Learning Salät(Prescribed Prayer)

Surely, Prayer restrains one from indecency and manifest evil. (Al-Qur'än, 29:46)

Salät is the Muslim form of formal worship. Muslims offer Salät five times a day. This page helps you learn how to offer Salät. Various parts of salät are given below. Click the name of the part to go there. Below is a list of offerings from this page.A formal Prayer consists of units. One unit is a rak'ah and more than one units are raka'ät. A formal Islamic Prayer is 2, 3 or 4 raka'ät depending on the time of Prayer and the kind of Prayer.

There are two sajdahs in each rak'ah. Qa'da is performed in every second rak'ahand the last rak'ah. Only tashahhud is recited in a sitting (Qa'da) which is not the last one.

Adhän - Adhän is the call to prayer. When Adhän is heard, it means that the time for prayer is

approaching. The call is made before obligatory Prayers. Muadhdhin (the caller) calls out the words loudly from a point in the mosque that his call is heard far and wide in the neighborhood of the mosque or the venue of the Prayer.

Iqämah - Iqämah is recited loudly, preferably by the muadhdhin, or a person in the congregation,

just before the start of the obligatory part of the Prayer which is lead by the imäm, the person leading the Prayer.

Niyyah - Declaration of intention to engage in Prayer. Recited before a set of Prayers.

Qa'dah - Sitting down with folded left foot folded and the right foot straight up.

Qiyäm - Standing upright in Prayer.

Rukü - Bending forward with hands on knees.

Sajdah - Forehead touching the ground, hands flat on the sides, elbows raised up, knees on the

ground.

Surah Al-Fätiha - The opening chapter of the Holy Qur'an. Must be recited in every rak'ah.

Surah Al-Ikhläs - Can be substituted by other chapters or verses from the Holy Qur'an.

Ta'awwudh - Seeking protection from God against Satan.

Takbir - Procaliming the Supremacy of the Almighty at the start and during the Prayer while

changing posture.

Thanä - Glorification of the Almighty.

Learning Salät: Definitions

Adhän is the call to Formal Islamic worship, Prayer. When

Adhän is heard, it means that the time for Prayer is

approaching. The call is made before obligatory Prayers.

Muadhdhin (the caller) faces towards Ka'ba and calls out the

words loudly from a point in the mosque that his call is heard

far and wide in the neighborhood of the mosque or the venue

of the Prayer.

Adhän

Learning SalätLearning Salät

allähu akbar - allähu akbar - allähu akbar - allähu akbar

Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest.

-ash-hadu allä iläha illalläh - ash-hadu allä iläha illallähI bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah.

ash-hadu anna muhammadarrasülulläh - ash-hadu anna muhammadarrasülulläh.I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

hayya ‘alassalä - hayya ‘alassaläCome to Prayer. Come to Prayer.

hayya ‘alal-faläh - hayya ‘alal-falähCome to prosperity. Come to prosperity.

assalätu khairum-minannaum. assalätu khairum-minannaum.Salät is better than sleep. Salät is better than sleep.

(This line is recited during Adhän for Fajr only, and is skipped while making a call for other four Prayers.)

allähu akbar - allähu akbar - allähu akbar - allähu akbarAllah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest.

lä iläha illalläh.

There is none worthy of worship except Allah.

Adhän

allähu akbar - allähu akbarAllah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest.

- ash-hadu allä iläha illallähI bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah.

ash-hadu anna muhammadarrasülullähI bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah

hayya ‘alassaläCome to Prayer.

hayya ‘alal-falähCome to prosperity.

allähu akbar - allähu akbarAllah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest.

lä iläha illalläh.

There is none worthy of worship except Allah.

Iqämah Takbïr

qad qämatissalä. qad qämatissalä.The Prayer is ready. The Prayer is ready.

Niyyah

innï wajjahtu wajhiya lilladhï fatarassamäwäti wal-arda hanïfa(n)wwamä anä minal-mushrikïn.

