Lesson Twenty
Teaching prayer (Part one)
1- After facing Qa’aba (Qibla direction) the first thing a believer has to do in his prayer is to glorify God loudly by saying ‘God is Greater’ in Arabic language, raising up his hands with the palms opened to the ears level. This signifies that he has thrown this world behind him and turns himself to God. Note that all the recitation in prayer should be in Arabic Language only; it is only after Salam (the greetings of the end of prayer) that you can ask Allah whatever you want in any Language of your choice. See the photo.
2- Invocation of starting:
He grips the left hand with the right and puts on his chest showing the sign of unity with the prophet (cpth) and invocate: (Glory to You oh! God and praise to You, by Your blessing high Name, there is no god except You). Or you say (I turn my face to He who created the heaven and earth straight and Submissive and I am not one of the Polytheist)
3-The recitation of Al-Fatiha:
Al-Fatiha is then recited after seeking refuge of God from the cursed Satan i.e. "I seek refuge of God form the cursed Satan" . Recite as:
1- "In the Name of God the compassionate, the Merciful" .
2- "Praise is to God, the Provider of the worlds" .
3- "The compassionate, the Merciful" .
4- "The Possessor of judgement-day" .
5- "You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help" .
6- "Guide us to the straight path" .
7- "The path of those whom You have favoured, not of those who have incurred Your wrath, and not of those who have gone astray" .
Al-Fatiha carries: Praise and commendations to God, the request for help and guidance from Him (glory to Him). The holy Prophet recited it to the believers who love God and His messenger (cpth). And at the end of the last verse they say "Amiin" , meaning that, the worshiper is linked permanently to the holy prophet (cpth) with his whole heart and love. Knowing that all good, favours and provisions he has, are owing to the prayers. Then he adds a verse or verses from the holy Qur’an. After that he glorifies his Provider
‘God is greater’ and bows.
4-Al-Rukou-u (Bow to the knee):
After the above recitation, he glorifies his Provider loudly "God is Greater" bowing to the knee and say "Glory to my Great Provider" three times (3x). See photo below.
5- Rise up from the bow:
When rising up from the bow, he says: ‘God hears who praises Him’, shows his feeling that God has heard and has accepted his recitation and glorification then he says: "our Provider praise is to You" standing upright.
6- Prostration (Assujoud):
Then he says: "God is Greater" bowing down gently for prostration. This shows his submission, love and the request of nearness to God. When he prostrates he says: "Glory to my Highest Provider" 3x. Prostration depends on: the fore head, two hands opened, and straighten two knees and the feet.
7- Rising from the first prostration:
Then he rises from the prostration saying: "God is Greater" and says while sitting on his legs: "Oh! God forgive and be merciful to me"
8- The second prostration:
Then he says: "God is Greater" and prostrate the second time saying, "Glory to the Highest Provider" 3x. see the photo...
9- That marks the end of the first bow (Rakat) then he rises upright saying "God is Greater" for the next Rakat and repeat the same procedure as it is done in the first one. Different verses of the holy Qur’an can be recited after Al-Fatiha. Then Atahiyatu (Salutation) See the photo...
10- Atahiyatu (Salutation):
This is recited after each two Rakat (bows) while sitting on the legs. It is: "Blessing salutation and good prayers to God, peace, blessing and compassion of God to you oh Prophet, peace is upon us and on the pure believers of God. I testify that there is no god except the Almighty God and that, Mohammad (cpth) is His messenger. Oh! God put your blessing and favours upon Mohammad (cpth) and who refers to him as you did to Ibrahim (cpth) and who refers to him, oh! God bless Mohammad (cpth) and who refers to him as you bless Ibrahim (cpth) and who refers to him in the worlds, indeed you are harmless and praise worthy" .
Then after the believer finishes reciting atahiyatu he calls his God seeking: Oh, my Provider give good in this life and in the hereafter and protect us from the fire. Or he can ask God what he wants to ask, Then this pure believer who is linked to his Provider and facing the direction of Kaaba in prayer, wants to end up. So he must greet the prophet Muhammad, the prophets and the messengers of God i.e. "Peace and mercy of God be to you" turning his head to the right looking at the tip of his shoulder and he repeat the same greeting with head turned to the left. See the photo.....
All these actions in prayer should be done gently with total submission to God as God says: (Successful indeed are the believers. Those who offer their Salat (prayers) with all solemnity and full submissiveness) Fortress 23, Al-Mu‟minoun, verse 1-2. See the photo
