Salaah in Islam is a unique institution. It brings man closer to Allah by harmonising his mental attitude with physical posture. In Salaah, a Muslim submits himself completely to his creator.
When you are sure that you have fulfilled all the necessary conditions for Salaah, you are ready to offer Salaat. A detailed account of how to say Salaah is given below.
Method of Salaah
Say to yourself that you intend to offer this Salaah (Fajr, Dohr, Asr, Maghrib or Isha) Fardh or Sunnah. Then raise your hands to your ears Saying:
Allahu Akbar
(Allah is the greatest)
Now Placing you right hand on the left, just below, above or on the navel
Recite the following:-
Subhanaka Allahum-Ma Wa Bi Hamdika
O Allah, Glorified, praise worthy.
Watabaraka Kamuka Wata’ala Jaddoka
And blessed is Thy name and exalted Thy Majesty
Wa La Ilaha Ghayroka
And there is no deity worthy of worship except Thee.
A’U thu Bil La Hi Minashaitanir Rajim
I seek refuge in Allah from the rejected Satan
Bismi Lah’ir Rahman Ir Rahim
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
After this recite the opening Surah, Al-Fatiha:
Nb:- For Corresponding Arabic Text Refer to Holy Quran
Alhamdo Lil Lahi Rab Bil A’lamin
Praise be for Allah, Lord of the Worlds
Ar Rahman Ir Rahim
The Beneficent, the Merciful
Maliki Yaumiddin
Master of the Day of Judgement.
Iyya Ka Na Bu Do WA Iyya Ka Nas Taeen
Thee alone we worship and to Thee alone we turn for help.
IhDi Nas SiRaTal Mus Ta Qeema
Guide us in the straight path.
Sira Tal La Thina An Amta Alaihim
the path of those whom you favoured
Ghairil Magh Du Bi Alaihim
And who did not deserve Thy anger
WA Lad Dall Lin (Amin)
Or went astray.
Now recite the following or any other passage from the Holy Qura’n:
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
Qul Ho Wal Laho Ahad
Say: Allah is one and the only God.
Allah Hus Sa Mad
Allah, upon whom all depend.
Lam Yalid Wa Lam Yu Lad
He Begets not, nor is he Begotten,
WA Lam Yak’ul La Hu Kufu Wan Ahad
and there is nothing which can be compared to him.
Now Bow down saying:
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the greatest.
Place your hands on your knees and in this inclined position (Ruku) recite these words thrice:
Subha Narab Bi Yal Atheem
Glory to my Lord the Great.
Then come to the standing position Saying:
Sami Allahu Li Man Hami Dah
Allah has heard all who praise Him.
Rab Ba Na Lakal Hamd
Our Lord: Praise be to Thee.
Now Saying “Allahu Akbar” Prostrate on the ground with your forehead, the knees, the nose & palms of both hands touching the ground. In this position(Sajdah – as in fig. 5 repeat these words three times at least:
Subhana Rab Bi Yal A’Ala
Glory to my Lord, the most high.
Subhana Rab Bi Yal A’Ala
Glory to my Lord, the most high.
Sit upright with knees still on the ground after a moments rest perform the second Sajdah saying:
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the greatest.
In the second sajdah as before recite the following word thrice:
Subhana Rab Bi Yal A’Ala
Glory to my Lord, the most high.
This completes on rakah of Salah. The second rakah is said in the same way except that after the second Sajdaj you sit back, with the left foot bent towards right, which should be placed vertical to the mat. The palms should be lifted from the mat & placed on the knees.
In this position silently say these words(Tashahhud):
At Ta Ya To Lil Lahi Wa Sala Wato Wa Tay Yi Bato
All prayers & Worship through words, action & sanctity are for Allah only.
As Sa La Mo Alaika Ay Yo Han Na Biy Yo
Peace be on you, O Prophet.
Wa Rah Ma Tul La Hi Wa Bara Ka To Hu
and mercy of Allah and His blessings.
As Salmu Alaina Wa Ala Iba Dil Lahis Saliheen
Peace be on us & on those who are righteous servants of Allah.
Ash Had Du Al La Ilaha Il La Laho
I bear witness tp the fact that there is no diety but Allah.
