Hi does anyone know of any good sites where I can learn how to pray. I've been given a book, but I dont really understand it. I.e., which prayers and positions for each of the five prayer times.
Any help would be appreciated!
It's a good idea to find a book in an Islamic centre, preferably one with a tape or CD. You should also listen to the Imam at the Masjid, because it's quite difficult to pronouce the words in the book.
It's a good idea to pray on a mat or rug, because then you are sure that you are praying on a clean surface. If you get a prayer rug, you should get one of those thick velvety ones, as they are very comfortable, but if you get a thin one, you should avoid praying on a hard surface, because the mat is not thick enough to provide a soft surface.
Where as sisters (which I asume you are) just need to wear normal hijab, bros are recomended to also wear headgear, which can be a turban or an Arabic head dress, but is usually a brimmless cotton cap, or a round wollen cap called a kufi. Masjids often have a box full of them. It's also recomended for bros to wear a top with long sleves.
How to learn prayer:
You should also do it in steps. Start by learning the positions:
1. Stand, and put hands up near ears.
2. Stand with hands folded against the body, right hand over left.
3. Bow, making back at about 90 degrees from legs, holding knee caps with hands.
4. Stand with arms at sides.
5. Prostrate on the floor, with arms and lower legs off the ground.
6. Kneel, with hands on knees.
7. Prostate again.
That is one rakah, or unit, of prayer. To do more rakahs, simply repeat steps 2-7 again. The dawn prayer requires two rakahs, the mid-day prayer four, the afternoon prayer four, the sunset prayer three, and the night prayer four.
Every two rakahs, and at the end of the prayer, you have to return to the kneeling position from the prostration in step 7, and raise your finger. You will eventually need recite something here. After doing this, simply do the rest of the rakahs.
