Learn Islam
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
الشَّهَادَة , The declaration of faith
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ
Ashhadu an lā ilāha illā‑llāhu
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah
وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّهِ
wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan rasūlu‑llāh
and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah
To accept Islam (الإِسْلَام), say the Shahada sincerely, out loud, with full understanding and intention.
Thereafter, a Muslim worships Allah as though they can see Allah. This is Ihsan (إِحْسَان), excellence in worship.
الوُضُوء , Ritual purification
Perform wudu before salah, handling the Quran, and other acts of worship. Steps numbered in gold are obligatory (fard); steps marked sunnah are recommended.
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Make intention (niyyah) — silently intend to purify yourself for worship.
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Wash hands three times, right then left, up to the wrists.
sunnah -
Rinse mouth (madmadah) three times.
sunnah -
Rinse nose (istinshaq) three times.
sunnah -
Wash the face three times — from hairline to chin, ear to ear.
obligatory -
Wash forearms three times, right then left, including the elbows.
obligatory -
Wipe the head (mash) — once, front to back and back to front.
obligatoryAlso wipe the ears, inside with index finger, outside with thumb.
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Wash feet three times, right then left, including ankles.
obligatoryAfter the day’s first wash, you may wipe over socks for subsequent prayers.
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Say the Shahada and Dua after completing wudu.
sunnah
الغُسْل , The full ritual bath
Ghusl is required after major ritual impurity (janabah): sexual intercourse, ejaculation, menstruation, post-natal bleeding, and entering Islam.
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Make intention (niyyah) for ghusl.
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Wash hands three times.
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Wash intimate parts thoroughly.
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Perform complete wudu as described in the Wudu lesson.
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Wash head and hair three times, ensuring water reaches roots.
obligatory -
Wash the entire body — right side then left, ensuring no area is left dry.
obligatory -
Say the Shahada upon completing ghusl.
الصَّلَاة , The prayer
Before beginning, make wudu, cover your awrah, and face the Qibla (the direction of Mecca).
Say “Allahu Akbar” between every position except when rising from bowing.
- Fajr, 2 rakahs, dawn
- Zuhr, 4 rakahs, noon
- Asr, 4 rakahs, afternoon
- Maghrib, 3 rakahs, sunset
- Isha, 4 rakahs, night
One raka, repeat at least once
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Standing, Qiyam
Place right hand over left on chest.
First raka only: “A’udhu billahi minash‑shaytanir rajeem”
I seek refuge from the accursed Shaytan.
Every raka: Recite Surah Al‑Fatiha.
At least the first two raka: Recite another surah.
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Bowing, Ruku
Say three times: “Subḥāna Rabbī al‑'Aẓīm”
Glorious is my Lord, the Most Great.
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Rising
“Sami'a‑llāhu liman ḥamidah”
Allah hears those who praise Him.
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Standing
“Rabbanā wa laka‑l‑ḥamd”
Our Lord, all praise is for You.
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Prostration, Sujud
Nose, forehead, hands, knees, and toes on the ground.
Say three times: “Subḥāna Rabbī al‑A'lā”
Glorious is my Lord, the Most High.
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Kneeling, Julus
Say twice: “Allāhumma‑ghfirlī”
O Allah, forgive me.
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Prostration, Sujud
Say three times: “Subḥāna Rabbī al‑A'lā”
Glorious is my Lord, the Most High.
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Kneeling
Return to standing for the next raka.
Second and last raka
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Kneeling, Tashahhud
Recite the Tahiyyat:
“At‑taḥiyyātu li‑llāhi wa‑ṣ‑ṣalawātu wa‑ṭ‑ṭayyibāt. As‑salāmu 'alayka ayyuha‑n‑nabiyyu wa raḥmatu‑llāhi wa barakātuh. As‑salāmu 'alaynā wa 'alā 'ibādi‑llāhi‑ṣ‑ṣāliḥīn.”
All greetings, prayers and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah.
Point the right index finger forward and say the Shahada:
“Ashhadu an lā ilāha illā‑llāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan 'abduhu wa rasūluh.”
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
Final raka
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Salam, Taslim
Turn right: “As‑salāmu 'alaykum wa raḥmatu‑llāh”
Turn left: “As‑salāmu 'alaykum wa raḥmatu‑llāh”
Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.
سُورَةُ ٱلْفَاتِحَة , The opening
“The Opener, The Key” — Quran 1. Recited in every raka of every prayer. The foundation of all supplication.
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بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Bismi‑llāhi r‑raḥmāni r‑raḥīm
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
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ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ
Al‑ḥamdu li‑llāhi rabbi l‑'ālamīn
All praise is to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
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ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Ar‑raḥmāni r‑raḥīm
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
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مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ
Māliki yawmi d‑dīn
Master of the Day of Judgement.
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إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
Iyyāka na'budu wa iyyāka nasta'īn
It is You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
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ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Ihdinā ṣ‑ṣirāṭa l‑mustaqīm
Guide us to the straight path.
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صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
Ṣirāṭa l‑ladhīna an'amta 'alayhim, ghayri l‑maghḍūbi 'alayhim wa lā ḍ‑ḍāllīn
The path of those You have blessed — not of those who earned anger, nor of those who went astray.
After reciting Al‑Fatiha in prayer, the congregation (or the worshipper alone) says Ameen (آمِين).
الأَبْجَدِيَّة , The Arabic alphabet
Arabic is written right to left. Letters change form depending on their position in a word.
- أa / ā
- بb
- تt
- ثth
- جj
- حḥ
- خkh
- دd
- ذdh
- رr
- زz
- سs
- شsh
- صṣ
- ضḍ
- طṭ
- ظẓ
- عʿ
- غgh
- فf
- قq
- كk
- لl
- مm
- نn
- هh
- وw / ū
- يy / ī
حَرَكَات , Short vowels (harakat)
- بَbafatḥa (a)
- بِbikasra (i)
- بُbuḍamma (u)
- بّbbshadda (double)