How to Perform Salah - Welcome to Islam

Introduction to Salah

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Salah (prayer) is the second pillar of Islam and a direct connection between the worshipper and Allah. It is performed atleast 5 times a day and is obligatory upon every Muslim.

Pre-conditions for Salah:

Purity: The body, clothes and place of Salah must be pure from all types of impurities.
Veiling: Men's body from navel to the knees (including knees) must be covered whereas women's whole body must be covered except the following five parts: Face, both palms, soles of both feet.
Facing towards the Qiblah.
Timings: It is necessary to offer Salah within its stipulated time.
Niyyah: This means firm intention in heart. Although verbal intention is not necessary, it is better.
Takbir E Tahrimah: Starting Salah by uttering "اللَّهُ أَكْبَر" is compulsory.

This tutorial covers 2 Rakats: The method shown applies to Fajr prayer and the first 2 Rakats of other prayers. Additional Rakats follow similar patterns.

If you find it difficult to read Salah and learn Arabic as a new Muslim, here is an easier method and tutorial:

Niyyah (Intention) & Takbir

Stand facing the Qibla and make the intention in your heart for the specific prayer you are about to perform.

اللَّهُ أَكْبَر

Allahu Akbar

Translation: Allah is the Greatest

Raise both hands up to the ears (palms facing Qibla) and say "Allahu Akbar". This is called Takbir and marks the beginning of prayer.

Tip: The intention should be in your heart - specify which prayer (e.g., "I intend to pray 2 Rakats of Fajr prayer for Allah").

Qiyam - Standing Position

After Takbir, place your right hand over your left hand below the navel (for men) or on the chest (for women). Look at the place where you will prostrate.

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghayruk

Translation: Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. Blessed is Your Name and Exalted is Your Majesty. There is no god but You.

This is the Thana (opening supplication), which is Sunnah to recite at the beginning.

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajeem Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Raheem

Translation:I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Recite Surah Al-Fatiha

Recite Surah Al-Fatiha (The Opening), which is obligatory (Fard) in every Rakat.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ۝ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ ۝ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ۝ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ۝ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ۝ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

Alhamdulillahi Rabbil 'alameen. Ar-Rahmanir-Raheem. Maliki Yawmid-Deen. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een. Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqeem. Siratal-ladhina an'amta 'alayhim ghayril-maghdubi 'alayhim wa lad-dalleen.

Translation: All praises due to Allah, Sustainer of the entire creation. The Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. Owner of the Day of compensation. May we worship You alone, and seek help from You alone. Enable us to walk the straight path. The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favour. Not of those who have been subjected to wrath, and not of those who went astray.

After completing Al-Fatiha, say "Ameen" in low volume.

Recite Another Surah

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Then recite either three short Ayaĥs or one long Āyaĥ that is equivalent to three short Ayaĥs or any Sūraĥ such as Sūraĥ Ikhlāṣ. Here is Surah Al-Ikhlas:

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ۝ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ۝ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ۝ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad. Allahus-Samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.

Translation: Say you (O Beloved), 'He is Allah, He is one. "Allah is the Independent. "He has no offspring, nor is He born from anyone. "And there is no one equal to Him.'

Tip: You can recite any Surah you know. Common choices include Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas, or Al-Kawthar.

Ruku - Bowing

Say "Allahu Akbar" and bow down, Hold knees firmly with both palms and keep fingers spread out. The back should be straight and head should also be in the straightness of the back (not lower or higher than the back); in Rukū’, focus eyesight at feet.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem

Translation: Glory to my Magnificent Lord Almighty.

Recite this at least three times while in Ruku.

Tip: Keep your head level with your back, and spread your fingers on your knees. Maintain a straight posture.

Standing After Ruku

Rise from Ruku to a standing position and stand erect; saying:

سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

Sami Allahu liman hamidah

Translation: Allāh Almighty hears whoever praises Him.

Upon standing straight, say:

رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Rabbana wa lakal hamd

Translation: O our Lord All praises are for You only.

Note: One must stay in this position for at least the amount of time in which "Subhanallah" can once be uttered, before proceeding to prostration. The standing after Rukū’ is called Qawmah.

Sujood - Prostration (First)

Then go down whilst uttering "Allahu Akbar" and prostrate, placing your knees first on the ground, then hands and then head (nose first and then the forehead) in between your hands. Make it sure that your nasal bone properly rested (not just the tip of your nose) and your forehead is firmly pressed and properly rest on the ground; in Sajdaĥ, focus eyesight at nose; keep arms separated from sides, belly from thighs and thighs from shins (but if you are in a Jamā’at then keep arms close to sides).

