UNDERSTANDING OF

ADHAN, IQAMAH & SALAH

Ayaz Malik [1] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ADHAN & IQAMAH .......................................................................................................................................................2
STORY OF ADHAN & IQAMAH ......................................................................................................................................2

ADHAN FOR ZUHR, A SR, MAGHRIB & ISHA ...............................................................................................................3

ADHAN FOR FAJR ...........................................................................................................................................................4

IQAMAH ...........................................................................................................................................................................4

AHADITH RELATED TO ADHAN & IQAMAH ...............................................................................................................5

SALAH (PRAYER ) ..............................................................................................................................................................9

WHY FIVE OBLIGATORY SALAH/ PRAYERS? ................................................................................................................9

FIVE OBLIGATORY SALAH ........................................................................................................................................... 12

TIMINGS OF FIVE OBLIGATORY SALAH .................................................................................................................... 12

STEPS IN OFFERING SALAH ......................................................................................................................................... 13

OFFERING FAJR SALAH (TWO RAKAHS) ................................................................................................................... 26

OFFERING ZUHR, ASR & ISHA SALAH (FOUR RAKAHS) .......................................................................................... 26

OFFERING MAGHRIB SALAH (THREE RAKAHS) ........................................................................................................ 27

OFFERING WITR SALAH (ODD NUMBER OF RAKAHS) ........................................................................................... 27

AHADITH RELATED TO SALAH ................................................................................................................................... 31

Ayaz Malik [2] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

ADHAN & IQAMAH

STORY OF ADHAN & IQAMAH

A long time ago when the Muslims migrated from Makkah to Medina they used to agree about
a fixed time for the congregational prayer. They found it difficult to remember the time fixed
for the prayer sometimes, especially when they were busy doing their work. One day Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) and the Muslims discussed the matter of calling the people for the
congregational prayer at the exact time. Some of the believers suggested the use of something
like the bell of the Christians, others suggested the use of a horn like that of the Jews, but Umar
(RA) suggested sending someone to announce the prayer. Then Allah's Messenger (SAW)
appointed Bilal (RA) to call the people to prayer. But it seems through the study of hadith that
the method was not satisfactory. Then Prophet Muhammad (SAW) agreed to use a Naqoose (a
conch), something like the bell of Christians but he was not happy to use it because of its
similarity with the Christians.

After Prophet Muhammad (SAW) had ordered a bell to be made so that it could be struck to
gather the people to prayer; on that same day a companion, Abdullah bin Zaid bin Abd Rabbihi,
said, "I was sleeping when I saw a man carrying a Naqoose in his hands, and I said, ‘Servant of
Allah will you sell this to me?’ When he asked, ‘what would I do with it?’ I replied that we
would use it to call the people to prayer. He said, ‘Shall I not guide you to something better than
that?’ I replied, ‘Certainly,’ so he told me to say:

ُ‫ﷲ◌ َا ْﺷﻬَﺪ‬ ُ ‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ◌ َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َا ْن ﻻ ِا َ َ ِاﻻ‬

ُ ◌‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ‬
ُ ◌‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ‬ُ ◌‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ‬
ُ
‫ﷲ◌ َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َان ُﻣ َﺤﻤﺪ ً اﻟﺮ ُﺳ ْﻮ ُل‬ ُ ‫ﷲ◌ َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َان ُﻣ َﺤﻤﺪ ً اﻟﺮ ُﺳ ْﻮ ُل‬ُ ‫َا ْن ﻻ ِا َ َ ِاﻻ‬
‫ﷲ◌ َ َ َﲆ اﻟﺼﻠَﻮة◌ َ َ َﲆ اﻟﺼﻠَﻮة◌ َ َ َﲆ اﻟْ َﻔ َﻼ ْح◌ َ َ َﲆ‬ ُ
◌‫ﷲ‬ ُ ‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ◌ َﻻ ِا َ َ ِاﻻ‬
ُ ◌‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ‬ُ ◌‫اﻟْ َﻔ َﻼ ْح‬
After the Adhan the stranger kept quiet for a while and then said, when the congregation is
ready you should say (which is Iqamah):
Ayaz Malik [3] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

‫ﷲ◌ َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َان ُﻣ َﺤﻤﺪ ً اﻟﺮ ُﺳ ْﻮ ُل‬ ُ ‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ◌ َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َا ْن ﻻ ِا َ َ ِاﻻ‬

ُ ◌‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ‬
ُ
‫ﷲ◌ َ َ َﲆ اﻟﺼﻠَﻮة◌ َ َ َﲆ اﻟْ َﻔ َﻼ ْح◌ ﻗَ ْﺪﻗَﺎ َﻣ ِﺖ اﻟﺼﻠَﻮة◌ ﻗَ ْﺪﻗَﺎ َﻣ ِﺖ‬ ُ
◌‫ﷲ‬ ُ ‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ◌ َﻻ ِا َ َ ِاﻻ‬ُ ◌‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ‬ ُ ◌‫اﻟﺼﻠَﻮة‬
When I told Allah's Messenger (SAW) in the morning what I had seen, he said, "It is a true
vision, Insha-Allah, so get up along with Bilal, and when you have taught him what you have
seen let him use it in making the call to prayer, for he has stronger voice than you have."

