← Back to Essentials
Further prayer learning
RecommendedFollow-on learningDaily words and meanings
Prayer becomes less intimidating when repeated Arabic words begin to feel familiar and meaningful.
Category
Further prayer learning
Many new Muslims feel that prayer is one long sequence of unfamiliar sounds. Learning the repeated words helps the prayer feel ordered and understandable.
This page is a beginner glossary for the words that keep returning in salah and Qur'an recitation.
Do not try to memorise everything at once. Let the words become familiar through seeing them, hearing them, and using them in prayer.
Start Here
Most useful first words
Prayer basics
3 termsSalah is one of the greatest obligations in Islam and one of the pillars on which Islam is built.
The worshipper faces the qiblah in prayer.
Each rak'ah includes standing, bowing, and prostration.
Qur'an words
1 termsIt is the central recitation of the prayer.
Prayer positions
2 termsIt comes after the standing recitation.
It is one of the clearest positions of humility before Allah.
Preparation
1 termsPurification is the key to prayer.
Prayer times
2 termsIt is one of the five obligatory daily prayers.
It is one of the five obligatory daily prayers.
Further prayer learning
1 termsWitr is an important night prayer after Isha and is commonly learned as part of a Muslim's steady prayer routine.