How to Perform Salah
Having cleansed yourself by Wudu, you may proceed to perform Salah. Wudu is a ritual cleansing. Before you begin your Salah, however, you must make sure that you have a clean body, a clean place to pray, and that you are wearing clothing free of impurities. The minimum clothing required during Salah is:
A. For males: Any clothing that covers from the naval to the knees. It is preferable to cover the shoulders.
B. For females: Any clothing that covers all of the body (including the head) except the face, hands, and according to Imam Abu-Hanifah the toes and a portion of the front of the feet.
The way to offer Salah is:
1. Stand upright facing the direction of Al-Ka'bah. This position is called Qiyaam and the direction is called Qiblah in Arabic. The Qiblah in North America is towards the east with a slight angle towards the north.
2. Make Niyyah (intention) in your heart for the prayer you want to pray.
3. Raise your hands to your ears and say: "Allahu Akbar." This means: (Allah is the Greatest). This is called Takbiratul Ihram
4. Now place your right hand on top of your left hand on the chest and look downward to the place where your forehead will touch the ground in the Sujood (prostration) and recite silently:
"Subhanaka allahumma wa bi hamdika wa tabara kasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuka."
سبحانك اللهم و بحمدك، وتبارك اسمك، و تعالى جدك، ولا إله غيرك
This means: "O Allah, how perfect You are and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty. There is no god but You." [Only recite this supplication, Subhanaka, at the beginning of the first Rak'ah]
Then recite silently: "A'udhu billahi minash shaitanir rajim."
أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم
This is called Ta'awwudh, and it means: "I seek shelter in Allah from the rejected Satan."
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Then recite: "Bismillahir rahmanir rahim."
This is called Tasmiyah, and it means: "In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful."
5. After this, recite Suratul Fatihah (the opening chapter) of the Noble Qur'an:
"Al hamdu lil lahi rabbil 'alamin. Arrahmanir rahim. Maliki yawmiddin. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in. Ihdinas siratal mustaqim. Siratal ladhina an'amta'alaihim, ghairil maghdubi'alaihim wa lad dhallin. (Amin)"
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