The Right Way To Pray

1- Intention

The prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to say:

All actions are by intention, and every man shall have what he intended.
Note: You shouldn't say the intention by mouth  cause it is Innovation
Make it in your heart

2- Takbeer

The First step to enter the prayer is Takbeer .. the prophet peace be upon him used to say:

Allaahu Akbar

This means: Allah is the greatest

Notes :

1- You should raise your hands with the takbeer. Look at the picture
2- Then you should place your right arm on you left arm and place it over your chest.
3- You should place the right arm on the back of your  left palm, wrist and forearm
4- Then you should incline your head during prayer and fix your sight towards the ground .... as  the  Prophet peace be upon him do....
5- Be careful: When you start to pray don't look at the sky because it is forbidden as the Prophet peace be upon him said :" People must refrain from looking up at the sky in prayer, or their sight will not return to them (and in one narration: or their sight will be plucked away)

3- Opening Supplications

The prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to say one of this opening Supplications, You can choose the easiest one for you:

1

Subhana Kallah humma wabi hamdika watabara kasmuka wata 'ala jad-duka wala ilaha ghayruk

This means: You are Glorified, O Allaah, and Praised; Your Name is Blessed; Your Majesty is Exalted, and none has the right to worshipped but You.

2

Allah humma ba'id baynee wa bayna khatayana kama ba'adta baynal   mashriqi  wal maghribi, Allah humma naq-qinee  min khatayaya kama yunaq-qath thuwabul abyadu minad  danasi , Allah hum maghsilnee min khatayaya bil maee wath thalji wal bardi

This means: O Allaah! Separate me (far) from my sins as you have separated (far) the East and West. O Allaah! Cleanse me of my sins as white cloth is cleansed from dirt. O Allaah! Wash me of my sins with water, ice and snow.

4- Recitation of Suratul Fatiha:

The prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to say:

-

A'udhu bil-llahi minash shayta nir-rajeem

This means: I seek refuge with Allaah from the Evil One, the Rejected

1

Bisimllah hir-rahman nir-raheem

This means: In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

2

Alhamdu lil-lahi rab-bil 'alameen

This means: Praise is only for Allah, Lord

3

Ar-Rahma nir-raheem

This means: The Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

4

Maliki yawmid-deen

This means: Master of the Day of Judgment

5

Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een

This means: You alone we worship and u to you alone we pray for help 

6

Ihdinas siratal mostaqeem

This means: Show us the straight way

7

Siratal lazeena an'amta 'alayhim ghayril maghdubi 'alayhim walad dal-leen

This means: The way of those whom you have blessed .. Who have not desrved your anger, Nor gone astray

-

Ameeen

This means: Oooh Allah please accept

Note:

1- The Prophet peace be upon him said : " No prayer is acceptable without the recitation  of Fathiha "

2- In Zuhr and Asr you have to recite it quitly as Jaabir said : We used to recite behind the imaam in Zuhr and 'Asr: soorah al-Faatihah and another soorah in the first two rak'ahs, and soorah al-Fatihah in the last two."

3- If you are praying in Jama'a then you should raise your voice when you are saying "Ameen "

4- Becareful:"The Prophet peace be upon him  finished a prayer in which he was reciting loudly (in one narration: it was the dawn prayer) and said: Were any of you reciting with me just now?! A man said: "Yes, I was, O Messenger of Allaah". He said: I say, why am I contended with? "... This thing mean don't recite when the Imam is reciting.

- Recitation after Suratul Fatiha:

The Prophet  (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would recite another soorah after al-Faatihah, making it long sometimes, and on other occasions making it short because of travel, cough, illness or the crying of infants

Let's take two examples of short Suras you can pray with the both every prayer till you learn another Sura's

Surat Al-Ikhlas (Number 112)

1

A'uzu bil-llahi minash shayta nir-rajeen

This means: I seek refuge with Allaah from the Evil One, the Rejected

2

Bisimllah hir-rahman nir-raheem

This means: In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

3

Qul howa Allahu ahad

This means: Say : he is Allah, the only one.

