How to perform the prayer

How to Perform Salaat, 
the Islamic Ritual Prayer

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)  Hayya' alas Salaah (2x)  Hayya' ala Falaah (2x)  [Fajr only] A-Salaatu Khayrun Mina-Naum (2x)  Qad qaamitis Salaah (2x) [Iqama only - not recited in Athan]  Allaahu Akbar (2x)  Laa ilaaha illa-Lah

God is great. (x4)  I bear witness that there none worthy of worship except God. (x2)  I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. (x2)  Come to prayer. (x2)  Come to felicity. (x2)  [Fajr only] Prayer is better than sleep. (x2)   [Iqama only] Our prayers are now ready. Our prayers are now ready. (x2)  God is great. (x2)  There is none worthy of worship except God.

 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.

 

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 rabbiyal 'Azeem (3x)

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:) Rabbanaa wa lakal hamd (Standing straight, pause:) Allahu Akbar

Allah listens to him who praises Him.    Our Lord, to You is due all praise.     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:¹

 

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.  Greetings to you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah.  Peace be unto us, and unto the righteous servants of Allah.  I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah.  And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

 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  Alaahumma baarik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'alaa ali Muhammadin  Kamaa baarakta '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.  Surely you are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.

 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."

¹At-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)