In this instructable I will go over the steps necessary to preform Muslim prayer. I have been praying for over 15 years. I have consulted many very knowledgeable people in my community as well as spiritual leaders from around the world. My hope is that by the end of these instructions you may be able to preform prayer or better understand Islam.

Step 1: Step 1

Before we perform prayer

We must first prepare ourselves. This preparation includes making sure that we are clean from any physical impurities and performing Wudu. Wudu (ablution) is required for performing prayer. We cannot offer our prayer without first making Wudu. Here are the steps to take:

- First, make the Niyyah (intention) in your heart that this act of Wudu is for the purpose of preparing for prayer, and say: "Bismillah" (in the name of Allah).

- Wash both hands up to the wrists (starting with the right hand) three times, making sure that water has reached between the fingers.

- Take water with your right hand, put it into your mouth and rinse thoroughly three times.

- Take water with your right hand, splash it into your nose and blow it out three times. (Use the left hand if necessary to help blow it out).

- Wash your whole face three times repeatedly. (The whole face includes: the right ear to the left ear, and the forehead to the bottom of the chin).

- Wash the right arm thoroughly from wrist to elbow three times, and make sure that no part of the arm has been left unwashed. Repeat with the left arm.

- Move the palms of the wet hands lightly over the head, starting from the top of the forehead to the back of the head, and passing both hands over the back of the head to the neck, and then bringing them back to the forehead.

- With the same water, rub the grooves and holes of both ears with the wet index fingers, while also passing the wet thumbs behind the ears from the bottom upward.

- Finally, wash both feet to the ankles three times, starting with the right foot. Make sure that water has reached between the toes and covered the rest of the foot.

Step 2: Step 2

- Have a sincere intention to perform the prayers purely for the sake of God.

- Assume this posture after having made the intention to pray.

- Raise both hands up to the ears.

o Palms facing the direction of Mecca

- Say:

o Allahu Akbar

“God is the greatest”

Step 3: Step 3

- Assume the next position

o Place the right hand on top of the left hand on one’s chest

- Say:

o Audhu billahi min ashshayta nirrajeem

“I seek God’ s shelter from Satan, the condemned”

o W aalameen. Arrahmaa nirraheem. Maliki yaumiddeen. Iyyaka nabudu wa iyyaka nasta’een. Ihdi nassira talmustaqeem. Sira talladhina anamta alayhim, ghayril maghdubi alayhim, wa ladhdhaal leen. (Aameen)

“In the name of God, the most Gracious, most Merciful. All praise is Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment, You alone we worship and You alone we ask for assistance. Guide us along the straight path. The path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your blessings, not the path of those with whom You are angry nor the path of those who have gone astray.”

o Selection of verses from the Holy Qur’an: The Chapter Of Sincerity (Chapter 112) 

o Bis milla hirrahma nirraheem. Qul Huwallahu Ahad Allahus-Samad Lam yalid wa lam yulad Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan Ahad.

“In the name of God, the most Kind, most Merciful”

o “He is God, the One, God the Eternal, dependent upon nothing, yet everything is dependent upon Him, He does not give birth, nor was He born, and there is nothing like unto Him.”

Step 4: Step 4

- Say:

o Allahu Akbar

- Assume the next position

o The back & leg should be perpendicular to each other

- Recite the following prayer three times:

o Subhana rabbiyal azeem

“Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty”

Step 5: Step 5

- Return to standing position from the first prayer

- Say:

o Sami’allaahu liman hamidah

“God hears those to praise Him”

- Rabbana wa lakal hamd

“Our Lord, praise be to You”

Step 6: Step 6

- Say:

o Allahu Akbar

“God is the greatest”

- Prostrate as shown

- Say the following prayer three times:

o Subhana rubbiyal a’ala

“Glory be to my Lord, the Most High”

Step 7: Step 7

- Say:

o Allaahu Akbar

- Sit for a moment

- Repeat:

o Allaahu Akbar

- Prostrate once again

- Repeat the prayer in step 5.

Step 8: Step 8

- Say:

o Allaahu Akbar

- Stand up straight

- Repeat steps 2 through 6.

Step 9: Step 9

- Recite these prayers in the posture shown:

o Attahiyatu lillahi wassalawaatu wattayyibaat. Assalamu a’layka ayyu hannabiyyu wa rahma tullahi wa barakaatuh. Assalamu a’layna wa a’laa ebaa dillaa hissaaliheen. Ash hadu allaa ilaaha illallahu wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan rasoo lullaah.

“Salutations, all good things, and all prayers are for God. The peace and mercy of God be upon you, O Muhammad. Peace be upon all of us, and upon His righteous servants. I bear witness that there is no God except God and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.”

o Allaa humma salli a’laa Muhammadin wa alaa ali Muhummadin, kama sallayta alaa Ibraheema, wa alaa aali Ibraheem. Wa baarik alaa Muhammadin wa alaa ali Muhummadin, kama baarakta alaa Ibraheema, wa alaa aali Ibraheem, innaka hamee dummajeed.

“O God bestow honor upon Muhammad and upon his family just as You have bestowed honor upon Abraham and his family. And O God, bestow Your blessings upon Muhammad and his family just as You have bestowed Your blessings upon Abraham and his family. In all of the worlds, You are the most praised and the most glorious.”

*Note: For a four cycle prayer, repeat steps 1-8. Conclude with steps 8 and 9.