"I can’t memorise Al fatihah yet. How should I pray?"

Are you a brand-new Muslim revert who wants to pray but you cannot recite or memorise the Surah Al Fatihah yet? Or perhaps you can’t recite or memorise the other Adhkar (plural of Dhikr; phrases of remembrance of Allah) in Salaah yet too?

Well, do not fret. Allah is Most Gracious and Most Merciful, and He is more merciful towards us than we are to ourselves, and He does not burden us with more than we can bear. “Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear…” (Qur’an, 2:286)

Just try to learn to recite these 6 phrases.
The first 4 phrases are:
1. Sub-Hanallah
2. Wal-Hamdu-lillah
3. Wa-laa ilaaha ill Allaah
4. Wal-LAAhu akbar
And…
The last 2 phrases are:
1. Allaahu akbar
2. Assalaamu álaikum

That, basically, is all that is required of you for the time being (as you do the movements of the Salaah prayers).

So, during your 5 daily prayers, you can do just that. You may use this video as a guide, in shaa Allah.

Difficult to remember the 6 phrases? Write these 6 phrases on a big piece of paper and place it next to you when you are doing the movements of the prayer. Or play this video on the floor near you as you pray.

In the meanwhile, you can start learning the Surah Al-Fatihah during your free time. And when you feel that you are ready with your Surah Al-Fatihah, you can slowly incorporate that into your five daily prayers. Same with the other adhkar.

By the way, you can also say the following instead of the first 4 phrases:
1. sub-Hanallah
2. al-Hamdu-lillah
3. laa ilaaha ill Allaah
4. Allaahu akbar

Notice that the “wa” is missing in Phrases 2 to 4. “Wa” just means “and” in Arabic. So, it’s alright if add it or if you leave it out. No worries, in shaa Allah.

What do these 6 phrases mean?
1. sub-Hanallah (how perfect God is!)
2. al-Hamdu-lillah (all praise & thanks to God) / wal-Hamdu-lillaah (and all praise & thanks to God)
3. laa ilaaha ill Allaah (there is none worthy of worship except God) / wa laa ilaaha ill Allaah (and there is none worthy of worship except God)
4. wall-LAAhu akbar (and God is the greatest)
5. Allaahu akbar (God is the greatest)
6. Assalaamu álaikum (Peace be with you)

Alright, so that’s it, I suppose, in a nutshell!

I hope that you will try your best not to miss any of your 5 daily prayers. The only thing that prevents you from praying 5 times a day is laziness. And laziness is well-loved by shaytan. He loves to encourage you to be lazy. So fight shaytan off. Don’t let him win.
If you can’t pray standing due to sickness, sit down to pray. And if you can’t sit, lie down to pray. Basically, don’t miss it. Ever.

Remember, your 5 daily prayers is obligatory. It will be the first question that will be asked of you on the Day of Judgement. So, try to be punctual. I sincerely and truly believe that you can do it, in shaa Allah!

May Allah make it easy for you. Ameen!

v.m.

References:
www.iisna.com
https://islamqa.info/en/378
https://islamqa.info/en/5410
https://www.newmuslims.com/lessons/92/
additional: https://islamqa.info/en/103886

Image Credits:
https://www.newmuslims.com/lessons/92/
www.prayerinislam.com/fatwas-rulings/prolonged-supplication-in-the-final-prostration-permissible/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DP90u...
https://suraucintarasul.files.wordpre...
http://en.al-feqh.net/Salat/Descripti...

P.S. : ((By the way, if you are even more adventurous and confident, you can start praying your five daily prayers, while at the same time, playing these following videos by your side, using your mobile or laptop, in shaa Allah.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKxdx...
Slow (step-by-step) Fajr Salah For Beginners (With Transliterations)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j75I...
Slow (step-by-step) Zuhr, Asr or Isha Salaah For Beginners (With Transliterations) ))