Before You Pray

A few things must be in place before the prayer begins. First, you must be in a state of purity: if you have broken your wudu, make wudu again, and if you need a full bath (ghusl), take it. The Prophet ﷺ said that the prayer of one who has broken his wudu is not accepted until he makes wudu.

Second, the time of the prayer must have come. Allah says, ﴿إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَـٰبًا مَّوْقُوتًا﴾ (“Indeed the prayer is prescribed for the believers at fixed times.”) A prayer prayed before its time has not yet become due.

Third, your body, your clothes and the place where you pray should be clean of filth (najasah), such as urine or blood, and your body should be covered: a man covers at least what is between the navel and the knees, and a woman covers all of her body except her face and hands. Allah says, ﴿وَثِيَابَكَ فَطَهِّرْ﴾ (“And purify your clothing.”)

Finally, stand facing the qiblah, the direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah. Allah says, ﴿فَوَلِّ وَجْهَكَ شَطْرَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ﴾ (“So turn your face towards the Sacred Mosque.”) When the Prophet ﷺ taught a man how to pray, he told him first to make wudu properly and then to face the qiblah.