Step-by-Step Description of a Complete Prayer (كيفية تركيب الصلاة)
Read the bilingual lesson for Step-by-Step Description of a Complete Prayer (كيفية تركيب الصلاة) and test your understanding with a focused quiz.
Lesson
1. Preparation & Opening Takbir
إِذَا أَرَادَ الرَّجُلُ الدُّخُولَ فِي الصَّلَاةِ أَخْرَجَ كَفَّيْهِ مِنْ كُمَّيْهِ ثُمَّ رَفَعَهُمَا حِذَاءَ أُذُنَيْهِ ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ بِلَا مَدِّ • Sleeve Release: It is recommended for a male worshipper to release his hands from his sleeves before initiating the prayer. • Raising Hands: He raises both hands until they are level with his ears (while women raise them to the level of their shoulders). • Reciting Takbir: He utters "Allah-u-Akbar" without any improper vocal elongation (Madd). If the letters are elongated (e.g., reciting Aa-llah or Akbaar), the opening Tahrimah is invalid, and the prayer does not commence. • Clasping Hands: Upon completing the Takbir, he immediately clasps his right hand over his left below the navel (for men).
2. Order of Recitation during Standing (Qiyam)
وَيَقْرَأُ الثَّنَاءَ ثُمَّ يَتَعَوَّذُ ثُمَّ يُسَمِّي سِرًّا فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ قَبْلَ الْفَاتِحَةِ فَقَطْ • Reciting Thana: Immediately after clasping his hands, he recites the opening glorification (Thana) silently. • Ta'awwudh & Tasmiyah: He then recites the Ta'awwudh (seeking refuge) and Tasmiyah (naming Allah) silently. • The Operational Rule: ◦ Ta'awwudh is recited strictly in the first rak'ah of prayer before commencing recitation. ◦ Tasmiyah is recommended to be recited silently before Surah al-Fatihah in every single rak'ah. • Al-Fatihah & Surah: He then recites Surah al-Fatihah and appends another Surah or three verses.
3. Mechanics of Bowing (Ruku')
ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ رَاكِعًا مُطْمَئِنًّا وَسَبَّحَ فِيهِ ثَلَاثًا وَبَسَطَ ظَهْرَهُ وَتَسْوِيَةُ رَأْسِهِ بِعَجُزِهِ • Transitioning to Bowing: Upon completing the recitation, he utters the Takbir and bows down into Ruku' with tranquil composure. • Leveling the Back: He must flatten and level his back, keeping his head in perfect alignment with his buttocks ('Ajuz). He must neither raise his head upward nor drop it lower than his spine. • Grasping the Knees: He firmly grasps his knees with his fingers spread wide apart. • Glorification: While stationary and composed, he recites "Subhana Rabbi al-Adheem" at least three times.
4. Rising and Prostration (Sujud) Flow
ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ قَائِلًا: سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ... ثُمَّ كَبَّرَ خَارًّا لِلسُّجُودِ وَسَجَدَ عَلَى أَنْفِهِ وَجَبْهَتِهِ • Pronouncing Tasmi': While rising from the bowing posture, the Imam or solitary worshipper pronounces aloud or silently "Sami' Allahu liman hamidah". • Tahmid (Follower): Once standing completely erect in Qawmah, the follower silently pronounces "Rabbana laka al-Hamd". • Descending to Prostration: He then utters the Takbir and descends into Sujud. • Sequence of Ground Contact: He places his limbs on the ground in the following precise order: first his knees, then his hands, then his nose, and finally his forehead. • Glorification: While in prostration, he recites "Subhana Rabbi al-A'la" at least three times.
5. Sitting Postures (Jalsah and Qa'dah)
ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ مُكَبِّرًا وَجَلَسَ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ... وَافْتِرَاشُ رِجْلِهِ الْيُسْرَى وَنَصْبُ الْيُمْنَى لِلرَّجُلِ • Sitting Between Prostrations: He rises from the first prostration with Takbir and sits completely upright (Jalsah). SITTING upright between the two prostrations is necessary (Wajib). • Men's Seating Posture (Iftirash): He flattens his left foot on the ground to sit upon it, while keeping his right foot upright with the toes flexed and pointing toward the Qiblah. • Women's Seating Posture (Tawarruk): She brings both feet out to her right side and sits flat on her left buttock on the ground. • Reciting Tashahhud: Sitting in the second and final rak'ah sittings (Qa'dah), he recites the complete Tashahhud.
6. Completing the Prayer with Salaam
ثُمَّ يُسَلِّمُ يَمِينًا وَيَسَارًا، فَيَقُولُ: "السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ" نَاوِيًا مَنْ مَعَهُ مَعَ الْمَلَائِكَةِ • First Salaam: He turns his face to his right side, pronouncing: "Al-Salamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullah". ◦ Intention: He intends greeting the worshippers, angels, and righteous jinn on his right side. • Second Salaam: He turns his face to his left side, repeating: "Al-Salamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullah". ◦ Intention: He intends greeting the worshippers, angels, and righteous jinn on his left side. • Neck Turning: He turns his head sufficiently in both directions so that the whiteness of his cheeks can be seen by those seated behind him.
Practice questions
Question 1
What is the correct physical sequence of placing limbs on the ground when descending into prostration (Sujud)?
- Forehead, then nose, then hands, then knees.
- Hands, then knees, then nose, then forehead.
- Knees, then hands, then nose, then forehead.
- Knees, then forehead, then hands, then nose.
Question 2
If a worshipper elongates the vowels of the opening Takbir (e.g., reciting Aa-llah or Akbaar), the opening Tahrimah is valid and the prayer is correct.
Question 3
Match the gender with its respective مسنون sitting posture (Qa'dah) in Hanafi Fiqh:
Question 4
Under what condition must a male worshipper keep his hands inside his sleeves when reciting the opening Takbir?
- Always, in all seasons.
- Only during voluntary prayers.
- Only under extreme cold or physical excuse, otherwise releasing them is recommended.
- Only when praying behind an Imam.
Question 5
The follower (Ma'mum) is legally required to recite both Tasmi' ("Sami' Allah...") and Tahmid ("Rabbana laka al-Hamd") aloud.
Question 6
How is the physical alignment of the head determined during the bowing posture (Ruku')?
- The head should be raised significantly higher than the back.
- The head must be dropped lower than the spine.
- The back must be flattened and the head must be level in line with the buttocks.
- The posture does not have any specific rules.
Question 7
Reciting the Ta'awwudh ("A'udhu billah...") is required before Surah al-Fatihah in every single rak'ah of a four-unit prayer.
Question 8
What must a worshipper intend when turning his face to the right and left for the closing Salaam?
- Only his family members.
- Worshippers, recording angels, and righteous jinn in that direction.
- Only the Imam.
- No intention is required at all.
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