4

Allah hus-samad

This means: Allah helps and does not need help

5

Lam yalid wa lam yulad

This means: He does not produce a child, and he was not born of anyone

6

Walam yakul-lahu kufuwan ahad

This means: There is no one equal to him

   Click here to listen the whole Sura

   Click here to save the whole Sura

Surat An-Nas (Number 114)

1

A'uzu bil-llahi minash shayta nir-rajeem

This means: I seek refuge with Allaah from the Evil One, the Rejected

2

Bisimllah hir-rahman nir-raheem

This means: In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

3

Qul a'uzubi rab-bin nas

This means: Say : I seek refuge in the Sustainer of Mankind

4

Malikin nas

This means: The Owner of Mankind

5

Ila hin-nas

This means: Lord of Mankind

6

Min shar-ril waswa sil khan-nas

This means: From the evil of the sneaking whisperer

7

Allazi yuwaswisu fee sudu rin-nas

This means: Who whispers in the hearts of Mankind

8

Minal jin-nati wan-nas

This means: (Whether he be) from among jinns or mankind

        Click here to listen to the whole Sura

        Click here to save the whole Sura

Notes :

1- You have to read Sura after the Fatiha only in the first two Rak'a in the Zuhr or Asr  but in Fajr,Maghrib and E'sha you just hear the Imam and you should't say it with him.

2- If you tried to memorize this two Suras but you failed .. then there is a permission to read Al-Fatiha only .. and in-Shaa-Allah your prayer is right

6- Bowing (Rukoo')

After completing his recitation, the prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would pause for a moment, then raise his hands in the way described earlier , say takbeer

Allaahu Akbar

This means: Allah is the greatest

Notes :

1- You should raise your hands with the takbeer. Look at the picture
2- Be careful: When you start to pray don't look at the sky because it is forbidden as the Prophet peace be upon him said :" People must refrain from looking up at the sky in prayer, or their sight will not return to them (and in one narration: or their sight will be plucked away)

Then .. you make Ruku' and say :

Subhana Rabbi yal adhim

This means: How Perfect is my Lord, the Supreme!

Note :

Be careful:

The Prophet said : Verily, I have indeed been forbidden from reciting the Qur'aan in rukoo' or sujood. In the rukoo', therefore, glorify the Supremity of the Lord, Mighty and Sublime, in it; as for the sujood, exert yourselves in supplication in it, for it is most likely that you will be answered ...so it is forbidden to read Quran in Rukoo' or Sujood

7-Straightening up from Rukoo':

The prophet  (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would straighten up his back out of rukoo', saying :

Sami' Allah hu liman hamidah

This means: Allaah listens to the one who praises Him

Then .. while he is still standing he would say :

Rab-bana wa lakal hamd

This means: Our Lord, to You be all Praise

Note :

When you Straightening up from Rukoo': you would raise your hands like what we discribed early in the Takbeer.

8-Prostration (The sujud):

The prophet  (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would say takbeer:

Allaahu Akbar

This means: Allah is the greatest

& go down into sajdah saying :

Subhana Rabbi yal a'la

This means: How Perfect is my Lord, the Most High

Note :

1- You should say Subhana Rabbi yal a'la three times on each Sujud .
2- The right postion of Sujud:
a)You would support yourself on your palms [and spread them]
b)put his fingers together
c)point them towards the qiblah
d)Make your nose touch the ground cause the prophet said : There is no prayer for the one whose nose does not feel as much of the ground as the forehead
e)Put your knees and toes down firmly and point with the front of the toes towards the qiblah and put your heels together and keep your   feet upright.
f)These are the seven limbs on which he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would prostrate: the palms, the knees, the feet, and the forehead and nose.

9-Rising from Sajdah:

The prophet  (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam)   would raise his head from prostration while saying :

Allaahu Akbar

This means: Allah is the greatest

Then you will sit in a specific postition  and say:

Rabb ighfirlee wa irhamnee

This means: O my Lord! Forgive me, and have mercy on me

Note :

1- The right position of sitting down:
The Prophet peace be upon him would lay his left foot along the ground and sit on it [relaxed].
2- You should stay a while in this sitting, cause the prophet peace be upon would sit straight on his left foot, upright, until every bone returned to its position.