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Subhana Rabbiyal A'la

Translation: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

Recite this at least three times while in Sujood.

Note: The tips of all ten toes should be towards Qiblah with their soles flattened with the ground. Your palms should be flat on the ground with fingers facing Qiblah, but do not keep the forearms touching the ground.

Sitting Between Two Prostrations

Say "Allahu Akbar" then lift your head (forehead first then nose), then hands and sit up straight; keep your right foot upright with its toes facing Qiblaĥ; lay your left foot flat and sit on it; place your palms on your thighs close to your knees with your fingers facing Qiblaĥ and their tips by the knees.

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْلِي

Allahumaghfir li

Translation: O Allah, forgive me.

Tip: Sitting in between two Sujūd is called Jalsah. One must stay in this position for at least the amount of time in which "Subhanallah" can once be uttered.

Sujood - Second Prostration

Say "Allahu Akbar" and prostrate again in the same manner as the first Sujood.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Subhana Rabbiyal A'la

Translation: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

Recite this at least three times. This completes the first Rakat.

Note: After the second Sujood, you will stand up for the second Rakat saying "Allahu Akbar".

Second Rakat

Say "Allahu Akbar" and stand up for the second Rakat, raise the head first; then stand up with the support of your toes placing your hands on your knees. Do not lean hands unnecessarily on the ground while standing up. You have now completed one Rak’at.

Second Rakat Steps:

Recite Surah Al-Fatiha
Recite either three short Ayahs or one long Āyah that is equivalent to three short Ayahs or any Sūrah such as Sūrah Ikhlās.
Go into Ruku and recite "Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem" (3 times)
Stand up saying "Sami Allahu liman hamidah" then "Rabbana wa lakal hamd"
Perform the first Sujood saying "Subhana Rabbiyal A'la" (3 times)
Sit between prostrations saying "Allahumaghfir li" (once)
Perform the second Sujood saying "Subhana Rabbiyal A'la" (3 times)

Important: After the second Sujood of the second Rakat, remain sitting for Tashahhud (At-Tahiyyat).

Tashahhud (At-Tahiyyat)

After the second Sujood of the second Rakat, sit and recite At-Tahiyyat. When you are about to utter the word "لَا" in Tashahhud, form a circle with the middle finger and thumb of your right hand and put the tips of your ring-finger and the pinkie at palm; as soon as you begin to utter the word "لَا" (immediately after "اَشْهَدُ اَل"), raise your index finger without waving it side to side. When you reach "إِلَـهَ" put it down and straighten your all fingers out instantly.

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-salihin. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.

Translation: All types of worship i.e. oral, physical and monetary are for Allāh Almighty. Salutation be upon you Yā Nabī and the mercy and blessings of Allāh Almighty. Salutation be upon us and the pious men of Allāh Almighty. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh Almighty and I testify that Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is His (distinguished) Servant and Rasūl (Peace Be Upon Him).

Note: If you are offering more than two Rak‘āt, stand up erect uttering "اَللّٰهُ اَكْبَر". If it is Fard Salāh, recite only بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ and Surah-e-Fātiha in the third and fourth Rak‘āt, an additional Sūrah is not needed. The rest of the acts must be performed in the same way as before. However, if it is a Sunnah Salāh or Nafl Salāh, then Sūrah shall be added after Sūrah Fātihah in the third and fourth Rak‘āt (You must remember that if you are offering the Salāh following an Imām, you cannot recite anything in the Qiyām of any Rak‘at, you must stand quietly. Except Thana of first Rak‘āt, if you join Imam in first Rak‘āt). Once you have offered all four Rak‘āt, sit in Qa‘dah-e-Ākhirah, and then recite Tashahhud and the Durood-e-Ibrāhīm (Peace Be Upon Him).

Durood-e-Ibrāhīm (Salutations)

After Tashahhud, recite Durood Ibrahim (sending blessings upon the Prophet):

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

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid.

Translation: O Allah send Durūd on (our Master) Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and on his descendants as You sent Durūd on (our Master) Ibrāhīm (Peace Be Upon Him) and his descendants. Indeed You alone are praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah shower Your blessings on (our Master) Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and on his descendants as You showered blessings on (our Master) Ibrāhīm (Peace Be Upon Him) and his descendants. Indeed You are praiseworthy and Glorious.

Du’a-e-Māsūrah

After Durood, you may recite various supplications. Here is a common one:

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Allahumma Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina 'adhaban-nar

Translation: (O Allah) Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of hell-fire.

Khurooj E Bisun'ihi - Exiting the Prayer

Turn your head to the right and say:

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah

Translation: Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.

Then turn your head to the left and repeat the same: