The prayer description (2/5)
6. A person can pray bare foot and can pray while wearing boots if they are pure.
7. One should pray towards something that has a height morethan one hand’s span such as a pole, a wall, a stick, oranyone in front of him; with a distance of three arms, and one footpath should be between them and his sujood area, that is almost one hand’s span.
8. It is absolutely forbidden to pray towards or above graves, or in masjids which were built over graves whether the graves were for prophets or others.
9. It is forbidden to pass in front of the person who is praying whether this is in the Holy Masjid in Mecca or any other masjid unless it is necessary.
10. It is forbidden for the person who is praying towards something that have a height to allow anyone to pass in front of him.
11. Then, one says al-niyyah for the prayer he wants to pray in the heart not in speech by the tongue as it is not mentioned in the sunnah.
12. One starts the prayer by saying Takbeer (Allahu Akbar [Allah is the greatest]) and does not raise his voice during takbir in the secret prayers unless he is the imam (the prayer leader). However, al-ma’mum does not say al-takbir until the imam finishes al-takbir.
13. One raises his hands with, before or after al-takbir, spreads his fingers and directs his palms towards al-qiblah. Also, he puts his palms in the same level with his shoulders and sometimes raises them to align the tip of his ears.
14. Then one puts his right hand over the left hand on his chest or the forearm over the forearm, or hold his left hand with the right hand. It is forbidden to put his right hand on his waist.
15. One should be submissive in prayer and avoid everything that might distract him such as decorations and drawings. Moreover, one should not pray in the presence of food he desires or if he needs to go to the bathroom.
16. While standing, one should look at the sujood area and does not look left or right. Also, one should not raise his eyes into the sky or make a lot of unnecessary movements.
17. One starts by reciting some of the opening dua’a from prophet Mohammad - (PBUH)-, such as:
18. “Glory and praise be to You, O Allah. Blessed be Your name and exalted be Your majesty, there is none worthy of worship except You”.
19. Then, one seeks refuge with Allah, and says secretly: “I seek refuge with Allah from the cursed Satan”, or anything similar.
20. Then one says “In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful”, and recites surat Al-Fatihah in every raka’ah (an individual unit of salaah).
