Step 1 – Make your intention to pray

We first began the prayer by making an intention from the heart to pray to Allah. As soon as you begin, your entire focus should be on the prayer itself and nothing else.

Step 2 – Raise your hands to your ears and say ‘Allahu Akbar”

The moment you say “Allahu Akbar” the prayer will officially begin. From this point forward you should focus wholeheartedly on the prayer and do your best to ignore all distractions.

Step 3 – Lower your hands and place them over your naval. Your right hand should be placed over your left hand

Step 4 – Keep your eyes focused on the ground in front of you

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that while you praying your eyes should always look to where you will prostrate.

Step 5 – Recite the opening chapter of the Qur’an

The first chapter of the Qur’an is called Surah Fatihah. You will begin by saying this Arabic phrase: A’auodu billaahi minash-shaytaanir rajeem ‘I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan (devil).’ And then begin to recite the chapter verse by verse in Arabic: Bismillaahir ar-Rahmani ar-Raheem Al hamdu lillaahi rabbil ‘alameen Ar-Rahmani ar-Raheem Maaliki yawmid deen Iyyaaka na’aboodu wa iyyaaka nasta’een Ihdeenas siraatal mustaqeem Siraatal ladheena an ‘amta’ alayhim Ghayril maghduubi’ alayhim waladawleen

Step 6 – Bow down. This is known as the ‘ruku’

As you are bowing down say ‘Allahu Akbar’. Make sure to keep your back straight, your hands on your knees, and your eyes focused on the ground where you will be prostrating. When you are in this position you will say this sentence three times: Subhanna rabbeeyal adheem

Step 7 – Return to standing up again

As you are rising up from the ruku position to a standing position you will bring your hands to your ears and will say: Samee Allahu leeman hameeda ‘Allah hears those who praise him’

Step 8 – Go down to perform prostration. This is known as ‘sujud’

As you are moving into this position say Allahu Akbar. And also make sure your forehead, nose, palms of both hands, knees, and both toes are touching the ground.

Step 9 – Say this phrase while in sujud (prostration)

Say this sentence three times: Subhanna rabbeeyal ‘alaa How perfect is my Lord, the Most High

Step 10 – Rise up from sujud and sit for a moment

Say Allahu akbar as you rise from sujud and then sit on your left leg. Your left foot will rest on the floor while your right foot is upright. Place your hands on your knees.When you are in this position it is recommended to ask Allah for forgiveness. A simple and easy dua you can say is: Rabbigh-fir lee O my Lord, forgive me.

Step 11 – Return to the position of sujud

You will repeat step 9 again and perform a second sujud and say subhanna rabbeeyal ‘alaa three times again.

Step 12 – Arise from the sujud to return to the standing position and say Allahu Akbar

Congratulations, you have just completed one full rakah! The first rakah of every prayer is performed with these twelve steps.