How a NEW MUSLIM Prays the Fajr prayer

Muslim Prayer guide
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MUSLIMCONVERTS.COM

How a New Muslim Prayers

The Fajr (Morning) prayer

This is the first prayer and it consists of 2 units (raka'ts). Essentially what is said in all the 5 obligatory prayers is the same. The only difference is the number of units (raka'ts) performed in each prayer, how long each unit is and whether the first 2 units (raka'ts) of a prayer are said Audible or silently in ones heart

Thus the FAJR (morning) Prayer consists of 2 units (raka'ts), the DHUHR (Early Afternoon) Prayer and ASR (late afternoon ) prayer and ISHA ( night ) prayer all 4 consist units (raka'ts) and finally the MAGHRIB (sunset) prayer consists of 3 units (raka'ts).

The other difference is that the First 2 rakaats of FAJR, MAGHRIB and ISHA prayers are recited loudly and the remaining rakaats of these prayers are recited silently.

However all 4 rakaats of DHUHR and ASR are recited silently

For a New Muslim or any Muslim who does not know how to prayer you just need to memorize the following few words.

And this will enable you to pray all the 5 daily prayers.

A) Allahu Akbar

B) Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa la quwwata illa Billaah

C) Sami Allaahu liman hamidah

D) Rabbana wa lakaal hamd

E Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah

If you are up to it you can also memorize the following

F) Subhana rab-bi yal atheem

G) Subhana rubbiyal a'ala

H) Rabbi eghfir lee

Once you have memorized these words and you have gone through these prayer guides I have prepared you will be surprised that the Prayer is not as difficult as it looks.

I suggest you print this out and practice holding the pages reciting what is there to be recited in their respective body positions.

Going through the motions repeatedly will help you learn quickly. Also look at the video and the flash movie as it will help you see the postures and movements. May Allah make it easy for you.

Once you have learnt the above and are praying confidently.. Try to learn Surah Fatiha

Surah Fatiha should be recited one verse at a time

Video to teach Fatiha

1 Bismillah hir rahman nir raheem
2 Alhamdu lillahi rabbiL a lameen
3 Ar rahman nir raheem
4 Maliki yawmid deen
5 Iyyaka na'a budu wa-iyyaka nasta aeen
6 Ihdinas sirataal mustaqeem
7 Siratal latheena an a'amta alayhim ghayril maghdoobi alayhim walad daalleen
After reciting Surah Fatiha one says Ameen

Listen to the whole of Surah Fatiha

1. In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
2. All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).
3. The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
4. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense ( i.e. the Day of Resurrection)
5. You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).
6. Guide us to the Straight Way
7. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).

Note-

Males garments/pants should be above the ankles (unlike in the picture. InshaAllah better diagrams will be made as soon as possible).

Women's garment should be a forearms lower than her skins (measure your arm length , from elbow to longest finger, if this is say is 45 cm, ) then form your skins and ) thus her feet will be completely covered.

Women are NOT supposed to pray when they are menstruating and experiencing post-childbirth bleeding.

Abstaining from prayers for a women experiencing post-childbirth bleeding is a maximum of forty (40) days. If her bleeding stops before the 40 days she must make ghusl and start praying.

Also at the end of her menstruation she must make ghusl and begin her prayers.

Before prayer one must perform Ablution

How to perform Ablution (Wudhu)

Just before Prayer

Establishing the Sutrah (A Tall Object About The Height Of A Saddle, Just Beyond the Place of Prostration, Within Which Nothing Should Pass)

Place anything (about the height of a saddle) just beyond the place of prostration. Things that can be used are: a wall, bed, tall pillow, tall purse, tall stick, tree, etc. Anything that breaks the path between the person praying and someone who "may" need to pass in front. It's best to pray facing a wall, bed, or any other type of tall object, so that there will be no need for someone to pass directly in front. Do not mind anyone who passes beyond the sutrah.

