movements and positions. What is required from you for the time being is to say in the beginning of the prayer and between each movement / positions "Allaahu ak-bar" (a glorification of Allaah). While standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting, you should say "subhaan allaah." (Glory be to Allaah) (if you cannot say the below). Then conclude the prayer by turning your head to the right then left, each time saying "as-salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullah."(Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you).

The system of saying intention of prayers simplified:-

" I intend to say : 2 rakaat of salaatul Fajr Fard/ Farz
3 rakaat of salaatul Zuhr Sunnah
4 rakaat of salaatul Asr Witr ...for Allah facing Kabah, Allah please accept this".
Maghrib Nafl
Isha

For example you can say for Asr prayer:- (4 rakaat sunnat, 4 rakaat farz)
I intend to say 4 rakaat of salaatul Asr Sunnat for Allah facing Kabah, Allah please accept this".
I intend to say 4 rakaat of salaatul Asr Farz for Allah facing Kabah, Allah please accept this".

Or you say for Maghrib:- (3 farz, 2 sunnat, 2 nafl)

I intend to say 3 rakaat of salaatul Maghrib Farz for Allah facing Kabah, Allah please accept this".
I intend to say 2 rakaat of salaatul Maghrib Sunnat for Allah facing Kabah, Allah please accept this".
I intend to say 2 rakaat of salaatul Maghrib nafl for Allah facing Kabah, Allah please accept this".


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THE FAJR SALAAT IN DETAIL: (please note there are other prayers that can be recited, but at this stage this is more than sufficient inshallah). When you are more experienced inshallah, you will notice that the actions always remain the same, but the 2nd Suraah changes). I know you will not intentionally make mistakes, but if you do, Allah is All-Seer and All Forgiver of sins, so pray for forgiveness of unknowingly commmitting mistakes and sins...inshallah they will be accepted by Allah's Great Mercy.

The 1st prayer:-

Fajr 2 sunnat : Hands by your side. Standing position.

1) BISMILLA-HIR RAHMANIR-RAHIM or say "In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful".

2) Then say :"I intend to say 2 rakaat of salaatul Fajr Sunnat for Allah facing Kabah, Allah please accept this".


3) Tahrima : Bring hands, palms open, upto the ears and place thumbs behind ear lobes and say "Allah-o-Akbar" (or Allah is Greatest). Then put your left hand over/ under your belly button and right hand over your left hand holding it. Look at the focal point where your forehead is expected to touch the ground.

4) Say:- "Subhanak-Allahumma wa bi hamdika wa tabara kasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk". ("Praise and glory be to you O Allah. Blessed be Your Name, exalted be Your Majesty and Glory. There is no God but You".)

5) Say:- "A'udhu billahi minash shaitanir rajim." ("I seek shelter in Allah from the rejected Satan.")

6) BISMILLA-HIR RAHMANIR-RAHIM or say "In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful".

7)Recite Suraah Fatiha. This is the 1st prayer that is repeated in every single standing position and is compulsory.

Alhamdu lillahi rabbi alAAalameen
Alrrahmani alrraheem
Maliki yawmi ddeen
Iyyaka naAAbudu wa-iyyaka nastaAAeen
Ihdina ssirata almustaqeem
Sirata allatheena anAAamta AAalayhim ghayri lmaghdoobi AAalayhim wala alddalleen
Ameen

Praise be to Allah, The Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds;
Most Gracious, Most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgement
Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek,
Show us the straight way,
the way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace,
Those whose(portion) is not wrath,
And who go not astray.

8) BISMILLA-HIR RAHMANIR-RAHIM or say "In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful".

9) Recite any Suraah (short prayer) for example, Surah al-Ikhlaas :-
Qul huwa Allahu ahad
Allahu ssamad
Lam yalid walam yoolad
Walam yaku lahu kufuwan ahad

"Say! He is God, the One!
The Eternally Besought of all!
He does not beget, nor is He begotten
And there is nothing comparable to Him."

10) Then say "Allah-o-Akbar" (or Allah is Greatest)(do not raise hands to ears like before)

11) Place hands on knees and say..

12) Say "Subhana Rabbiyal Azim" thrice (Glory to my Lord, the Great). This position is called Ruku.

13) As you are now straightening your back in an upright position say "Sami Allahu Liman Hamidah".(once - Allah hears those who praise Him)

14)In a standing position, hands by your sides slowly say "Rabanna Lakal Hamd" (once - Our Lord praise be to you). This position is called Qiyam.

