Alhamdulillah wa salatu wa salam ala rasulullah (SAW) amma ba'd... Assalamualikum
Many of us learned how to pray from our parents .They learned from their parents and it just went on. This is mostly in case of asian families where many people put their culture into their Salah (not to offend anyone). So here are the steps to offer your Salah properly: [Note: Make sure you go through the meaning so you can concentrate in them during Salah to have khushoo (concentration) rather than letting your mind wander in wordly things]
Step 1: Enusre cleaniness
This includes your body, your clothes, and the place of prayer itself.
Perform wudhu.
Make sure all of your necessary parts are covered. The awrah of a man is considered to be between the navel and the knees; for a women, her entire body except the face and palms.
Make sure area is clean. If not place a prayer mat.
Step 2: Face the Qibla
This is the direction all we face to turn in prayer toward Kabah.
Step 3: Pray at the proper times
The five prayers of each day take place at very specific times. The five prayers are Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha. They are at dawn, immediately after noon, in the mid-afternoon, at sunset, and at night, respectively. They are not at the same time each day as they are timed by the sun, which changes path throughout the seasons.
Step 4: Make the intention
Before initiating the salat, it is important that your intention be known and understood. Not necessarily aloud, but from within.
Step 5: Raise your hands to your ears and say Allahu Akbar
This means 'Allah is Greater".
Step 6: Place your right hand over your left and look at your sajda place
Recite opening prayer: subhanakal-lahummawabihamdika watabarakas-muka wataaaalajudduka wala ilaha ghayruk. (Glory be to you, O Allah, and all praises are due unto you, and blessed is your name and high is your majesty and none is worthy of worship but you.)
Then recite Surah Fatiha and any other Surah you want.
Step 7: Do rukoo
Bend down .
While bending, say "Allah - Akbar."
Once you are bent to the proper angle, say, "Subhanna - Rabbeyal - Azzem'" three times. This translates to, "Glorious is my Lord, the most great."
Step 8: Stand back up
Whilst rising up recite "Samey - Allahu - leman - Hameda." This means, "Allah hears those who praise Him."
Whilst standing up recite Rabana Walakal Hamd once. This means, " O our Lord, and all praise is to you."
Step 9: Do sajdah
Whilst doing that say, "Allah - Akbar."
When you are positioned fully, say "Subhanna - Rabbeyal - Alla " three times. This means, '"Oh Allah, glory be to you, the most High".
It was narrated from Al ‘Abbas bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib that : He heard the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) say: “When a person prostrates, seven parts of his body prostrate: his face, his two palms, his two knees and his two feet.” (Sahih)
So make sure only these seven parts are in contact with the ground, not any other.
Step 10: Rise from sajdah and sit on your knees
Recite "Rabig - Figr - Lee" twice which means "Lord, forgive me."
Return to sajda and, just as before, say "Subhanna - Rabbeyal - Alla" three times.
Step 11: Arise from sajdah
Stand up and say, ""Allah - Akbar." You have completed 1 Rakat. Depending on the time of day, you may need to complete up to three more.
In every second rakaat, after second sajda, sit on your knee again and recite tashahud. "At-tahiy-yatu lil-lahi was sala-watu wat-tay yibatu, As-salamu 'alayka ay-yuhan-nabiy-yu wa rahma tullahi wa bara-katuhu, As-salamu 'alayna wa'ala 'ibadil-la his-sali-heen, Ash hadu al-la ilaha il-lal lahu, wa ash hadu an-na Muhammadan 'ab-duhu wa rasuluh."
This means "All compliments, all physical prayer, and all worship are for Allah. Peace be upon you, Oh Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings. Peace be on us and on all righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that no one is worthy of worship except Allah. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger."
Step 12: Do tasleem
Recite tashahud and durood in the last rakah.
Durood : "Allah humma sal-li 'ala Muhammadin, wa 'ala ali Muhammadin, Kama sal-layta 'ala Ibraheema, Wa'ala ali Ibraheema, innaka Hameedum Majeed. Allah humma barik 'ala Muhammadin, wa 'ala ali Muhammadin,Kama barakta 'ala Ibraheema Wa 'ala ali Ibraheema, innaka Hameedum Majeed.
This means:"Oh Allah, send grace and honour on Muhammad and On the family and true followers of Muhammad just as you sent Grace and Honour on Ibrahim and on the family and true followers of Ibrahim Surely, you are praiseworthy, the Great. Oh Allah, send your blessing on Muhammad and the true followers of Muhammad, just as you sent blessings on Ibrahim and his true followers. Surely, you are praiseworthy, the Great."
Then recite a dua and do tasleem.
Turn your head to the right and say, "As Salam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu'." The angel who records your good deeds is to this side.
Turn your head to the left and say, "As Salam Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu'." The angel who records your wrongful deeds is to this side.
If I made any mistakes, it was from Shaytan and my own mistakes. If anything you find is useful, is from Allah as He guides whom He wills.
JazakAllahu Khairan. BarakAllah Fekkum and Salam...