10-The second Sajdah:

The prophet  (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would say takbeer:

Allaahu Akbar

This means: Allah is the greatest

& go again to Sujud postition saying :

Subhana Rabbi yal a'la

This means: How Perfect is my Lord, the Most High

Note :

1- You should say Subhana Rabbi yal a'la three times on each Sujud .
2- The right postion of Sujud:
a)You would support yourself on your palms [and spread them]
b)put your fingers together
c)point them towards the qiblah
d)Make your nose touch the ground cause the prophet said : There is no prayer for the one whose nose does not feel as much of the ground as the forehead
e)Put your knees and toes down firmly and point with the front of the toes towards the qiblah and put your heels together and keep your   feet upright.
f)These are the seven limbs on which he (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would prostrate: the palms, the knees, the feet, and the forehead and nose.

11- The Second Rak'a:

The prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) used to say Faatihah which we teach you how to say it in step number 3

& then do all the steps which the prophet peace be upon him did in the first Rak'a

Note :

When you rise up from Sujud to the second Rak'a you can rise up supporting one self with hand . Take a look at this video

12- The First Tashahud:

The prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would sit for Tashhud after finishing the second rak'ah and say :

At-Tahiy-yatu lil-lahi was-salawatu wat-tay yibatu, As-Salamy 'alika ay-yuhan-nabiy-yu wa rahma tullahi wa barakatu, As salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadil-la his-saliheen ,  Ash hadu  al la ilaha illal lahu, wa ash hadu an-na Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh

This means: All compliments, all physical prayer , and all monetary worship are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings. Peace be on us and on all righteous slaves of Allah . I bear witness that no one is worthy of worship except Allah. I bear witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him ) is his slave and Messenger.

Note :

1- What is the right sit position in The first Tashahud? : In the Fajr there is only one Tashahud so it there is no first or second Tashahud so in the first Tashahud on the other prayers and in Al-Fajr Tashahud you would sit as you are setting between the two sujud, but if you can't sit in this way you can sit in any way you can, but this is the way the prophet used to sit.
2-While reading : " Ash-hadu .......... to : Abduhu wa rasuluh" a person should raise the index finger of the right hand slightly and returt it previous position after he had finished saying it.

13- The Second Tashahud

The prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would sit for the second Tashhud after finishing the last rak'ah and would say the first Tashuhud which is in step 12 and then say :

Allah humma sal-li 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammadin, Kama sal-layta 'ala Ibraheema wa 'ala aali ibraheema innaka hameedum majeed, wa barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammadin, Kama barakta 'ala Ibraheema wa 'ala aali ibraheema innaka hameedum majeed

This means: O Allah, send Grace and Honour on Muhammad (peace be upon him) and on the family and true followers of Muhammad (peace be upon him) just as you sent Grace and Honour on Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and on the family and true followers of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). Surely, you are praiseworthy, The Great . O Allah, send blessings on Muhammad (peace be upon him) and on the family and true followers of Muhammad (peace be upon him) just as you sent blessings on Ibrahim (peace be upon him) and on the family and true followers of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). Surely, you are praiseworthy, The Great .

Note :

1- What is the right sitting position in The second Tashahud ? : In the prayers like Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and 'eisha, in the last rak'a you should sit in a position called "Iftirash" click here to see how you can sit in this position ... but if you can't sit in this way you can sit as you feel comfortable ...
2-While reading : " Ash-hadu .......... to : Abduhu wa rasuluh" a person should raise the index finger of the right hand slightly and returt it previous position after he had finished saying it.

14-Salution of Peace (The Tasleem):

Next, The prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would salute to his right saying:

As-Salamu 'alikum wa Rahmatul lah

This means: Peace be on you and the mercy of Allah.

Next, The prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) would salute to his left saying:

As-Salamu 'alikum wa Rahmatul lah