مُرَاجَعَةٌ: الطَّهَارَةُ وَالصَّلَاةُ

Last lesson: we put together everything you have learned, as if you were praying Dhuhr step by step.

1. Before the prayer • Cleanliness: clean body, clothes and place (lesson 1). • Wudu: the four actions of 5:6, and 'Uthmaan's sunnas (lesson 2). Still valid? (lesson 3). Is ghusl needed? (lesson 4). No water, or water that would harm: tayammum (lesson 5). • The conditions: the time has begun (prayer times page of the website), the 'awra is covered, you face the qibla, the intention is in the heart (lesson 6).

2. The first rak'a Allaahu akbar, hands raised → "subḥaanaka llaahumma…" → "a'uudhu billaahi…" → "bismi llaah…" → Al-Faatiḥa → "aamiin" → a surah (lesson 7) → Allaahu akbar, rukuu': "subḥaana rabbiya l-'aẓiim" → "sami'a llaahu liman ḥamidah", "rabbanaa wa laka l-ḥamd" → Allaahu akbar, sujuud: "subḥaana rabbiya l-a'laa" → sitting: "rabbi ghfir lii" → second sujuud (lesson 8).

3. The rest of Dhuhr The second rak'a like the first (without the opening supplication) → first tashahhud → 3rd and 4th rak'as with Al-Faatiḥa alone → final tashahhud, prayer upon the Prophet ﷺ, supplication → salaam to the right and left → astaghfiru llaah, "Allaahumma anta s-salaam…", tasbiiḥ (lessons 8 and 9). Then the 2 sunna rak'as after Dhuhr (lesson 9).

4. If something goes wrong • An omission, an addition, a doubt about the number: the prostration of forgetfulness (lesson 10). • In congregation: follow the imam; if late, join him and complete (lesson 11). • Travelling or ill: shorten, combine, pray sitting or lying down (lesson 12).

The prayer that transforms "Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish the prayer: prayer restrains from indecency and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater still" (meaning of part of verse 29:45). The Prophet ﷺ compared the five prayers to a river at one's door, in which one bathes five times a day: no dirt would remain (Bukhari 528, Muslim 667). Listen to the opening of Surah Al-Mu'minuun (23:1-11) in the recitation block: it describes the successful believers, "humble in their prayer" and "who guard their prayers".

Your progress plan • Week 1: the five prayers on time, even briefly. • Week 2: the meaning of Al-Faatiḥa and of the formulas of bowing and prostration. • Week 3: the tashahhud and the prayer upon the Prophet ﷺ by heart. • Week 4: the two rak'as before Fajr, witr, and the dhikr after each prayer. • Every week: at least one Jumu'ah or congregational prayer, and one question put to the imam.

What next? The next course, "Basic Arabic", will help you understand the words you say in prayer and at the mosque.

Final exercise: pray a complete prayer in front of a teacher or a trusted brother or sister, and ask them to correct you kindly.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Purification and prayer form a single path: we purify ourselves in order to pray, and prayer in turn purifies the heart. Allah says: "Establish the prayer for My remembrance" (meaning of part of verse 20:14). Everything else (the movements, the formulas, the rules) serves this remembrance. This course has given you a clear and sound way of praying, pointing out where the schools differ. These differences should not worry you: all the major schools rely on the Sunna, and their followers have prayed side by side in the same mosques for centuries. Follow the teaching of the centre's imam, and respect those who pray slightly differently. Regularity matters more than perfection. The Prophet ﷺ said that the first thing the servant will be judged on is prayer (Abu Dawud 864, Tirmidhi 413) [À VÉRIFIER : numéros]; he also said that the deed most beloved to Allah is the most regular, even if small (Bukhari 6464, Muslim 783). Common misunderstandings: waiting to "know everything" before praying; giving up after a difficult period instead of starting again; becoming discouraged because concentration is not there yet; judging others over details on which the schools differ.

Lessons to draw from it • Make the checklist (cleanliness, wudu, conditions) a reflex before every prayer. • Follow the four-week plan, then start it again adding a sunna. • Pray in congregation as soon as possible, and ask the imam your questions. • Ask Allah to make prayer easy and beloved: "My Lord, make me one who establishes the prayer, and my descendants too" (meaning of part of verse 14:40).

Key points to remember • Before: cleanliness, wudu (or ghusl, or tayammum), time, 'awra, qibla, intention. • During: takbiir, Faatiḥa, rukuu', rising, two sujuud, tashahhud, salaam, with calm. • After: dhikr, sunnas; in case of a mistake: the prostration of forgetfulness. • Prayer restrains from indecency (29:45) and washes away sins (Bukhari 528, Muslim 667).

The main message Purifying oneself and then praying, five times a day: this is the believer's appointment with Allah. With this course you have the movements and the words; regularity and presence of heart will do the rest.