Performing Salah
How to Perform Salah.
Having cleansed yourself by Wudu, you may proceed to perform Salah. Wudu is a ritual cleansing. Before you begin your Salah, however, you must make sure that you have a clean body, a clean place to pray, and that you are wearing clothing free of impurities. The minimum clothing required during Salah is: A. For males: Any clothing that covers from the naval to the knees. It is preferable to cover the shoulders. B. For females: Any clothing that covers all of the body (including the head) except the face, hands, the toes and a portion of the front of the feet. The way to offer Salah is:1. Stand upright facing the direction of Al-Qa’bah. This position is called Qiyaam and the direction is called Qiblah in Arabic.
2. Make Niyyah (intention) in your heart for the prayer you want to pray.
3. Raise your hands to your ears and say: “Allahu Akbar” This means: (Allah is the Greatest).
4. Now place your right hand on top of your left hand on the chest and look downward to the place where your forehead will touch the ground in the Sujood (prostration) and recite silently:
سبحانَكَ اللهمَ وبِحَمدِكَ تَباركَ اسمُكَ وتَعالَى جَدُّكَ ولا إلَهَ غيرُك
Pronunciation : Subhanaka allahumma wa bi hamdika wa tabara kasmuka wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk. “O Allah, how perfect You are and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty. There is no god but You.”
[Only recite this supplication, “Subhanaka”, at the beginning of the first Rak’ah]
Then recite silently:
Pronunciation : Subhanaka allahumma wa bi hamdika wa tabara kasmuka wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk. “O Allah, how perfect You are and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty. There is no god but You.”
أعوذُ باللهِ منَ الشَّيطانِ الرَّجيم
Pronunciation: A’udhu billahi minash shaitanir rajeem. “I seek shelter in Allah from the rejected Satan.”
[This is called Ta’awwuz]
Then recite:
Pronunciation: A’udhu billahi minash shaitanir rajeem. “I seek shelter in Allah from the rejected Satan.”
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Pronunciation: Bismillahir rahmanir raheem. “In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful.”
[This is called Tasmiyah]
Pronunciation: Bismillahir rahmanir raheem. “In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful.”
5. After this, recite Surat-ul-Fatihah (the opening chapter) of the Noble Qur’an:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ،الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ، مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ، إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ، اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ، صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
Pronunciation: Alhamdulillahi rabbil ‘aalameen. Arrahmaanir raheem. Maliki yaumiddeen. Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’een. Ihdinas siratal mustaqeem. Siratal lazeena an’amta’alaihim, ghairil maghdoobi’alaihim wa lad dhaalleen. (Aameen) “All praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the most Gracious, the most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, from You alone we seek help. Guide us along the straight path – the path of those whom You favored, not of those who earned Your anger or went astray.”
[You must recite Surat Al-Fatihah in each unit (Rak’ah) of the prayer, if you pray alone. However, if praying behind an Imam and he recites loudly, then it is not necessary for you to recite it.]
Pronunciation: Alhamdulillahi rabbil ‘aalameen. Arrahmaanir raheem. Maliki yaumiddeen. Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’een. Ihdinas siratal mustaqeem. Siratal lazeena an’amta’alaihim, ghairil maghdoobi’alaihim wa lad dhaalleen. (Aameen) “All praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds, the most Gracious, the most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, from You alone we seek help. Guide us along the straight path – the path of those whom You favored, not of those who earned Your anger or went astray.”
6. Now recite any other Surrah from the Noble Qur’an. For example:
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ، اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ، لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ، وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Pronunciation: Bismillahir rahmanir raheem. Qul hu wal lahu ahad, allahus samad, lam yalid wa lam yulad, wa lam ya kul lahu kufuwan ahad. “In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful. Say, He is Allah, the One. Allah is Eternal and Absolute. He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none co-equal unto Him.”
7. Now bow down saying: “Allahu Akbar” and place your hands on your knees and say silently three times:
Pronunciation: Bismillahir rahmanir raheem. Qul hu wal lahu ahad, allahus samad, lam yalid wa lam yulad, wa lam ya kul lahu kufuwan ahad. “In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful. Say, He is Allah, the One. Allah is Eternal and Absolute. He begets not, nor was He begotten. And there is none co-equal unto Him.”
