Then using your left hand...

Then using your left hand, cover your right arm from the elbow to the finger tips with poured water, then using your right hand do the same to your left. Next, without getting new water, wipe the top of you head with the wetness on your right hand fingers (usually done in a parting in your hair), and finally, similarly wipe the top of your right foot with your wet right hand from toes to ankle, and likewise wipe your left foot with your left hand.

If you are a female just finishing your monthly cycle, or if you have had intercourse or a wet dream since your last prayer, or in a few other less likely cases, instead of performing wudhu , you should perform ghusl , which is a shower, prior to your prayer. This is usually performed by rinsing your head and neck area, then your right front all the way to your toes, then your right back, left front and left back so that your whole body is touched by running water.

It is best to overlap your coverage area (do a little of the left front while washing your right front and vice versa) to guarantee coverage. Also, whenever you use the toilet, you should rinse the affected area with water three times and make sure no more urine or feces are present. Men should learn how to perform istibra , which is a process of pushing out any left over urine from the urethra.

Detailed instructions on wudhu , ghusl , istibra and so on may be found in books of Islamic laws such as “Islamic Laws” published by The World Federation and available online from . Finally, before beginning, if you are a male you should make sure your privates are covered, or preferably from the navel to the knee (more is better). And if you are female everything should be covered but hands, face and feet.

Prayer is performed facing a house of worship to God built by Prophet Ibrahim (as) in Mecca. Look at a globe and find the shortest curve from your location to Mecca (a great circle) and that will show you which way to face in prayer. For North Americans, that is Northeast. Prayer begins with Niyyat (You make an intention in your mind that you are praying so and so prayer for seeking nearness to Allah).

Then recite takbir (saying Allahoo Akbar ( God is greater than description, roughly, with hands held up by your ears). Then lower your arms to your sides.