15) Then as you are going forward towards prostration say "Allah-o-Akbar" (or Allah is Greatest)(once)

16) With your forehead, nose, palms of both hands, toes and your knees should now touch the floor say "Subhana Rabbiyal Ala" (thrice).(Glory to my Lord, the Highest). This position is called Sujud/Sajda.

17) Rest on your bottom sitting upright, hands above knees resting on thighs, whilst doing so say "Allah-o-Akbar" (or Allah is Greatest)once. And say "Allumaagh Firhlee" thrice.

18) Then bend forward in prostration again as in step 16 and repeat "Subhana Rabbiyal Ala / Glory to my Lord, the Highest" (thrice)(At this stage you have done 1 rakaat of the 2 rakaat salaat.)

19) Stand up saying "Allah-o-Akbar" (or Allah is Greatest)

20) Repeat steps 8 to 18.

21) Whilst sitting, hands should be above your knees, fingers slightly apart facing forwards. Then Say:

At-tahiyyatu Lillahi All prayer is for Allah
Was Salawatu wat tayyibatu and worship and goodness
As-salamu Alaika ayyuhannabiyya Peace be on you. O Prophet
Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu and the Mercy of Allah and His Blessings

Assalamu Alaina Peace be on us
Wa Ala Ibadillahis Salihin and the righteous servants of Allah

(now lift right index finger upwards when you say 'illallahu'in the next sentence and put the finger down at the end of the sentence)

Ash Hadu An Lailaha illallahu I bear witness that there is no god but Allah
Wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan and I bear witness that Muhaamad
Abduhu Wa Rasuluhu is His servant and messenger

(normally on a 4 rakaat salaat you would stand up here saying "Allah-o-Akbar"), but as this is the end of the salaat (whether it be any salaat of 2/3/or 4 rakaat) you conclude by saying the following:(This part is called the Qa'da-i- Akhira / Last sitting:-

Allahumma Salli Ala Muhannadin O Allah, let your blessings come upon Muhammad
Wa Ala Ali Muhammadin and the family of Muhammad
Kama Sallaita Ala Ibrahima wa ala as You blessed Ibrahim and his family
ali Ibrahima Innaka Hamidun Majid Truly You are the Praiseworthy and Glorious

Allahumma Barik Ala Muhammadin O Allah, bless Muhammad and the
Wa Ala Ali Muhammadin family of Muhammad.
Kama Barakta Ala Ibrahima wa ala as You blessed Ibrahim and his family
ali Ibrahima Innaka Hamidun Majid Truly You are the Praiseworthy and Glorious

After this you may say a short dua/ supplication such as :-

Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman
kathiran wa la yaghfirudh dhunuba
illah anta faghfirli maghfiratan min indika
wa arhamni innaka antal ghafunir rahim.

Oh Allah, I have been unjust to myself and no one grants
pardon for sins except You, therefore, forgive me with your
forgiveness and have mercy on me. Surely, You are the forgiver, the merciful.

22)Turn to the right, looking at your right shoulder (where 1 angel writes your good deeds) and say "Peace and mercy of Allah be on you".(Asalaam Alaikum wa Rahmatullah)

23)Turn to the left, looking at your left shoulder (where 1 angel writes your evil deeds) and say "Peace and mercy of Allah be on you".(Asalaam Alaikum wa Rahmatullah)

Now you have completed the first 2 rakaats of the sunnat farz prayer. You do exactly the same for the 2nd set of prayers for the farz. Remember, 2 rakaats Fajr Sunnat (which you have just done, and now you will be doing 2 rakaat Fajr Farz). The only thing that changes is the intention which you may say as follows:-

1) BISMILLA-HIR RAHMANIR-RAHIM or say "In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful". (same as always)
2) Then say :"I intend to say 2 rakaat of salaatul Fajr Farz for Allah facing Kabah, Allah please accept this".


Then follow all actions and prayers from 3-23.

After this Alhamdulillah you have completed 1 of the 5 daily prayers.

You may raise your hands, cup them and pray to Allah for whatever you like, asking for mercy of everyone, help to bring the non muslims and muslims on the correct path, prayers for relatives and friends, prayers for the poor, ill, those needing help, thank Allah for everything, ask Allah's forgiveness and speak to Allah about anything you may want to as Allah is ALLSEER AND ALL KNOWER. You can say the following dua/ supplication :

Rabbana Atinah Fidunya Hasanatow Our Lord, grany us good in this world and good
Wa Fil Aakhiratih Hasanatow in the Herafter and save us from the punishment
Wa Kina Aza bannar of the hellfire.

Khuda-Hafiz, please pray for me and everyone else in your prayers.

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