Interpretation of Sunni Salat in English

[kevynbello]

Upon a friend's request in wanting to try to perform Salat in English, with me never having performed Salat in my entire lifetime, had put upon myself today the task of putting together, with the help of translations from the internet, an English form of the Contact Prayer. Please correct anything that seems off, but the structure of the way of following I have borrowed from www.submission.org.

Yes, it has some Muhammadan intercession, but then again, my friend is Sunni, lol.

1. Face the Qiblih, or the East.

2. State your intention, the time of prayer and the number of rak'ats.

3. Raise your hands to the sides of your face, with thumbs touching the ears and palms faced forward and say

"God is Most Great"

whilst moving them from the face towards the sides or letting them rest on your heart, left hand over the right one.

4. For the first unit, you may choose to recite either these two short prayers

"Glorified and praised art Thou, O God! Blessed be Thy name, exalted be Thy majesty, and none is worthy of worship save Thee."

or

"O God! Separate me from my sins as Thou dost separate the East and the West.
O God! Cleanse me of my sins, even as a white garment is cleansed from dust!
O God! Wash me of my sins with water, snow and hail!"

And then (for the first unit only), say

"I seek refuge in God from Satan, the Rejected"

5. Recite "The Key"

"In the name of God, the Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy.

Praise belongeth unto God, Lord of the Worlds,
The Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy,

Master of the Day of Judgment.

It is Thee we worship; it is Thee we ask for help.

Guide us unto the straight path
the path of those whom Thou hast blessed, those who incur no anger and who have not gone astray.

Amin."

6. You may choose to chant or recite a chapter from the Qur'an.

7. Again, bring the hands parallel to the face, thumbs touching the earlobes and palms faced forward. Through the motion downwards for the hands to come to the sides of the hips, say "God is Most Great".

8. Bow with hands on the knees, saying "God is Most Great" through the movement.

Whilst in bowing position, say "Glorified be my Lord, the Supreme"

9. Stand up from the bowing position and say

"God listeneth unto the one who praiseth Him"

and

"Our Lord! All praise be to Thee!"

Make a prostration, saying "God is Most Great" through the motion.

10. Whilst the head is bowed, say thrice

"Glorified be my Lord, the Most Exalted"

11. Then raise your head into sitting position, whilst saying "God is Most Great" through the motion.

Say while sitting, "O Lord! Forgive me, and have mercy on me!"

Again, make another prostration, saying "God is Most Great".

Whilst bowed, say

"Glorified be my Lord, the Most Exalted"

Thus ends one full unit. Stand up for the second unit.

12. After finishing the second unit, be in sitting position and recite

"In the name of God! Greetings belong unto God, prayers belong unto God, pure actions belong unto God. Peace be upon thee, O Prophet, and God's mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and all the righteous servants of God..."

Place right hand on the right thigh, tapping index finger calmly, and continue to recite.

"...I bear witness that there is none other god but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Servant and Messenger of God."

13. Then say

"O God! Bestow Thou grace and honour upon Muhammad, upon the family and true followers of Muhammad, even as Thou didst bestow grace and honour upon Abraham and upon the family and true followers of Abraham. Verily, Thou art Praiseworthy, Great.

O God! Bestow Thou blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family and true followers of Muhammad, even as Thou didst bestow blessings upon Abraham and upon the family and true followers of Abraham. Verily, Thou art Praiseworthy, Great."

14. Salute the right, saying

"Peace and the Mercy of God be with you."

Salute the left, saying

"Peace and the Mercy of God be with you."