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Before Salaat
1. Body, clothes and place of prayer must be clean.
2. Perform wudu (ritual ablution) if needed.
3. Women are required to cover their hair.
4. Face the Qibla, the direction of Mecca.
5. Stand erect, head down, hands at sides, feet evenly spaced. ![]()
6. Recite Iqama (private call to prayer):
| Allaahu Akbar (4x) Ashhadu Allah ilaaha illa-Lah (2x) Ash Hadu anna Muhamadar rasuulullah (2x)
|
God is great. (x4) I bear witness that there none worthy of worship except God. (x2)
|
7. Express intent to perform Salaat (niyyat):
I intend to offer _____ rakats of the ____ prayer, and face the Qibla for the sake of Allah and Allah alone.
(For example: "I intend to offer the 4 rakats of the Isha prayer and face the Qibla
for the sake of Allah and Allah alone.")
![]()
Begin Salaat
1. Niyyat: Stand with respect and attention; put the world behind you.
Bring hands to ears, palms forward, thumbs behind earlobes and say (The entire prayer must be recited in Arabic, but for your information we give the English translation
next to the Arabic transliteration) :
| Allahu Akbar |
God is great. |
2. Qiyam: Place right hand over left, men below navel, women at chest
level; look at the ground in front of you and recite Opening Supplication (optional):
Subhaana
ala humma wa bihamdika
wa tabaara kasmuka
wa ta'aalaa jadduka
wa laa ilaaha ghairuk
* * *
A'uudhu billaahi minash
shaitaan ar-Rajeem
Glory
to You, O Allah, and Yours is the praise.
And blessed is Your Name,
and exalted is Your Majesty.
And there is no deity
to be worshipped but You
* * *
I seek refuge in Allah
from Satan, the accursed.
3. Fatiha: Recite aloud the Fatiha, the first surah of the
Qur'an.
Bismillaah
ar-Rahman ar-Raheem
Al hamdu lillaahi rabbil
'alameen
Ar-Rahman ar-Raheem
Maaliki yaumid Deen
Iyyaaka na'abudu wa
iy yaaka nasta'een
Ihdinas siraatal mustaqeem
Siraatal ladheena
an 'amta' alaihim
Ghairil maghduubi'
alaihim waladaaleen
Aameen
In
the name of God, the infinitely Compassionate and Merciful.
Praise be to God, Lord
of all the worlds.
The Compassionate, the
Merciful.
Ruler on the Day of Reckoning.
You alone do we worship,
and You alone do we ask for help.
Guide us on the straight
path,
the path of those who
have received your grace;
not the path of those
who have brought down wrath, nor of those who wander astray.
Amen.
For
the first two rakats at any time of prayer, recite an additionalshort selection from the Qur'an after al Fatiha.
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4. Ruk'u: Hands drop to sides; bend from waist, palms on knees, back
parallel to ground; look at feet.
| (While bending:) Allahu Akbar
(While bent:) Subhanna |
God is great. Holy is my Lord, the Magnificent. |
5. Qauma: Rise from bending to standing, arms at sides.
| (While rising:) Sami' allaahu liman hamidah (Response from congregation:) (Standing straight, pause:) Allahu |
Allah listens to him who praises Him. Our Lord, to You is due God is great. |
6. Sudjood: Prostrate-hands on knees, lower slowly to kneeling position; touch forehead, nose and palms to ground (but not elbows); bend toes so tops of feet face the Qibla.
| Subhaana rabbiyal 'Alaa (3x)
(Pause:) Allahu Akbar |
Glory to my Lord, the Most High. God is great. |
7. Qu'ud: Rise to sitting position, looking at lap. Men turn up heel of right foot, right toes bent; women keep both feet, soles up, under body.
| (Pause:) Allahu Akbar |
God is great. |
8. Sudjood: Prostrate again.
| Subhaana rabbiyal 'Alaa (3x)
(Pause:) Allahu Akbar |
Glory to my Lord, the Most High. God is great. |
9. Qu'ud: Rise to sitting position;
pause
pause ![]()
10. To proceed to the second and fourth rakats:![]()
| (While rising:) Allahu Akbar |
God is great. |
Return to standing position recite al-Fateha |
Then recite the Fatiha, (if this is the second rakat of any time of prayer, recite another
short portion of the Qur'an); continue the second or fourth rakat
with Ruku.... ![]()
11. To complete every second rakat and the last rakat:![]()
Remain seated and recite At-Tashahhud:
| At Tahiyyaatu lilaahi was Salawaatu wat tayibaatu As Salaamu 'alaika ayyuhan nabiyyu wa rahmatul laahi wa barakaatuh As Salaamu 'alainaa wa 'alaa 'ebaadillaahis saaliheen, (Hands on knees, raise right forefinger:) Ash hadu allaa ilaah ilallaah Wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhuu wa rasuuluh |
All greetings, blessings and good acts are from You, my Lord.
|
To proceed to the third rakat:![]()
| (While rising:) Allahu Akbar |
God is great. |
Return to standing position recite al-Fatiha |
Recite the Fatiha and continue third rakat with Ruk'u.... ![]()
At the end of any time of prayer (when all rakats have been completed):![]()
Remain seated, recite At-Tashahhud, and then recite the Salawat:
| Allaahumma salli 'alaa Muhammadin wa 'alaa ali Muhammadin Kamaa sallaita 'alaa Ibraaheema wa 'alaa ali Ibraaheema Innaka hameedun Majeed
|
O Allah, bless our Muhammad and the people of Muhammad; As you have blessed Abraham and the people of Abraham. Surely you are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. O Allah, be gracious unto Muhammad and the people of Muhammad; As you were gracious unto Abraham and the people of Abraham.
|
To Complete the Prayer: Look over right shoulder (toward the angel
recording your good deeds), then the left (toward the angel recording your
wrongful deeds); say each time:
| As Salaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatulaah |
Peace and blessings of God be upon you. |
Say personal prayers with hands cupped and palms up at chest level.
Wipe face with palms.
If praying in a group, stand and greet each other individually,
saying: "May God receive our prayers."
At-Tashahhud
is a recreation of the conversation held between Allah and the Prophet
Muhammad (peace and blessing upon him) during the night of the Heavenly
Ascent (Miraj)