سُبحانَ رَبِّيَ العَظيم
Pronunciation: Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem. “How Perfect is my Lord, the Supreme.”
This position is called Rukoo’. Keep your head in-line with your back, and look downward to the place of Sujood.
Pronunciation: Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem. “How Perfect is my Lord, the Supreme.”
8. Stand up from the bowing position saying:
سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Pronunciation: Sami’Allahu liman hamidah. “Allah hears those who praise Him.” رَبَّنَا ولكَ الحَمد Pronunciation: Rabbana walakal-hamd. “Our Lord, praise be to You.”
9. Prostrate on the floor saying: “Allahu Akbar” with your forehead, nose, palms of both hands, your knees, and toes all touching the floor. Then recite silently three times:
Pronunciation: Sami’Allahu liman hamidah. “Allah hears those who praise Him.” رَبَّنَا ولكَ الحَمد Pronunciation: Rabbana walakal-hamd. “Our Lord, praise be to You.”
سُبحَانَ رَبِِّيَ الأعْلَى
Pronunciation: Subhaana Rabiyyal-‘Alaa . “How Perfect is my Lord, the Highest.”
This position is called Sujood. Keep your arms away from the sides of the body and the ground.
Pronunciation: Subhaana Rabiyyal-‘Alaa . “How Perfect is my Lord, the Highest.”
10. Sit up from the floor saying Allahu Akbar. Sit upright with your knees bent and palms placed on them and say:
رَبِّي اغفِر لِي
Pronunciation: Rabbighfir li. “O my Lord! Forgive me.”
Say “Allahu Akbar” and again prostrate in the Sujood position. Recite “Subhana Rabbiyal A’la” three times. Sit up from this position saying “Allahu Akbar”
This completes the first Rak’ah. Now stand up for the second Rak’ah and perform it in the same way, except that you do not recite Subhanaka at the beginning, and after the second Sujood (prostration) you sit on the left leg while keeping the right foot upright and put your right hand on the right thigh, with all fingers together in a fist except the index finger. Stick the index finger straight out. Put your left hand on the left thigh. Now recite Tashahhud:Pronunciation: Rabbighfir li. “O my Lord! Forgive me.”
ﺍَﻟﺘَﺤِﻴَّﺎﺕُ ﻟِﻠَّﻪِ ﻭَﺍﻟﺼَّﻠَﻮَﺍﺕُ ﻭَﺍﻟﻄَّﻴِّﺒَﺎﺕُ ﺍﻟﺴَّﻠَﺎﻡُ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻚَ ﺃَﻳُّﻬَﺎ ﺍﻟﻨَّﺒِﻲُّ ﻭَﺭَﺣْﻤَﺔُ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﻭَﺑَﺮَﻛَﺎﺗُﻪُﺍﻟﺴَّﻠَﺎﻡُ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻨَﺎ ﻭَﻋَﻠَﻰ ﻋِﺒَﺎﺩِ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﺍﻟﺼَّﺎﻟِﺤِﻴﻦَﺃَﺷْﻬَﺪُ ﺃَﻥْ ﻟَﺎ ﺇِﻟَﻪَ ﺇِﻟَّﺎ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪُ ﻭَﺣْﺪَﻩُ ﻟَﺎ ﺷَﺮِﻳﻚَ ﻟَﻪُ ﻭَﺃَﺷْﻬَﺪُ ﺃَﻥَّ ﻣُﺤَﻤَّﺪًﺍ ﻋَﺒْﺪُﻩُ ﻭَﺭَﺳُﻮﻟُﻪ
Pronunciation: Attahiyyaatu lillaahi wassalawaatu wattayyibatu. Assalaamu ‘alaika ayyuhan-Nabiyyu warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuh. Assalaamu ‘alaina wa ‘ala ‘ibaadillaahis saaliheen. Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluh. “All compliments [Allaah is free of all imperfection, His is the dominion, Magnificence, Endless existence belongs to Him], prayers, and pure words and deeds, are due to Allaah. May Allaah grant the Prophet safety from all defects and imperfections and keep his message safe from all evil; [may Allaah grant him] mercy and honor. May safety and security be granted to us and to all the righteous slaves of Allaah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.”
