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The Day One guide

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IN-MI

Your first day as a Muslim

A short guide from the International New Muslim Institute

Shahadah is the beginning, not the finish line.inmiusa.com

In this guide

Welcome. You do not need to learn everything this week. This guide has only what you need for your first days.

  1. 1What you saidThe words of the Shahadah, and what they mean.page 3
  2. 2WuduThe washing before prayer. Eight steps, about two minutes.page 4
  3. 3The five prayersWhen each prayer is, and how long it is.page 5
  4. 4How to prayWhat to do and what to say, from start to finish.page 6
  5. 5This weekFive things to do now. Everything else can wait.page 11
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1

What you said

The words of the Shahadah, and what they mean.

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ

Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah.

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

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2

Wudu

Do this before each prayer. You only need to do it again if you use the toilet, sleep, or pass wind.

  1. 1Intend it and say BismillahMean it in your heart. Say "Bismillah", in the name of Allah.
  2. 2Wash your handsUp to the wrists, three times.
  3. 3Rinse your mouthTake water in, swirl it and spit it out, three times.
  4. 4Rinse your noseBreathe a little water in and blow it out, three times.
  5. 5Wash your faceFrom your hairline to your chin and ear to ear, three times.
  6. 6Wash your armsFrom fingertips to above the elbow. Right arm first, three times each.
  7. 7Wipe your head and earsWet hands over your head from front to back, then wipe your ears. Once.
  8. 8Wash your feetUp to and over the ankles, between the toes. Right foot first, three times each.
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3

The five prayers

Each prayer is made of units. One unit is standing, bowing and prostrating, in that order. In Arabic a unit is called a rak'ah.

  1. 1FajrDawn, before sunrise2 units
  2. 2DhuhrJust after midday4 units
  3. 3AsrLate afternoon4 units
  4. 4MaghribJust after sunset3 units
  5. 5IshaNight4 units
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4

How to pray

Say what you can while you learn. Read from this page if you need to.

One unit, in order

  1. 1Stand and say Allahu akbar
  2. 2Say Al-Fatihah
  3. 3Bow
  4. 4Stand up again
  5. 5Prostrate
  6. 6Sit for a moment
  7. 7Prostrate again

After every two units, and at the end of the prayer, you sit. The words for the sitting are on page 9.

1Start the prayerRaise your hands and say this. Say it again each time you move.

Allahu akbar

Allah is the Greatest.

ٱللَّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

2Standing: Al-FatihahSay this in every unit, standing, facing the qiblah.

The words of Al-Fatihah are on the next page.

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Al-Fatihah

Say this in every unit, standing, facing the qiblah.

  1. 1

    Bismillahir-rahmanir-rahim

    In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

    بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

  2. 2

    Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil-'alamin

    All praise is for Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

    ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

  3. 3

    Ar-rahmanir-rahim

    The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

    ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

  4. 4

    Maliki yawmid-din

    Master of the Day of Judgment.

    مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ

  5. 5

    Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in

    You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.

    إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

  6. 6

    Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim

    Guide us to the straight path.

    ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ

  7. 7

    Siratal-ladhina an'amta 'alayhim, ghayril-maghdubi 'alayhim wa lad-dallin

    The path of those You have blessed, not of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray.

    صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

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3BowingHands on your knees, back straight. Say it three times.

Subhana rabbiyal-'adhim

Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ

4Standing up againSay the first line as you rise, the second once you are standing.

Sami'allahu liman hamidah

Allah hears the one who praises Him.

سَمِعَ ٱللَّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

Rabbana wa lakal-hamd

Our Lord, all praise is Yours.

رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْدُ

5ProstratingForehead, nose, hands, knees and toes on the ground. Say it three times.

Subhana rabbiyal-a'la

Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ

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Sitting

After every two units, and at the end of the prayer. Sit back and say this.

  1. 1

    At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat

    All greetings, prayers and good things belong to Allah.

    ٱلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَٱلصَّلَوَاتُ وَٱلطَّيِّبَاتُ

  2. 2

    As-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

    Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

    ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

  3. 3

    As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-salihin

    Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah.

    ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلصَّالِحِينَ

  4. 4

    Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh

    I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.

    أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

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The last sitting

In the last sitting only, say this after the words on page 9. Then end the prayer.

  1. 1

    Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka hamidun majid

    O Allah, send Your grace on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent it on Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are the Most Praised, the Most Glorious.

    ٱللَّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

  2. 2

    Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka hamidun majid

    O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are the Most Praised, the Most Glorious.

    ٱللَّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

6Ending the prayerTurn your head to the right and say it, then to the left and say it again.

As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah

Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.

ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ

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5

This week

Five things. Everything else can wait.

  1. 1Pray what you canStart with the prayers you can manage. Add one more each day.
  2. 2Learn Al-FatihahSeven short lines. You say it in every unit of every prayer.
  3. 3Go to Jumu'ah on FridayThe Friday midday prayer at your nearest masjid. Tell someone there you are new.
  4. 4Eat halalNo pork and no alcohol. The rest can come later.
  5. 5Tell us you took ShahadahJoin IN-MI for free so someone can check in on you.
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Shahadah is the beginning, not the finish line.