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There are five pillars in Islam; one of the most important is Salah. As a Muslim if one does not perform Salah (establishment of prayer) it is a great sin. Muslims are obligated to pray five times a day. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was reported as saying, by way of instruction to us:

“If one of you has a canal of water flowing in front of his door, and he washes himself up in it five times a day, will he still remain dirty? The companions replied, no, he will become absolutely clean and pure. The prophet (pbuh) said the five daily prayers have the same effect.

Allah the Most High wipes off the dirt of sins of the one who offers them (prayers) regularly.” After one has made Wudhu, or Ablution; cleaning of ones body to prepare for prayer, he or she is ready for Salah. For the prayer to be valid one must first make sure of the following:

1. There are stated times for prayer, so first one must make sure that they are praying within the prescribed time. Times change and depend on where the sun is at during the day.Fajr- morning prayer- between the break of dawn and sunrise
Zhur-Afternoon Prayer - when the sun is at its highest peak in the sky
Asr- Mid Day Prayer around - it begins after Zhur ends and a few minutes before sunset
Mahgrib- Sunset Prayer- it begins after sunset until the disappearance f the twilight
Isha- Night prayer- begins after the disappearance of twilight until day break.

2. One must make sure that not only has he made wudhu, but also that his or her clothes are clean of impurities, such as urine, semen.

3. One must be sure that ones private parts are covered. For men that means everything from the navel to the knee, and for women that includes everything except the face and hands.

4. Finally prior to actually beginning the pray, one should face the Qibla, which in the U.S. is North due east, towards the kabbah in Mecca. Muslim do not worship the Kabbah, however it was the first place of worship established in history. Built by Abraham and his son. The purpose of Muslims facing the Kabbah is a symbolism of Unity.Imagine that five times a day, every day. That all the Muslims in the world are praying in the exact same direction. Men standing in front rows, and women in their own separate rows behind them.The rows should be straight, and there should be no gaps in between.

Men should be standing shoulder-to-shoulder and toe-to-toe, and the women should stand shoulder-to-shoulder and toe-to-toe as well.

1. To finally begin the prayer itself, one makes the intention in their heart.

2. In an upright standing position, the hands are raised from the elbow up to the shoulders, and one says, Allahu Akbar, meaning Allah is the greatest, and than places the hands on the chest, right over left. Looking down, and not looking all around where one will prostrate on the floor.

3. Next, one recites (out loud) but not o loud, and not silently; the opening ayah (literally meaning a sign) translated as chapter from the Quran.

Its called Surah Al Fatiha.

1:1 بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيم
Bismillāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm
In the name of God, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

1:2 الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِين
Al ḥamdu lillāhi rabbi l-’ālamīn
Praise be to God, the Lord of the Universe.
1:3 الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيم
Ar raḥmāni r-raḥīm
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
1:4 مَـالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّين
Māliki yawmi d-dīn
Master of the Day of Judgment.
1:5 إِيَّاك نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين
Iyyāka na’budu wa iyyāka nasta’īn
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help
1:6 اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ
Ihdinā ṣ-ṣirāṭ al mustaqīm
Guide us to the straight path;
1:7 صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّين
Ṣirāṭ al-laḏīna an’amta ‘alayhim ġayril maġḍūbi ‘alayhim walāḍ ḍāllīnThe path of those whom you have favored, not of those who have deserved Your anger, nor of those who stray.

4. If one is praying in congregation the Surahs are said along with the one who is leading, but at a tone low enough that no one can hear you except thy self.

5. Surah Al fatiha ends with the words Ameen, which is said out loud by all if praying in congregation.

6. After reciting Al Fatiha, one recites another Ayah, which may very person to person, and or even the time of the day.

7. After recitation of the second Surah, one raises his or hers hands again, and repeats Allahu akbar.

8. One then bends at the waist and places the hands on the knees. This position in called Rukuu. One than repeats three times, Subhaana Rabbiyal Azeem, meaning glory to my lord, the great.

9. Next one stands again, while saying Sami Allah hulman hamidah, meaning Allah hears him who praises him, and others praying with, as well as your self respond Rabanna Lakal hamd, meaning Our lord, to you is due all praise. This position is called Ar Rafu.

10. Next one than raises thy hands to the shoulders again, saying Allahu akabr, and prostrates by bending completely down in the position called Sujuud. In Sujuud one kneels down so that the forehead, nose, hands, and toes are all on the ground in total submission to God. In this position one repeats three times, Subhanna Rabbiyal Ala, meaning glory to my lord, the most high.

11. One than says, Allahu akbar, and proceeds to the seated position, resting for a while, and repeats the prostration of the forehead and limbs to the floor, saying allahu Akbar again.

12. One than goes back to the seated position and rest the limbs for a few seconds, and than stands in an upright position, raising hands to the shoulder and saying Allahu akbar.This completes one rakat.

A Rakat , meaning a unit. Depending on the time of prayer, the number of rakats changes. There are two rakats for the Morning Prayer, four for the afternoon prayer, four again for the mid day prayer, three for the evening prayer, and finally four for the night prayer.At the second rakat while sitting in the seated position the second time, one than says the Tashuhud, as well as in the third final rakat during the evening prayer.

“At tahiyyātu lillāhi, was-salawātu wat-tayyibātu. As-salāmu alayka ayyu han-nabiyyu wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As salāmu alaynā wa ‘alā ibādillā his-sālihīn. Ash-hadu al lā ilāha illallāhu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abaduhū wa rasūluh.”

“All worships - oral, physical and monetary - are for Allah. Allah’s peace be upon you, O Prophet, and His mercy and blessings. Peace be on us and on all righteous servants of Allah.

I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.”When saying I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger, one raises heir right index finger, like the number one.On the final rakat, be it 2,3, or 4.

One says the tashuhad again while in the seated position, followed by Salatal Nabi. Salaams on the prophet.Allah humma sal-li ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin, Kama sal-layta ‘ala Ibraheema wa ‘ala ali ibraheema innaka hameedum majeed, wa barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin, Kama barakta ‘ala Ibraheema wa ‘ala ali ibraheema innaka hameedum majeed.

O Allah, send Grace and Honor on Muhammad and on the family and true followers of Muhammad just as you sent Grace and Honor on Ibrahim and on the family and true followers of Ibrahim. Surely, you are praiseworthy, The Great. O Allah, send blessings on Muhammad and on the family and true followers of Muhammad just as you sent blessings on Ibrahim and on the family and true followers of Ibrahim. Surely, you are praiseworthy, The Great.

Finally one than announces Salams, by looking to the right shoulder and saying as sala’amu alaikum wa rahmatullah, and than to the left saying as sala’amu alaikum wa rahmatullah.

This completes your prayer.After the prayer is complete one often does a personal prayer called a Dua. That is said in ones first language and or sits and dhikrs.
Dhkir, means to remember Allah. After the prayer this is done by repeating Allahu Akbar(God is the greatest) thirty three times, Al humdulilah( Praise be to Allah) thirty three times, and Subhanallah( Glory be to Allah) thirty three times.

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