How to do the Fajr Prayer (2 Rakah prayer)

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 above your naval. Your right hand should be placed on 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.

Although it is not obligatory, it is also highly recommended to read the following dua (supplication) after saying Allahu Akbar:

subhanakal-lahumma wabihamdika
watabarakas-muka
wataa ‘ala jadduka
wala ilaha ghayruka.

How perfect you are, O Allah. I praise you
How blessed is Your name
How lofty is Your position
And none has the right to be worshipped but You



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. However, since you do not know Arabic, read aloud in English:

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Master on the Day of Recompense
You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.
Guide us on the straight path,
The path of those who You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.

ENDQUOTE


Now you will have to recite a second portion of the Qur'an. Below is the 109th chapter:

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Say, “O you disbelievers!
I do not worship what you worship,
nor do you worship what I worship.
I will never worship what you worship,
nor will you ever worship what I worship.
You have your way, and I have my Way.”

END QUOTE



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.
Your body will resemble the shape of the number seven.

When you are in this position you will say this sentence three times:

Subhanna rabbeeyal adheem
‘How perfect is my Lord, the Magnificent’



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’

And when you are standing upright then lower your hands to your waist and say:

Rabbana walakal hamd
‘Our Lord, to You is all praise’



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, raise your hands like in the first step, and say Allahu Akbar
Congratulations, you have just completed one full rakah! The first rakah of every prayer is performed with these twelve steps.



Step 13 – Lower your hands and place them above your naval. Your right hand should be placed on your left hand.


Step 15 – Recite the opening chapter of the Qur’an
Tthen begin to recite the opening chapter al-Fatihah verse by verse:

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Master on the Day of Recompense
You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.
Guide us on the straight path,
The path of those who You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.

ENDQUOTE


Now you will have to recite a second portion of the Qur'an. Below is the 112th chapter:

In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Say: He is Allah, the One
Allah, the Eternally Besought of All
He begets not, nor is He begotten
And there is none like unto Him

END QUOTE



Step 16 – 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.
Your body will resemble the shape of the number seven.

When you are in this position you will say this sentence three times:

Subhanna rabbeeyal adheem
‘How perfect is my Lord, the Magnificent’



Step 17 – 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’

And when you are standing upright then lower your hands to your waist and say:

Rabbana walakal hamd
‘Our Lord, to You is all praise’



Step 18 – Go down to perform prostration. This is known as ‘sujud’
As you are moving into this position say Allahu Akbar.



Step 19 – Say this phrase while in sujud (prostration)
Say this sentence three times:

Subhanna rabbeeyal ‘alaa

How perfect is my Lord, the Most High



Step 20 – 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 21 – Return to the position of sujud
You will repeat step 19 again and perform a second sujud and say subhanna rabbeeyal ‘alaa three times again.


Step 22 – Perform the tashahud at the end of every two rakah
Instead of standing up after the two sujud, this time around you will sit on your legs and knees again. You will raise your right index finger and say:

At Tahiyyaatu lilaahi was Salawaatu wat tayibaatu
Assalaamu ‘alaika ayyuhan nabiyyu wa rahmatu Allahi wa barakaatuh
Assalaamu ‘alaynaa wa ‘alaa ‘ebaadillaahis saaliheen,
Ash hadu allaa ilaha illa Allah Wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhuu wa rasuuluh

All compliments, prayers and pure words are due to Allah.
Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Peace be upon us, and on the righteous slaves of Allah.
I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger

If this is the final rakah in the prayer then you will add this part to the tashahud:

O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family (or followers) of Muhammad, Just as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family (or followers) of Ibrahim,
Verily, you are full of Praise and Majesty.
O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family (or followers) of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family (or followers) of Ibraaheem,
Verily, you are full of Praise and Majesty.



Step 23 – Terminate the prayer
The ‘tasleem’: after reciting the second part of the tashahud, you will say the “tasleem.”

The tasleem is to look to your right and say:

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatu Allah

And then to look to the left and say it again:

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatu Allah