I have turned my full attention towards Him, Who has created the heavens and the earth, being ever inclined (towards Him), and I am not among those who associate partners with Allah.

allähu akbarAllah is the Greatest.

Standing upright in Prayer. Arms are folded preferably in the Qiyäm before ruku and the arms are free falling in the Qiyäm after the ruku.

Declaration of intention to engage in Prayer. Recited before a set of Prayers.

Qiyäm

allähu akbarAllah is the Greatest.

Thanä

subhänakallähumma wa bi hamdika wa tabärakasmuka wa ta‘äla jadduka wa lä iläha ghairuka.

Glory to Thee, O Allah, praiseworthy and blessed is Thy name and exalted is Thy majesty and there is no

worthy of worship except Thee alone.

Ta‘awwudh

a‘üdhu billähi minash-shaitänir-rajïm.I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed.

Surah Al-Fätiha

bismillähir-rahmänir-rahïm.In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

alhamdulillähi rabbil-‘älamïn.All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

arrahmänir-rahïm mäliki yaumiddïn.The Gracious, the Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgement.

iyyäka na‘budu wa iyyäka nasta‘ïnThee alone do we worship, and Thee alone do we implore for help.

ihdinassirätal-mustaqïmGuide us on the right path.

sirätalladhïna ana‘mta ‘alaihim.The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed Thy blessings.

ghairil-maghdübi ‘alaihim waladdällïn.Not of those who have incurred thy displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray.

Amen. ämïn.

Surah Al-Ikhläs

wa lam yakullahü kufuwan ahadAnd there is none like unto Him.

bismillähir-rahrnänir-rahïm.In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

qul huwallähu ahad.Say, He is Allah, the One.

allähussamad.Allah, the Independent and Besought by all

lam yalid wa lam yüladHe begets not, nor is He begotten.

Allähu akbar.Allah is the Greatest.

And repeat odd number of times (three or above) in this posture:

From upright position, bend forward with your hands on knees while proclaiming:

subbäna rabbiyal-‘azïm

Holy is my Lord, the Most Great.Then, stand upright with arms hanging down while reciting:

sami‘allähu liman hamidah.Allah hears him, who praises Him.

Recite while standing upright with arms hanging freely:

rabbnä wa lakal-hamdO our Lord, and Thine is the Praise.

hamdan kathïran tayyiban mubarakan fïh.The Praise which is plenty, pure and blessed.

Go to sajdah proclaiming:

allähu akbar.

Allah is the Greatest.

Rukü

Sajdahs or SujüdForehead touching the ground, hands flat on the sides, elbows raised up, knees on the ground. There are two sajdahs in each rak'ah. There is a short sitting between the two

sajdahs.

Attain the sajdah posture and repeat the following three or more odd times during the first sajdah:

subhäna rabbiyal-a‘lä.

(Repeat three or more odd times)Holy is my Lord, the Most High.

After the first sajdah, go to the sitting posture, proclaiming:

Allähu akbar.Allah is the Greatest.

Recite the following prayer during this short sitting between the two sajdahs:

allähummaghfirlï warhamnï wahdinï wa ‘äfinï warfa‘nï wajburnï warzuqnï

O Allah, forgive me, and have mercy on me, and guide me, and grant me security, and raise me up, and make good for me my shortcoming, and

provide for me.

Go to the posture of sajdah again to perform the second sajdah while reciting:

allähu akbar.Allah is the Greatest

Repeat again three or more odd times during the second sajdah:

subbana rabbiyal-a‘lä.

(Repeat three or more odd times)Holy is my Lord, the Most High.

