Islamic Education: Namaz(prayer) method

Salah (Prayers) Step by Step with Illustrations

Al-'Uboodiyyah (Ibadah)
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Uboodiyyah is a comprehensive term that asserts the meaning of the Verse (Aayah):

“You Alone do we worship and You Alone do we seek for Help.” (Qur'an 1: 5)

It comprises the slavery of the heart, tongue and limbs to Allaah ta`aala. The slavery of the heart includes both the qawl (saying of the heart) and `amaal (actions of the heart). The qawl of the heart is the belief (i`tiqaad) in what Allaah has informed about His Self, His Names and Attributes, His Action, His Angels, and that which He revealed in His Book and sent upon the tongue of His Messenger Muhammad sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam (i.e. peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)
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The `amaal of the heart include love for Allaah, reliance upon Him, turning to Him in repentance, fearing Him, having hope in Him, devoting the Deen sincerely to Him, having patience in what He orders and forbids, having patience with His decrees and being pleased with them, having allegiance for His pleasure, having humility for Him and humbling oneself in front of Him, and becoming tranquil with Him.

The qawl (saying) of the tongue is to convey what Allah has revealed (in the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah) regarding Himself, His Names and Attributes, His Actions, His Commands, His Prohibitions, and all that is related to this Deen), to call to it, defend it, to expose the false innovations which oppose it, and to establish its remembrance and to convey what it orders.

The `amaal (actions) of the limbs include the Salaat (prayers), jihaad, attending the Jumu`ah prayers and the rest of the jamaa`aat (congregational prayers), assisting those who are unable, and acting with goodness and kindness to creation, and other such acts.

This comprehensive meaning of the `Uboodiyyah pertains to its specific type. The people who fall under this type of `Uboodiyyah are the believers who obey, love, and sincerely follow the deen of Allaah ta`aala.

The second type of `Uboodiyyah is the general one in which all creatures in the heavens and in the earth are subdued to Allaah's sovereign Authority and Power; everything is subservient to His Will, and Authority; nothing occurs or ceases to occur except by His leave; His is the Kingdom and He disposes the affairs as He pleases. This type of `Uboodiyyah is known as the `Uboodiyyah of qahr (Subduing) and Mulk (Sovereignty, Kingship, Possession, Mastership, etc.).

So, the part of the Aayah signifying, “You do we worship” asserts the adherence to the four principles of `Uboodiyyah: The sayings of the heart, the actions of the heart, the sayings of the tongue, and the actions of the limbs.

The other part, “You Alone do we seek for Help,” stresses the fact that the believer must ask Allaah alone to help him establish the `Uboodiyyah and succeed in executing.

The Manner of Performing Prayers:

This prayer guide is a step by step guide to learning how to pray. Prayer is called Salah in Arabic. You may hear it called Namaz if you come across Muslims from Turkey or the Indian subcontinent but the proper name is Salah

The prayer guides in this section are for level 2 students. If you are at beginner or intermediate stage please refer to the prayer guides on this following link Beginners guide to prayer.
Preparation for prayer

Before starting the prayer, a person must be perfom wudhu (ablution)

However if a person has had a wet dream or sex then they should perform Ghusl.

Ghusl should also be performed at the end of a women period of menstruation has ended and at the end of 40 days after childbirth (unless the bleeding stops before completing the 40 days period, then she must make the Ghusl as soon as the bleeding stops).

Ghusl in Islam means the bathing of the entire body with water. Proof of its legitimacy is embodied in the Holy Qur'an as follows: And if ye are in a state of ceremonial impurity, bathe your whole body (Qur'an 5:6)

PRAYER TIMINGS:

Prayer timings vary throughout the globe and slight variations from day to day due to changes in daylight hours.

There are five obligatory prayers which are performed at five different times of the day.

1 FAJR PRAYER (The Morning Prayer)

It is the first of the five obligatory prayers of the day. It starts at dawn and ends at sunrise. Thus it can be prayed between these points. But it is best to pray at the beginning of its time (i.e. just after start of dawn)

2 DHUHR PRAYER .(The Early Afternoon Prayer )

It starts when the sun begins to decline from its zenith and ends when the the size of an object's shadow is equal to the objects size.

3 ASR PRAYER (The Late Prayer )

It starts when an object's shadow is equal to the objects size and ends when just before sunset.

It is better to pray Asr before the sky becomes yellow (even though it is allowed to pray at such a time) because the Prophet ( peace be upon him) disliked Muslims praying at such as time and. He remarked that the the Munafiq (Hypocrite ) offers his pray at this time.

4 MAGHRIB PRAYER (The Sunset Prayer ) .
Its time begins just after sunset and ends when twilight has just disappeared

5 ISHA PRAYER (The Night Prayer )
It starts when twilight has disappeared and ends before midnight

Performance of Salah

1. Intention (it is a determination in the heart that you are performing a particular salah; not to be uttered).

2. Face the direction of the qiblah (Sacred House in Makkah Known as Ka'bah). Raise your hands to the level of the shoulders, or earlobes, and say:

“ALLAHU AKBAR”

Standing Facing Qiblah and Making Takbeer with Raised Voice 3. Place the right hand over the left on the chest. Look at the place of prostration without

Hands on the Chest; Right Hand over the Left

Bowing (rukoo') Position in Salah
“Subhanna rabbiyal 'adheem” (3 tmes)
Standing Erect (Qiyaam) after Rukoo':
“Sami'Allahu li man hamdidah”, “Rabbana walakal-hamd”

The sujood (prostration) & juloos (sitting)

Read: Subhaana Rabiyyal-'Alaa” (3 tmes)

Sitting for tashahhud (testification of Faith): First tashahhud
Read : “Attahiyyaatu lillaahi wassalawaatu wattayyibatu. Assalaamu 'alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyi warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuh. Assalaamu 'alyna wa 'ala 'ibaadillaahis saaliheen. Ashhadu an laa ilaaha illallaah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasooluh.”