How to Pray

Performing two units of Prayer

Intention :
Before prayer, one should inform the intention of what kind of prayer, how many rakats and all these prayers are only for Allah.
Hadith Al-Bukhari, Muslim:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “The reward of deeds depends upon the intention, and a person will get the reward according to what he has intended…”

One must be aware in their mind which prayer they are praying. One must clear their mind from anything not related to the prayer and be aware that this could be their last prayer, and so try their best to perfect it.
Hadith Tirmidhi:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ advised:, “When you stand up to pray, perform your prayers as if it were your last.”

Takbir – saying “Allah is the Greatest”

Thana – Praising Allah – The Prophet ﷺ would place his right arm over his left arm on his chest and just above the elbow. (Hadith Al-Bukhari)
When the Prophet ﷺ performed prayer, his eyesight did not leave the place of prostration and he forbade us from looking up at the sky or looking around in prayer. (Hadith Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

Recite Quran Al-Fatiha (the first Surah) – “And We have certainly given you seven of the often repeated [verses] and the great Qur’an.“(Al-Hijr 15:87)

After the beginning Surah, one can choose any Surah for the next, here is the Surah 112 Al-Ikhlas as example.

The Rukoo’ (Bowing)
After completing his recitation, the Prophet ﷺ would pause for a moment, then raise his hands saying the takbir, as it was done at the beginning of the prayer, and then bow. (Hadith Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawood).

When the Prophet ﷺ bowed (RAKU) in prayer he kept his back level, such that if water was poured on it, the water would not run off. (Hadith Al-Bukhari)
The Prophet ﷺ would not let his head hang down nor would he raise it. (Hadith Al-Bukhari, Muslim)
The Prophet ﷺ would place his hands firmly on his knees, as though he were grasping them, with his fingers spaced out. (Hadith Al-Bukhari)

Straightening up from the Bowing position
Muhammad ﷺ would then straighten up his back from the bowing position, while raising his hands and saying:

In the Standing position, the Prophet ﷺ would then say:

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would then say the Takbir and go down in prostration. (Hadith Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

Then go down in prostration (SAJDAH), during this, seven parts of his body will touch the ground:
His forehead and the tip of his nose.
Both hands level with the ears pointing towards the Qiblah, with the arms away from his sides.
Both knees
Both feet with the bottom of the toes pointing towards the Qiblah, keeping the heels together. (Hadith Al-Bukhar))

Then rising from the prostration, in the sitting position, recite 2 times:

The Prophet ﷺ would then say the takbir while raising his head from the prostration & stand for the second unit of prayer. (Hadith Al-Bukhari). This complete as one Rakat.

When rising for the second unit, the Prophet ﷺ would sit for a short while then get up supporting himself on the ground with his clenched fists. At times the Prophet ﷺ got up without sitting. (Hadith Al-Bukhari)
This is the end of first unit or first Rakat, it will repeat again the above process while standing again with reciting the first Quran Surah Al-Fatihah, then choose any small Surah to recite after that. Every two Rakat, one sitting except Magharib. The second Rakat will be same as the first rakat, but at the end after the prostration, and Allahu Akbar, sit down instead of standing. The sitting position as shown as below.

During this time, recite quietly:

After this, recite:

If this prayer is more than two rakats in total, then after the above Dua, then recite “Allahu Akbar” and stand up to start the praying cycle again. If this is only two rakats (e.g. Fajr), then after the above, we should continue reciting the following:

After this, turn to your right and say Salam as mentioned below because Quran (50:16-17) “And We have already created man and know what his soul whispers to him, and We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein When the two receivers (angels) receive, seated on the right and on the left.” Then, say Salam to your left.

Remark:
– Only the first two rakats need to recite one extra Surah after reciting Al-Fatihah. After two rakats, just need to recite only Al-Fatihah.
– For Fajr, Magharib and Isha prayer, recite Quran loudly for the first two rakats. For Zuhr and Asr, recite Quran quietly throughout the prayer.

Supplication (Dua) after prayer

After prayer, it’s not obligatory to say the supplication and no fixed content. However, the below are the common supplications for whoever would like to ask for more from Allah.

Or to recite Quran 2:255

After that:

After that:

After prayer, you can use any language that you understand to pray to Allah, praise Him, thank Him, ask forgiveness from Him for oneself or for families or for others. Raise your hand while still in sitting position. No restricted content, speak to Allah directly about whatever you want, whatever worries you have, or whatever happiness you want to share, etc.

Extra prostration due to mistakes or forgetting during prayer

It’s ok if one makes mistakes during prayer or suspect yourself has made mistakes, or reciting extra or less Surah, one can continue praying until the end when saying Salam to your right hand side, after that, prostrate two more times and the recitation will be same as normal prayer. After that, say salam to the right again, and salam to the left to complete the prayer.

Others

(17:110-111)
Say, “Call upon Allah or call upon the Most Merciful. Whichever [name] you call – to Him belong the best names.” And do not recite [too] loudly in your prayer or [too] quietly but seek between that an [intermediate] way. And say, “Praise to Allah, who has not taken a son and has had no partner in [His] dominion and has no [need of a] protector out of weakness; and glorify Him with [great] glorification.”

(4:101) And when you travel throughout the land, there is no blame upon you for shortening the prayer, [especially] if you fear that those who disbelieve may disrupt [or attack] you. Indeed, the disbelievers are ever to you a clear enemy.

References

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