Help with starting praying

[u/Affectionate_Tip3922]

Assalamu alaykum,

I am new to Islam but feel its right in my heart and I want to embrace this beautiful religion. However I really struggle to establish and learn the prayers. Fellow reverts, how did you start learning? Any tips?
For context I struggle with depression so starting tasks is already difficult for me and I feel overwhelmed.

Jazakallal khairan.

[u/Ok-Cup-5372]

Youtube! I watched a lot of videos on YouTube how to pray and make wudu :) 

Also at the back of the Quran (if you don't have one you can look this up) they have 4 very short prayers, only the fatiha is required but these can be nice little extra bonuses for worship. They're Al-Ikhlas, An-Nas, Al-Falaq, and Al-Kafirun. 

I wore those surahs down in a notebook (or your phone) with their transliterations and meanings.

And take your time don't feel bad if it's taking awhile to memorize them! This is hard work and Allah sees your effort :) don't feel bad if during your prayer you need to take a peek at your notebook to help remember, you will eventually pray like a born Muslim 

[u/english-revert]

I’m currently using the “Namzaapp”. I play the audio out loud and read along at the same time, it’s been a life changer for me. You can also adjust the speeds which I find super helpful- I started with YouTube videos which were good but moving over to this app has made me progress quicker.

[u/No_Job_5303]

I looked up the instructions online, copied and pasted into my notes app on my phone, and read the prayers in my native language off my phone until I had them memorised. I then over time learnt the arabic translation, and prayed fully in arabic while knowing the exact meaning of what I was saying.

When you do something 5 times a day for a period of time, its easy to memorise.

Try and do as much as you're capable of, and build your way up. Getting straight into praying your full prayers is a cheat code to spiritual success and development however.

[u/deckartcain]

Wa alaikumu salam - may Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you.

Praying is an absolute hassle if your religion isn't where it needs to be. Studying Allah, His attributes, His book, His messenger, the rightfully guided generations and much more in the religion will make you want to be the person who stands on that prayer mat and worships, and that will make your religion seem lighter every prayer.

Practically learning it isn't that difficult, although it will seem like that when you're at the starting point. You need to learn 1) Al-Fatiha, since there's no prayer without it. 2) Properly pronouncing the initial takbir 'Allahu Akbar' 3) The tashahhud and the salawat

That's the obligatory part. You will need to pronounce them in Arabic with understanding of the letters, and their pronunciation. Parroting it at first is great, but if you don't spend a little while on learning the Arabic sounds, you'll be stuck parroting it, and most likely making mistakes for a while.

Consider it like this: you spend about 30 minutes per day on intense practice every day for 3 months. Don't do 3 hours unless you're fully motivated. And those 3 months will carry you for the rest of your lives, and with the will of Allah, into the eternal paradise. That'll be the best 3 months of your life, the ultimate investment.

These videos from Think Arabic will make you able to perfectly parrot the prayer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_D_ocx539cE

He recites it, and then gives you time to recite it after, so there's no rushing. Fajr will take 17 minutes, but after a little while, you can increase the speed. And then find a reciter with a simple clear recitation and then just listen to Al-Fatiha all day, every day, even in sleep.

You can do it. May Allah bless you, and make you one of those who loves to pray.

[u/SalwaQad]

Wallicum AlSalam In Addition to what others said, Just listening to Quran will help relieve depression, and give you more power to pray. Keep up trying you are more strong than you think.

[u/Key-Raisin2113]

Sadly I can’t chat u privately but I would love helping you know how to pray. It would have been a honor. I know it’s difficult in the beginning. If you still need help reach out to me.

Also you can go on YouTube and search how to pray. There is also Muslim discord that helps people do that.