The Prophet (SAW) said, "Do not pray except towards a sutrah, and do not let anyone pass in front of you, but if someone continues (to try to pass) then fight him, for he has a companion (i.e. a Shaitan) with him." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Ahmad)

"When he (SAW) prayed (in an open space where there was nothing to use as a sutrah) he would plant a spear in the ground in front of him and pray towards it with the people behind him." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

The Prophet (SAW) said, "When one of you places in front of him something such as the stick on the end of a saddle, he should pray and not mind anyone who passes beyond it." (Sahih - Muslim and Abu Dawood)

START OF Morning (Fajr) Prayer

1.1

Establish the Sutrah by placing anything (about the height of a saddle) just beyond the place of prostration. Things that can be used are: a wall, chair, bed, tall pillow, tall purse, tall stick, tree, etc

Then Stand facing the Kabah in Makka in Saudi Arabia (Qibla).

Your feet should be shoulder width apart and your feet should be pointing straight.

Your eyes should be looking at the place on the ground were you will prostrate your forehead later on in the prayer

1.2

Make intention as to which prayer you are about to perform (e.g. Fajr -Morning prayer).

Note!
Intention should be in mind not verbal.
That is one should be thinking of which prayer one is about to perform.

1.3

Saying
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is Great)

Raise both your hands (with palms of hands facing Kabah ) with fingers apart (not spaced out) level with shoulders or level with top of the ears .

1.4

Place right hand on the back of the left palm, wrist, and forearm

or Grasp the left arm with the right hand

Place the arms on the chest

Whilst in this position and looking at place of prostration say the following supplication: (DUA)

"Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa la quwwata illa Billaah "

(Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god except Allaah, Allaah is Most great and there is no power and no strength except with Allaah)

Normally at this stage a Muslim would recite Surah Faatihah other wise his/her prayer would be defective.
However If a person is unable to recite al-Faatihah at all or is unable to learn it, or he has just become Muslim and the time for prayer has come and there is not enough time for him to learn it, then he is given a way out and he can recite the dua in the left hand column (i.e. "Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa la quwwata illa Billaah ") and his prayer will be valid.

This Dua is shorter and much easier to learn and pronounce.

In the mean time you should try your best to memorize Surah Faatihah and when you have learnt it you can recite it instead of the Dua at this stage of the prayer.

The following is called Surah Faatihah and it has seven verses.
.
1 Bismillah hir rahman nir raheem
2 Alhamdu lillahi rabbiL a lameen
3 Ar rahman nir raheem
4 Maliki yawmid deen
5 Iyyaka na'a budu wa-iyyaka nasta aeen
6 Ihdinas sirataal mustaqeem
7 Siratal latheena an a'amta alayhim ghayril maghdoobi alayhim walad daalleen

After reciting surah Faatihah one says
Ameen

1.5

After completing the recitation pause for a moment,
then saying
"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is Great)

raise both your hands (with palms of hands facing Kabah ) with fingers apart (not spaced out) level with shoulders or level with top of the ears go down to raku. Position below

1.6

Ruku

Place hands firmly on the knees as if grasping them, and space the fingers out
Keep elbows away from the side and arms straight.
Spread the back and make it level (In Ruku your back should be flat so much so much that if someone place a glass of water on it the water is not likely to spill. )
Do not droop head or raise it higher than the level of the back; keep it in between the two
In ruku recite the Dua
:

"Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa la quwwata illa Billaah "

(Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god except Allaah, Allaah is Most great and there is no power and no strength except with Allaah)

Or if you are confident enough to learn more say the following instead of the Dua say the following in ruku

"Subhana rab-bi yal adheem"

"Subhana rab-bi yal atheem"

"Subhana rab-bi yal atheem"

("Glory be to my Lord who is the very greatest" )(i.e. three times).

