Muslim prayers?

Question

How do you conduct the prayers? Do you really have to wash yourself before? What if you don't know the direction to Mecca or how to speak Arabic? Thanks for your help!

I am new at being a Muslim.

Answer 1

Hmm.... I don't know where to start :D!
Firstly, congratulations for accepting Islam! May God accept it from you, and may He bless you in this world and in the next. You're gonna have to overcome MANY difficulties (from non-Muslims and anti-Muslims), but you have held Allah's hands, and that's what's most important.
Yes, you hav to wash yourself before starting the prayer; that washing is called "wudu". Although you don't have to do it for every single of the 5 prayers, it's always a great idea to walk around with a clean body and mind, you know? You perform wudu by washing your private parts first, washing your hands, washing your mouth, then your nose, then your face, then your arms up to the elbow, and then your feet, ankles included (all this washing is done 3 times).
While you're diong this, try to praise God as much as you can.
You can only do this with clean water, of course. Also have an intention of performing this wudu in order to please God, in order to get closer to God. During this time, it's also a wonderful idea to ask God for anything you want; He'll give it to you if it's good for you. Or just pray for others or yourself or something.
The direction of the Mecca can always found with a compass; get one so you can know. If you DON'T know, ask other Muslims around you, but if you can't find any Muslims around you, you can choose any direction in which you can pray, and stick to that direction UNTIL you find the correct one. God understands your intention, and intention is the most important thing to Him.
If you can't speak Arabic, no problem, BUT you must try to learn the prayer ("salaat") in Arabic from someone else or from some Islamic sources. Until then, it's perfectly fine for you to pray in English.
I've cited some links below that I hope will be able to help you; do visit them! If these aren't helpful, I strongly suggest asking other Muslims around you.... There ARE some, trust me, even if you're not living in a Muslim country; you just don't know about them :D.
If you've any more questions, feel free to IM/email me.
May God's Blessings and Mercy be upon you and your loved ones, in this world and in the next.

Answer 2

Assallam mu alaikom warah matullah hi ta'ala wabarakatuh.

Alhamdulillah. U are a Muslim. It is very easy to learn and do the prayer. Yes. Of course b4 U do your prayer, U need to wash yourself -Wuthu' -with water or Tayamum - with fine surface of desert sand or any of its kind ( provided there is no water available or limited, otherwise U need to use water from pond, river or sea if available).
Perform your prayer five times a day ( Please get a Muslim friend to demonstrate the sequence of performing the prayer).
It is an advantage if U know the direction towards Mecca, However, if U do not know, U can still perform your prayer just following your instinct - the actual kiblat is your heart, doesn't matter where U face, if U do not know, But if U know the direction, U have to face to the direction.
U do not have to know Arabic language, as long as U know the surah (Al Quran) and able to recite Fatihah - Alhamdulila hi rab bil aalamin till the end, U can perform your prayer. However, it is an advantage if U could speak and understand Arabic Language.

Wabillah hi taufik wal hidayat.
Wassallam mu alaikom warah matullah hi ta'ala wabarakatuh.

Answer 3

There is a wonderful book called The Art of Sufi Healing that shows you EVERYTHING including every position used inthe prayers and the phonetic sounds of the Arabic prayers that you must know to pray.

It also explains traditional herbal remedies used by Muslims for healing and prayers for different illnesses. It's the best beginners book out there. Fully illustrated too.

Don't listen to the negative answers above. Islam is a beautiful faith. I don't know where you live, but you can get the book through Amazon.com for about $8 used.
I hope I don't offend you, but HOW did you become Muslim? The reason I ask is that there is usually someone who helps you with these things when you IQRAR or convert.

Answer 4

Prayers are conducted in a very specific manner and have certain rules. They are too many to state here but basically you have to wash yourself in the manner of ablution first, then stand towards mecca, then make an audible intention to pray and say Allahu akbar and start the prayer.

