A Simple Guide to Performing Salah

So, here’s how I pray, step by step. I start by standing up straight, and I raise both hands up to my chest. Then I say “Allahu Akbar.” After that, I recite Surah Al-Fatiha: “Bismillaahir ar-Rahmani ar-Raheem. Al hamdu lillaahi rabbil ‘alameen. Ar-Rahmani ar-Raheem. Maaliki yawmid deen. Iyyaaka na’aboodu wa iyyaaka nasta’een. Ihdeenas siraatal mustaqeem. Siraatal ladheena an ‘amta’ alayhim. Ghayril maghduubi’ alayhim waladawleen.” Next, I bow down and say “Subhanna rabbeeyal adheem” three times. Then I stand back up, raising my hands to my ears, and say “Samee Allahu leeman hameeda.” I place my hands on my chest again and say “Rabbana walakal hamd.” After that, I go into prostration, putting my forehead on the ground, and say “Subhanna rabbeeyal ‘alaa.” I sit up on my legs and say “Rabbigh-fir lee,” then go back into prostration and say “Subhanna rabbeeyal ‘alaa” again. That’s one rakat. For Fajr, I do two rakats, and for Asr, I do four. To finish the prayer, I turn my head to the right and say “Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatu Allah,” then to the left and say it again.