1.7

Next, whilst straightening up the back from the ruku saying:
Sami Allaahu liman hamidah,
( Allah hears the one who praises Him )

and raise both your hands (with palms of hands facing Kabah ) with fingers apart (not spaced out) level with shoulders or level with top of the ears .
And straighten your back

1.8

In the standing straight position you should be erect so that the joints of your body go back in place. Whilst in this standing position say the following

"Rabbanaa wa lak al-hamd"

(Our Lord, [and] to you be all Praise)

1.9

Then whilst saying "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is Great), separate hands from the side go down for sajdah in picture below

1.10

Sajdah

This position is called sujood or sajdah. Place your hands on the ground before your knees Support yourself on the palms, put the fingers together, and point them towards the qiblah Either put the palms level to the shoulders or Level with the ears Place nose and forehead firmly on the ground Put the knees and toes on the ground firmly, and point the front of the toes towards the qiblah Put the heels together, and keep feet upright Raise forearms above the ground and keep them away from the side enough for someone too see your arm pits from behind Straighten the spine in sujuud Once in this position, recite:

"Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa la quwwata illa Billaah "

(Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god except Allaah, Allaah is Most great and there is no power and no strength except with Allaah)

Or if you are confident enough to learn more say the following instead of the Dua say the following in Sajdah

"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"

( "How perfect is my Lord, the Most High" )(three times).

1.11

Next, raise the head from prostration while saying
"Allahu Akbar"
("Allah is Great")
Then assume the sitting position

While sitting between the two sajdahs, place your left foot along the ground and sit on it, and keep the right foot upright, with the point of the toes towards the qiblah or You can also practice iq’aa (resting on both heels, and all the toes). You should also be relaxed such that every bone is in its proper position. Whilst in this position one should say:

"'Rabb ighfir lee "

("O my Lord, forgive me " )

Note. the hands should be close to the knees and fingers spread out. one should look at the site were one will prostrate.

1.12

Next, saying

"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is Great)

prostrate for the second time.

Perform the sajdah exactly the same way as described in the first sajdah And again whilst in Sajdah say:

"Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa la quwwata illa Billaah "

(Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god except Allaah, Allaah is Most great and there is no power and no strength except with Allaah)

Or if you are confident enough to learn more say the following instead of the Dua say the following in Sajdah

"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"

( "How perfect is my Lord, the Most High" )(three times).

1.13

Next, raise the head from prostration while saying
"Allahu Akbar"
("Allah is Great")

Then assume the sitting position.

While sitting place your left foot along the ground and sit on it, and keep the right foot upright, with the point of the toes towards the qiblah

or You can also practice iq’aa (resting on both heels, and all the toes). You should also be relaxed such that every bone is in its proper position.

This concludes the First Rakah

Next, supporting yourself off the ground. get up for the second rakah, You can do this by clench your fist and thus supporting yourself with your hands when getting off the ground

Start of Second Rakah

2.1

Place right hand on the back of the left palm, wrist, and forearm

or Grasp the left arm with the right hand

Place the arms on the chest

Whilst in this position and looking at place of prostration say the following supplication: (DUA)

2.2

After completing the recitation pause for a moment, then saying

"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is Great)

raise both your hands (with palms of hands facing Kabah ) with fingers apart (not spaced out) level with shoulders or level with top of the ears go down to ruku. Position below

2.3

Ruku

Place hands firmly on the knees as if grasping them, and space the fingers out
Keep elbows away from the side and arms straight.
Spread the back and make it level (In Ruku your back should be flat so much so much that if someone place a glass of water on it the water is not likely to spill. )
Do not droop head or raise it higher than the level of the back; keep it in between the two In ruku recite the dua
:

"Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa la quwwata illa Billaah "

(Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god except Allaah, Allaah is Most great and there is no power and no strength except with Allaah)

Or if you are confident enough to learn more say the following instead of the Dua say the following in ruku

"Subhana rab-bi yal adheem"

"Subhana rab-bi yal atheem"

"Subhana rab-bi yal atheem"

("Glory be to my Lord who is the very greatest" )(i.e. three times).