The direction of mecca is very easy to find. Look it up on an online map and make a logical deduction as to which direction youre gonna face when youre praying. If youre afraid that you will face the wrong direction, make an intention like: God, I am directing my prayers to the qibla.

You must have memorized certain chapters of the Quran in order to pray. These are Al Fatiha and some smaller verses towards the end of the Quran: An Nas, Al Falaq etc

You must start every rak ah with a fatiha and continue with a smaller chapter or number of verses...you may translate these to your own language (english) after you read them so you may connect with the Creator better.

Please refer to an islamic website or a book as to how each of the 5 prayers are done.

Masha Allaah and good luck hon :)

Answer 5

Salem, you conduct the prayer with respect, remember you are talking to Allah, washing it is a must, the direction to Mecca it is always east and you don't know Arabic in many Mosque there is instruction in learning Arabic. You need Arabic to read the Koran. I hope my answer was helpful. Masalema.

Answer 6

Yeah, you have to wash yourself. It's hard to explain how to conduct prayers through this medium, I suggest you visit a mosque, explain that you're new at Islam, and let them teach you. The direction of Mecca is....well refer to your map, if you're in the US then it's northeast, depends on your location. You don't neccesarily need to learn Arabic, just memorize some arabic verses, not that hard.

Finally, welcome sister. You can ask me anything if you want to ask any more questions :)

Peace out.

Answer 7

Masha'Allah sister. Welcome to Islam! May God shed His infinite mercy on you. Well here is the quickest version of prayer I could find you:
Make wudu (ablution) by washing hands 3 times (in a little cusped circle), then putting water in ur mouth and nose and spitting it out (rinse) 3 times, then wash ur face 3 times, then wash ur right arm (to the elbow) 3 times, then ur left arm 3 times, then wash the top of ur hair ONCE, the rinse ur ears ONCE, then wash ur right foot (to the ankle) 3 times, then ur left foot.

Pheww...onto prayer. make sure u have the intent to pray!

Stand straight pointing the QIblah (Mecca) which is usually East if ur in America. Divert ur gaze to the floor and focuse. Then put ur rigt hand over ur left on ur chest/stomach. Then say the fatiha (opening chapter of QUran). You can use English until you learn arabic. Then say a small Surah (verse of your choice). I recommend Surah Ikhlass (112) It is short and easy to remember. (Note: between all movements you say Allahu-akbar). Then you bend so that ur hands are on ur knees (while standing). You say Subhana Rabi'al Allah 3 times. Then u stand back up staright for like one second. Then you prostrate on the floor with ur hands at ur sides and ur forehead on the ground. You say Subana Rabi-al Atheem 3 times. Then you come to a sitting position with ur calves tucked underneath ur thighs. You wait a second and then prostrate again and say subhana rabi-al atheem 3 times again. The you stand up after the 2nd prostration and repeat EVERYTHING I just told you. But on the second "unit" this time you don't stand back up. You return to ur sitting position after ur prostrations (bowings).

Instead you say Atta-hi yat. A different supplication which I can't explain in ENglish so instead you can think some good thoughts at that point. Theeen (if ur are doing a 2-unit prayer nad not a 4 unit..which is a whole other story...) u look to ur right and say Salamalakum rahmatallah and then look to ur left and say that. Ur prayer is done! woooo

Answer 8

Congratulations! I know you will find much happiness and fulfillment in your new beliefs.

I suggest you go to the local Islamic Center for help with some of your questions, they will be happy to help. There are also many sites others have listed here that should give you some of the direction you need.

Answer 9

1) please ask any of ur muslim friend or go to any mosque near to u to get the complete way of offering prayer. and learn how to wash ur self
2) For macca direction again ask of ur muslim friend for that.
3) yes u have to say in arabic while offering prayer. and that verses u can learn easily from any of ur muslim friend.
even from net u can learn arabic words and way how to offer prayer

Answer 10

Yes you do have to wash, it's called wudhu. Just face north east and you'll be in he right direction.