This lesson is about what you actually say during the prayer. Most of the prayer is made up of movements, but at fixed points certain words are recited, and the most important of them is the opening chapter of the Qur'an, Surah Al-Fatihah.

Al-Fatihah is recited while standing, in every single unit of every prayer. That makes it the first thing to learn by heart. Its seven verses are short, and many people learn them within a few days of steady practice.

Here is what it means, in the English translation shown on the page: "In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. It is You we worship and You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favour, not of those who have evoked Your anger or of those who are astray."

Notice the shape of it. It begins with praise of Allah, moves to a promise that we worship Him alone and rely on Him alone, and ends with the request every Muslim makes many times a day: to be guided.

This narration does not recite the Arabic. On the page you will find the Arabic text, and a recording of a human reciter that you can play verse by verse. Listen to it, repeat after it, and if you can, recite it to a teacher who can correct you.

In the first two units of each prayer, Al-Fatihah is followed by a short extra portion of the Qur'an. For beginners this is often one of the short chapters near the end of the Qur'an, such as Al-Ikhlas or An-Nas, though any portion is valid.

Beyond the Qur'an, short fixed phrases are said at specific points. The declaration that Allah is the Greatest is said at the opening of the prayer and at most changes of position. When rising from the bow, though, it is not used. Instead, the prescribed words of hearing and praise are said, as reported in Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith 789.

Words glorifying Allah are said while bowing and while prostrating, and the testimony called the Tashahhud is recited while seated. The previous lesson goes through all of these position by position.

Start with Al-Fatihah. Once it is secure, add one short chapter. The next lesson looks at the common mistakes beginners make in the prayer, so that you can avoid them from the start.