Wa Ash Ha Du An Na Muhammadan Ab Du Hu
And I bear witness that Muhammad is his slave & messenger.
In a three rakah(i.e. Maghrib) or Four rakah(like dhohr, Asr & Isha) Salah you stand up for the remaining rakah after Tashahhud. On the other hand if it is a two rakah(Fajr) Salaah, keep sitting and after this recite Darood (blessing for the Prophet) in these words.
Allah Hum Sal Li Ala Muhammad Din WA Al’a Aali Muhammadin
O Allah, Exalt Muhammad & the Followers of Muhammad.
Ka Maa Sal lay Ta Ala Ibraheema WA Ala Aali Ibraheema
As Thou did exalt Ibrahim & His Followers
Inna Ka Hameedum Majeed
Thou Art the Praised, the Glorious.
Allah Hum Ma Baa Rik Ala Muhammadin
O Allah, Bless Muhammad
WA Ala Aali Muhammadin
And His Followers
Ka Maa Ba Rak Ta Ala Ibraheema WA Ala Aali Ibraheema
As Thou has Blest Ibrahim & His Followers
Inna Ka Hameedum Majeed
Thou Art the Praised, the Glorious
Then Silently Say:-
Allahumma Inni Zalamtu Nafsi Zulman Kathiran Wa La Yaghfirud Dhunuba Illa Anta Faghfirli Naghfiratan Min ‘ Indika Wa Arhamni Innaka Antal Ghafurur Rahim.
This means: “O Aallah, I have been very unjust to myself and none grants pardons against sins but You, therefore, forgive me with Your Forgiveness and have mercy on me. Surely you are the Forgiver, the Merciful.
Now turn your face to the right saying:-
Asslamo Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah
Peace be on you & Allah’s Blessing
Now turn your face to the left saying:-
Asslamo Alaikum WA Rahmatullah
Peace be on you & Allah’s Blessing
Please see our video below for the actions
Conduct of Salaah
In this section, some guide lines for the correct performance of Salaah are given.
The most important pre-requisite, Al-Wudhu (ablution), is explained in the last chapter. Other important
conditions are:
1.Time
Each of the salaah must be offered at or during its proper time. No Salaah can be said before its time.
There are five obligatory prayers in a day.
Fajr – The morning prayer
Dhohr – The early noon prayer
Asr – The late afternoon prayer
Maghrib - The sun-set prayer
Isha - The night prayer
2. Dress
Before offering your Salaah makes sure that you are properly dressed. For men and boys, the dress
should be such that it covers their bodies from the navel to the knees at least.
Women are required to cover themselves from head to foot, leaving only the face and hands
uncovered. The dress for Salaah must be clean and free from all filth. During the monthly periods
women are free from the obligation of Salaah.
3. Place
Wherever a man might be, he can turn towards Allah in Salaah and in devotion. The prophet has said,
“The (whole of the) earth has been rendered for me a mosque: pure and clean”. Preferable Salaah
is to be offered in Jama’at – congregation. Whenever possible, one should pray facing the Ka’ba, Mecca.
Fardh or Naafillah
Salah is composed of the Fardh(Obligatory) and the Naafilah(Superogatory) prayers.
The Fardh Salah is five in a day. Failure to perform any on of them is a blameable sin. The Naafillah
includes the Sunnah, which Prophet(S.A.W) used to perform regularly before or after each Fardh Salah.
Prayers in Special Circumstances
When in circumstances where it is not possible to pray, or when on journey, you are permitted to
shorten Salah. Such a shortened prayer is known as Salat-tul-Qasar.
When travelling one may offer two rakaats in place of four rakaats in Dhohr, ASR and Isha, but there
is no change in two rakats of Fajr and three rakats of Maghrib Salah. Besides this concession in
Fardh Salah, one may leave all additional Sunnah except the two Sunnah rakats of Fajr & the Witr
of Isha prayer. But a section of Muslims do perform Sunnah even on a journey.
In case the stay at any one place during the journey exceeds a fortnight, complete the Salaah
with all the Fardh and Sunnah rakats must be offered.
