A link to the Noble Qur'an:  Quraan.com

Salat:  

The Arabic term for prayer.

I think of all the areas this (the salat) is the hardest to learn and perform accurately.  Yet it is one of the five pillars and is required of all Muslims.  On this page I will go through step by step on  how to perform Wudu (ablution) and Salat (prayer).  I have used Islam in Focus second edition by Hammudah Abdulati as my reference unless indicated otherwise.

Conditions:

There are certain conditions that must be met before salat can be performed.

1. Sane and responsible

2. Relatively mature and in the age of puberty, normally about fourteen.  (Children should be advised by parents to start practice at the age of seven and strongly urged by the age of ten.);

3. Free form serious sickness and, in the case of women, free form menstruation and confinement due to child birth and nursing.  I have covered this in more detail under menstruation .

The following requirements must be fulfilled for the prayer to be valid:

1. Performing Wudu',  explained later.

2. Purity of the whole body, the clothes worn on it, an the ground used for prayer from all kinds of dirt or impurity.  (a prayer rug is often used in this case)

3. Dressing properly in such a way as to meet the moral regulations aimed at covering the private parts.  The male should be covered from the navel to the knees and the female the whole body should be covered except the face, the hands, and the feet.  Transparent clothing for both sexes is not allowed.

4. Declaring the intention of prayer (Niyyah) by both heart and tongue whenever possible.

5. Facing the right direction of the "Qiblah", the direction of the Ka'bah at Mecca. 

Types:

There are three categories of prayers.  

1. The Fard (Obligatory).  This includes the five daily prayers, the Jumu'ah (Friday) noon congregation prayer and the funeral prayer.  Failure to observe these prayers is considered a serious and punishable sin without a reasonable excuse.

2. The Supererogatory prayers (i.e. Wajib and Sunnah) include the prayers which accompany the Fard and congregations of the Eids.  Failure to observe these is a harmful negligence and a reproachable conduct.

3. The Optional prayer includes all voluntary prayers any time during the day or night before the breaking of dawn and the mid-morning period."¹  The link listed will help to find the times of the five daily prayers.  It is also listed on my links page

Wudu':

Wudu' ( partial ablution):  Cleansing of the parts of the body that are generally exposed to dirt, dust or smog.  These are the steps.

1. Declare the intention that the act is for the purpose of worship and purity.

2. Wash hands up to the wrists three times.

3. Rinse out the mouth with water three times, preferably with a brush whenever possible.

4. Cleanse the nostrils of the nose by sniffing water into them, three times.

5. Wash the whole face three times with both hands, if possible, from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin and from ear to ear.

6. Wash the right arm three times up to the far end of the elbow, and then do the same with the left arm.

7. Wipe the whole head or any part of it with a wet hand, once.

8. Wipe the inner sides of the ears with the forefingers and their outer sides with the thumbs. They should be wet.

9. Wipe the neck with wet hands.

10. Wash the two feet up to the ankles, three times, beginning with the right foot.

If socks or stockings are put on after the first Wudu' then all that would be necessary is to wipe the bottoms of the feet with water.  This would be valid for up to twenty four hours.

The following conditions or actions would nullify Wudu'.

1. Natural discharges, i.e., urine, stools, gas etc;

2. The flow of blood or pus and the like from any part of the body;

3. Vomiting;

4. Falling asleep;

5. Losing one's reason by taking drugs or intoxicating stuff.

Tayammum:  This is a substitute for Wudu' and even the bath and is allowed in the following cases.

1. When a person is sick and cannot use water;

2. When he has no access to water in sufficient quantity;

3. When the use of water is likely to do him harm or cause any disease;

4. When the performance of ablution makes the person miss a funeral or Eid prayer, which has no substitute.

How to do Tayammum:

1. Strike both hands slightly on pure earth or sand or stone.

2. Shake the hands off and wipe the face with them once in the same as done in the ablution.

3. Strike the hands again and wipe the right arm to the elbow with the left hand and the left arm with the right hand.

Tayammum is a symbolic demonstration of the importance of ablution.

Ghusl (complete ablution):  The whole body with the nostrils, mouth and head must be washed by a complete bath before entering prayer under any of the following conditions.

1. After intimate intercourse;

2. After wet dreams;

3. Upon expiration of menstruation cycle of the woman;

4. At the end of confinement for a woman following child birth which is estimated at a maximum of forty days.  If it end before then she should perform ghusl and resume prayers.

To listen to the, Adhan, the Iqamah, or  the listed Surah's click on the word that is underlined and highlighted in light blue.

Adhan:

  Adhan is the call to prayer. It is only performed by the male.  In Islamic countries or where there is a sufficient population of Muslim's, it is performed by a Muadhin.  This is done when there are group of people

This is the transliteration.

1. Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest), (repeated four times.);

2. Ashhadu An La Ilaha Illa-L-Lah (I bear witness that there is no god but the one God) (repeated twice);

3. Ashhadu Anna Muhammadan Rasulu-l-lah (I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God), (repeated twice);

4. Hayya 'Ala-s-salah (Come fast to prayer), (repeated twice turning face to the right);

5. Hayya 'Ala-l-falah (Come fast to success), (repeated twice turning face to the left);

6. Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest), (repeated twice);

7. La Ilaha Illah-l-lah (There is no god but the one and true God) (once).

Iqamah:

Iqamah is the entrance to prayer.  This is said by the individual as well as in a group. A woman does not say the Iqamah if there are a group.  She can say it for herself if she is alone and performing prayer.   It is similar to the Adhan except:

1. Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest), (repeated twice);

2. Ashhadu An La Ilaha Illa-L-Lah (I bear witness that there is no god but the one God) (once);

3. Ashhadu Anna Muhammadan Rasulu-l-lah (I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God), (once);

4. Hayya 'Ala-s-salah (Come fast to prayer), (once, turning face to the right);

5. Hayya 'Ala-l-falah (Come fast to success), (once,  turning face to the left);

6. Qad Qamati-s-salah (Come to prayer), (repeated twice);

7. Allahu Akbar (God is the greatest), (repeated twice);

8. La Ilaha Illah-l-lah (There is no god but the one and true God), (once).

Salat:

After the Iqamah has been said then it is time to perform prayer.

The picture below shows the movements for salat and if you click on it.  It will provide a video going into detail.  The instructions are listed below.  The site link is: .http://www.islamicity.org/Mosque/salat/salat9.htm

(1)Allah is Great.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PERFORMING PRAYERS 

HOW TO PRAY TWO RAKA'S

position 1: this posture is called Qiyam and it is assumed after having made the intention to pray. Raising both hands up to the ears (palms facing the Qiblah) "Allah-o-Akbar" (1) is said and then holding the left hand with the right hand on top. This position is assumed as shown in position 1. In this position the following prayers are recited: (A) Thana (B) Ta'awaz (C) Tasmia (D) Al-Fatiha, and any short sura or a few verses from the Holy Qur'an.

Surah's

Clicking on the following links will allow you to hear the Surah's and view the Arabic text.

Surah Al-Fatiha

Surah Al-Iklas

Surah Al-Falaq

Surah An-Nas

Rest of Qur'an  Choose the Surah you wish to listen to.

Tashahud

Below are the first and second parts of the Tashahud with audio links.  The first link is: http://www.islamway.com/english/images/prayer/pray12.htm

The second link is:

http://www.islamway.com/english/images/prayer/pray13.htm

Juma'ah

This is the congregational prayer and is lead by an Imam.  This is any of the prayers done at the Mosque in a group.

Jumu'ah

This is the prayer which is performed on Friday's during the time of Zuhr or the noon prayer.  It is done in congregation and is mandatory on every male Muslim who does not have a reasonable excuse to miss.

Eid

There are two Eids (celebrations) and all Muslims, men and women are required to attend the Eid prayers.  The women are should attend the Eids regardless if they are menstruating or not.  I have covered this in more detail under menstuation.

Janazah

This the funeral prayer.  It is a common collective duty (Fard Kaifayah).  This means it should be offered by some Muslims present at the time and when it is offered by some the other Muslims are exempt.

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