In a three-Rak’ah Salah (as in Maghrib) or a four-Rak’ah Salah (Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha) you stand up for the remaining Rak’ah(s) after you have done Tashahhud. For a two-Rak’ah Salah you remain seated after Tashahhud and then recite silently Darood-e-Ibrahimiyah:
Pronunciation: Attahiyyaatu lillaahi wassalawaatu wattayyibatu. Assalaamu ‘alaika ayyuhan-Nabiyyu warahmatullaahi wabarakaatuh. Assalaamu ‘alaina wa ‘ala ‘ibaadillaahis saaliheen. Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illallaah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluh. “All compliments [Allaah is free of all imperfection, His is the dominion, Magnificence, Endless existence belongs to Him], prayers, and pure words and deeds, are due to Allaah. May Allaah grant the Prophet safety from all defects and imperfections and keep his message safe from all evil; [may Allaah grant him] mercy and honor. May safety and security be granted to us and to all the righteous slaves of Allaah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.”
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ. اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Pronunciation: Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama sallaita ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem innaka Hameedun Majeed, wabaarik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhamaad kama baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem innaka Hameedun Majeed. “O Allah! Praise Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as You Praised Ibraaheem, and the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. And send blessings on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent blessings on Ibraaheem, and the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.”
After this say:
Pronunciation: Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama sallaita ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem innaka Hameedun Majeed, wabaarik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhamaad kama baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem innaka Hameedun Majeed. “O Allah! Praise Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as You Praised Ibraaheem, and the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. And send blessings on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent blessings on Ibraaheem, and the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.”
اللهم إني أعوذ بك من عذاب جهنم، و من عذاب القبر، و من فتنة المحيا و الممات، و من فتنة المسيح الدجال، رب اغفر لي و لوالدي رب ارحمهما كما ربياني صغيرا
Pronunciation: Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min adhabi jahanam wamin adhabil qabri wamin sharri fitnatil mahya wal mamat wamin sharri fitnatil masihid dajjaal. Rabbi-ghfir li waliwalidayya, rabbi-rhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira. “O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the torment of the Hellfire, from the torment of the grave, from the trials and afflictions of life and death, and from the deception of the False-Christ. O my Lord! Grant me and my parents forgiveness, and bestow Your mercy upon them, just as they brought zme up when I was small.”
Now turn your face to the right saying:
Pronunciation: Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min adhabi jahanam wamin adhabil qabri wamin sharri fitnatil mahya wal mamat wamin sharri fitnatil masihid dajjaal. Rabbi-ghfir li waliwalidayya, rabbi-rhamhuma kama rabbayani saghira. “O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the torment of the Hellfire, from the torment of the grave, from the trials and afflictions of life and death, and from the deception of the False-Christ. O my Lord! Grant me and my parents forgiveness, and bestow Your mercy upon them, just as they brought zme up when I was small.”
السَّلامُ عَلَيكُم وَرَحمَةُ اللهِ وبَرَكَاتُه
Pronunciation: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah. “Peace and the mercy of Allah be on you.”
and then to the left repeating the same words.
This completes the two-Rak’ah Salah.
In the three or four-Rak’ah prayers (Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha) the whole procedure is repeated in the remaining Rak’ah(s), except after Tashahhud, you say “Allahu Akbar” and stand up and only recite Surat Al-Fatiha in Fard prayers and no other Surah, then continue doing the rest of the actions as you have done before (Rukoo’, rising, Sujood). Then stand again for the fourth Rak’ah.
Also, in the last Rak’ah of any prayer, after you have made your Sujood, sit up and silently recite both Tashahhud and Salatul Ibrahimiyyah. At the end of any prayer, you must finish by making Tasleem.
When to Recite Aloud or Silently:
During obligatory Fajr prayers, you recite the Qur’an aloud in both Rak’ahs. You also recite the first two Rak’ahs of the obligatory prayers of Maghrib and ‘Isha aloud as well.
However, the third and fourth Rak’ahs are always recited silently during obligatory prayers. Also, in the Dhuhr and Asr prayers, the recitation is always silent for all four Rak’ahs.
Furthermore, the one who leads Jumu’ah prayers (Friday prayer in place of Dhuhr) will recite the Qur’an aloud.Pronunciation: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah. “Peace and the mercy of Allah be on you.”