2.4

Next, whilst straightening up the back from the ruku saying:

Sami Allaahu liman hamidah,

( Allah hears the one who praises Him )

and raise both your hands (with palms of hands facing Kabah ) with fingers apart (not spaced out) level with shoulders or level with top of the ears .

And straighten your back

2.5

In the standing straight position you should be erect so that the joints of your body go back in place. Whilst in this standing position say the following

"Rabbanaa wa lak al-hamd"

(Our Lord, [and] to you be all Praise)

2.6

Then Saying

"Allahu Akbar"
(Allah is Great),

separate hands from the side go down for sajdah in picture below

2.7

This position is called sujood or sajdah.

Place your hands on the ground before your knees

Support yourself on the palms, put the fingers together, and point them towards the qiblah

Either put the palms level to the shoulders or Level with the ears

Place nose and forehead firmly on the ground

Put the knees and toes on the ground firmly, and point the front of the toes towards the qiblah

Put the heels together, and keep feet upright

Raise forearms above the ground and keep them away from the side enough for someone too see your arm pits from behind

Straighten the spine in sujuud

Whilst in Sajdah one should say

Or if you are confident enough to learn more say the following instead of the Dua say the following in Sajdah

"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"

( "How perfect is my Lord, the Most High" )(three times).

2.8

Next, raise the head from prostration while saying

: "Allahu Akbar"

("Allah is Great")

Then assume the sitting position
While sitting between the two sajdahs, place your left foot along the ground and sit on it, and keep the right foot upright, with the point of the toes towards the qiblah or You can also practice iq’aa (resting on both heels, and all the toes).
You should also be relaxed such that every bone is in its proper position.

Whilst in this position one should say::

"Rabb ighfir lee "

("O my Lord, forgive me " )

Note. the hands should be close to the knees and fingers spread out. one should look at the site were one will prostrate.

2.9

Sajdah

Next, saying

"Allahu Akbar"

(Allah is Great)
Prostrate for the second time. Perform the sajdah exactly the same way as described in the first sajdah

Whilst in Sajdah one should say

Or if you are confident enough to learn more say the following instead of the Dua say the following in Sajdah

"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"
"Subhana rubbiyal a'ala"

( "How perfect is my Lord, the Most High" )(three times).

2.10

Next, raise the head from prostration while saying

"Allah u Akbar"

("Allah is Great")

Then assume the sitting position
Your Left buttocks should be on the floor. Your left leg should be bent. Outside of Left Femur should also be on the floor and your inside of your Left Tibia and foot should be protruding underneath the front of your Right Tibia (shin area).

Also the right foot can be placed upright with the toes pointing towards the qiblah or it can be placed on the ground. In this position, you will be leaning heavily on the left hand (but make sure that your left hand is placed on your thigh/knee and not the floor).

Place right palm on right thigh/knee and left palm on the left thigh/knee, and place the end of the right elbow on the right thigh. Spread left palm on left knee, clench all fingers of the right hand, point the finger adjacent (index finger) to the thumb towards qiblah, and fix sight on it.

Also when pointing with the RIGHT HAND INDEX FINGER, u can place the thumb on the middle finger

Or you can make a circle with the two fingers Move the RIGHT HAND INDEX FINGER as you supplicate with it from the start till the end of the Tashahud

Then Recite

"Subhaan-Allaah wa’l-hamdu Lillaah wa laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa Allaahu akbar wa laa hawla wa laquwwata illa Billaah "

(Glory be to Allaah, praise be to Allaah, there is no god except Allaah, Allaah is Most great and there is no power and no strength except with Allaah)

(end of Tashahud.)

2.11

Having said the above mentioned prayers, turning the face to the right. This following prayer is recited:

"Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah "

(Peace and mercy of Allah be on you).

2.12

Then turning the face to the left, the prayer above is said again:

"Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah "

(Peace and mercy of Allah be on you).

This completes the Morning (FAJR) prayer


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