If you are sick, you may offer your Salaah in a sitting position or lying in bed, by making signs
in place of the physical movements.
In journey, in sickness and in other emergencies, one is allowed to offer two separate Salaah jointly.
Thus Dhohr and Asr can be said together in the last part of the period of Duohr. Maghrib & Isha
may also be offered similarly towards the end of the Maghrib time (when it is almost dark).
The Call to Prayer – Adhan
To assemble the Muslims for congregational prayer, “Adhan”, or the call to prayer is given. The caller
(Mu`adhdhin) stands facing Ka’aba (Qibla), and raising his hands to his ears calls in a loud voice:
Allah-U Akbar x2
Allah is the greatest.
Ashhadu Anla Ilaha Illallah x2
I bear witness that there is no diety but Allah.
Ashhadu Anna Muhammadar Rasullah x2
I bear witness that Muhammad(S.A.W) Is the Messenger of Allah.
Hayya Alas Salaah x2
Come to prayers.
Hayya Alal Falah x2
Come to your good.
Allah-U Akbar x2
Allah is the greatest.
La Ilaha Illallah x2
There is no deity but Allah
In Adhan for Fajr Salah, the following sentences are added after:
Haya Alal Falah Haya Alal Falah
Assalatu Khayrum Minan Naum Assalatu Khayrum Minan Naum
Salaah is better than sleep Salaah is better than sleep
Dua after Adhan
On completion of the Adhan, Muslims are recommended to recite:
Allahahummaraba Haze Hid Da’wa Tit Tam Mate
O Allah! Lord of this complete call & Prayer of ours, by the blessing of it.
Was Salatil Qa E Mate A’Te Muhammadanil Wasiylata
Give to Muhammad his eternal rights of intercession,
Wal Fadi Lata Wad Daraja Tar Rafi A’ta
Distinction and highest class (in paradise).
Wab As Ho Maqama M Mahmuda Nil Lazee WA Adtahu
And raise him to the promised rank you have promised him.
War Zuq Na Sha Fa Ata Hu Yaum Al Qiyamate
And bestow his intercession on us on the day of Judgement.
In Na Ka La Tukh Leful Mi’aad
Surely you never go back on your word.
Iqamah
After Adhan when the Muslims are assembled at the place of worship, a second call (Iqamah) is recited
by one of the group. This signals the start of the congregational Salaah. It is similar to Adhan except
that it is recited faster but in a lower tone and these sentences are recited after Haya Alal Falah
Qad Qammatis Salaah Qad Qammatis Salaah
The Prayer has Begun The Prayer Has Begun
How to make Ablution (Wudhu & Ghusl)
Cleanliness (Taharah) is an important precondition of Islamic worship. Wudu is an essential part of
Cleanliness. Salah (prayer) is not valid without Wudu’ or Tayammum(dry Ablution). Allah says in the
Qur’an : “Surely Allah loves those who turn to Him and those who care for cleanliness” (2:22)
Al-Ghusl (The Washing Or Bath)
The greater purification, Al-Ghusl, is obligatory when one is defiled as a result of nocturnal emission (or a wet dream),marital intercourse, child birth, or when entering into the fold of Islam.
The procedure is as follows: Begin with the name of Allah as for Wudu. Wash the hands and the affected parts of the body with water to remove any impurity. Perform Wudu as above. The wash the whole body three times, using clean water for each wash.
Tayammum (Dry Ablution)
On certain occasions, it may become either impossible (e.g.. when water cannot be found or just enough
for drinking is available), or it is dangerous, because of illness, to use water for Wudu or Al-Ghusl. In
such situations, Tayammum (dry ablution) is performed. The Procedure: Begin with the name of Allah.
Strike both palms on sand, or anything containing sand or dust, like a wall or stone etc., against with
the palms. Rub the right hand with the left palm from the wrist to the elbowed similarly for the left hand
with the right palm. Finish with the Kalimatu Ash-Shahadah as for Wudu. Having Cleans yourself by
Wudu, you can now proceed to perform Salaah. You must have a clean body, a clean place and wear
clean clothes before you start offer Salaah’
Please view the video below for a demonstration on Wudhu.