Rise to the next posture, qiyam (when it is not the second or the last rak'ah) or qa'dah(when it is the second or the last rak'ah), as the case may be, saying:

allähu akbar.Allah is the Greatest

Qa'dah

Tashahhud

wa ash-hadu anna muhammadan ‘abduhü wa rasüluh

And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His apostle.

attahiyyätu lillähi wassalawätu wattayyibätuAll verbal and physical acts of worship and financial sacrifices are due to Allah.

assalämu ‘alaika ayyuhannabiyyu wa rahmatullähi wa barakätuhPeace be on you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

assalämu ‘alainä wa ‘alä ‘ibädillähissälihïnPeace be on us and on the righteous servants of Allah.

(Raise index finger while repeating this expression)ash-hadu allä iläha illallähu

I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship save Allah.

Durüd

allähumma salli ‘alä muhammadi(n)wwa ‘alä äli muhammadin kamä sallaita ‘alä ibrähïma wa ‘alä äli ibrähïma innaka hamidummajïd

Bless, O Allah, Muhammad and his people as Thou didst bless Abraham and his people. Thou art indeed Praiseworthy, the Exalted.

allähumma bärik ‘alä muhammadi(n)wwa ‘alä äli muhammadin kamä bärakta ‘alä ibrähïma wa ‘alä äliibrähïma innaka hamidummajïd

Prosper, O Allah, Muhammad and his people as Thou didst prosper Abraham and his people. Thou art indeed Praiseworthy, the Exalted.

Prayers from the Holy Qur’än

rabbanä ätina fiddunyä hasanata(n)wwa fil äkhirati hasanata(n)wwa qinä ‘adhäbannär

Our Lord, bestow on us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and shield us from the torment of the Fire.

rabbij‘alnï muqimassaläti wa min dhurriyyatï rabbanä wa taqabbal du‘ä

My Lord, make me observe Prayer and my children, too. Our Lord, bestow thy Grace on me and accept my Prayer.

rabbanaghfirlï waliwälidayya wa lilmu’minïna yauma yaqümul-hisäb

Our Lord grant forgiveness to me and to my parents and to the believers on the Day of the Reckoning.

Taslïm

assalämu ‘alaikum wa rahmatulläh (Turning right.)Peace be on you and the blessings of Allah.

assalämu ‘alaikum wa rahmatulläh. (Turning left.)

Peace be on you and the blessings of Allah.

Taslïm indicates the end of a section of Prayer.

Post-Prayer Dhikr

allähumma antassalämu wa minkassalämu tabarakta yä dhul-jaläli wal-ikräm

O Allah, Thou art the peace and all peace is because of You. Thou art the bestower

of blessings, the Master of Grandeur and the Most Respecting.

Repeated after the completion of Prayer.Du'ä Qunüt

The following supplication is recited during the Vitr Prayer. The Vitr Prayer is offered preferably at the end of the voluntary Tahujjud Prayer before dawn or after the two raka'ät of sunnah after the 'Ishä Prayer. Vitr Prayer is named so as it consists of three raka'ät. This supplication is offered in the last of the three Vitr raka'ät, during the qiyäm (between rukü and the sajdah) just before sajdah.

allähumma innä nasta‘ïnuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu’minubika wa natawakkalu

‘alaika wa nuthnï ‘alaikal-khaira wa nashkuruka wa lä nakfuruka wa nakhla‘u wa

natruku ma(n)yyafjuruka allähumma iyyäka na‘budu wa laka nusallï wa nasjudu

wa ilaika nas‘ä wa nahfidu wa narjü rahmataka wa nakhshä ‘adhäbaka inna

‘adhäbaka bil-kuffäri mulhiq.

O Allah, we beseech Thy help and request Thy protection and believe in Thee

and trust in Thee and we laud Thee in the best manner and we thank Thee and

we are not ungrateful to Thee. And we cast off and forsake him who disobeys

Thee. O Allah, Thee alone do we serve and to Thee alone do we pray and make

obeisance and to Thee we flee and we are quick and we hope for Thy mercy and

we fear Thy chastisement, for surely Thy chastisement overtakes the unbelievers.