So I got up along with Bilal (RA) and began to teach it to him, and he used it in making the call
to prayer. Umar bin al-Khattab (RA) heard this when he was in his house, and he came out
trailing his cloak and said, “Messenger of Allah (SAW), by Him who has sent you with the truth,
I have seen the same kind of thing as has been revealed.” To this Allah's Messenger (SAW)
replied, “Praise be to Allah!” (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, Ibn, Tirmizi)

So from that day on to the present day Adhan is said to gather people for the congregational
prayer.

ADHAN FOR ZUHR, ASR, MAGHRIB & ISHA

Recital Arabic English Translation

4 times ‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ‬
ُ Allah is the greatest

2 times ‫ﷲ‬ُ ‫َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َا ْن ﻻ ِا َ َ ِاﻻ‬ I bear witness that there is none
worthy of worship but Allah

2 times ُ ‫َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َان ُﻣ َﺤﻤﺪ ً اﻟﺮ ُﺳ ْﻮ ُل‬

‫ﷲ‬ I bear witness that Muhammad is
the Messenger of Allah

2 times ‫َ َ َﲆ اﻟﺼﻠَﻮة‬ Come to the prayer

2 times ‫َ َ َﲆ اﻟْﻔَ َﻼ ْح‬ Come for the success.

Ayaz Malik [4] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

2 times ‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ‬
ُ Allah is the greatest.

1 time ُ ‫َﻻ ِا َ َ ِاﻻ‬

‫ﷲ‬ There is none worthy of worship
but Allah

ADHAN FOR FAJR

Recital Arabic English Translation

4 times ‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ‬ ُ Allah is the greatest

2 times ‫ﷲ‬ُ ‫َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َا ْن ﻻ ِا َ ِاﻻ‬ I bear witness that there is none
worthy of worship but Allah

2 times ُ ‫َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َان ُﻣ َﺤﻤﺪ ً اﻟﺮ ُﺳ ْﻮ ُل‬

‫ﷲ‬ I bear witness that Muhammad is
the Messenger of Allah

2 times ‫َ َ َﲆ اﻟﺼﻠَﻮة‬ Come to the prayer

2 times ‫َ َ َﲆ اﻟْﻔَ َﻼ ْح‬ Come for the success.

2 times ‫َاﻟﺼﻠﻮ ُة ْ ٌَﲑ ِّﻣ َﻦ اﻟﻨ ْﻮ ِم‬ Prayer is better than sleep

2 times ‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ‬
ُ Allah is the greatest.

1 time ‫ﷲ‬ُ ‫َﻻ ِا َ َ ِاﻻ‬ There is none worthy of worship

but Allah

IQAMAH

Recital Arabic English Translation

2 times ‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ‬
ُ Allah is the greatest

1 time ‫ﷲ‬ُ ‫َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َا ْن ﻻ ِا َ ِاﻻ‬ I bear witness that there is none
worthy of worship but Allah

1 time ُ ‫َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َان ُﻣ َﺤﻤﺪ ً اﻟﺮ ُﺳ ْﻮ ُل‬

‫ﷲ‬ I bear witness that Muhammad is
the Messenger of Allah
Ayaz Malik [5] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

1 time ‫َ َ َﲆ اﻟﺼﻠَﻮة‬ Come to the prayer

1 time ‫َ َ َﲆ اﻟْﻔَ َﻼ ْح‬ Come for the success.

2 times ‫ﻗَ ْﺪﻗَﺎ َﻣ ِﺖ اﻟﺼﻠَﻮة‬ The prayer has begun

2 times ‫ﷲ اَ ْﻛ َ ُﱪ‬
ُ Allah is the greatest.

1 times ‫ﷲ‬ُ ‫َﻻ ِا َ َ ِاﻻ‬ There is none worthy of worship

but Allah

AHADITH RELATED TO ADHAN & IQAMAH

1- Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle (SAW) said, “When the Adhan is pronounced
Satan takes to his heels and passes wind with noise during his flight in order not to
hear the Adhan. When the Adhan is completed he comes back and again takes to his
heels when the Iqamah is pronounced and after its completion he returns again till he
whispers into the heart of the person (to divert his attention from his prayer) and
makes him remember things which he does not recall to his mind before the prayer
and that causes him to forget how much he has prayed.”

2- Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: Allah's Apostle (SAW) said, “Whenever you hear the
Adhan, say what the Muadhdhin is saying.” (Muadhdhin is a person who calls people
for the congregational prayer i.e., who says Adhan)

3- Narrated Yahya as above (3) and added: "Some of my companions told me that Hisham
had said, "When the Mu'adhdhin said,

‫َ َ َﲆ اﻟﺼﻠَﻮة‬
(Hasten to the Prayer)

Muawiya said,
Ayaz Malik [6] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

‫ﷲ اﻟْ َﻌ ِ ِ ّﲆ اﻟْ َﻌ ِﻈ ْ ِﲓ‬

ِ ِ ‫َﻻ َﺣ ْﻮ َل َو َﻻ ُﻗﻮ َة ِاﻻ‬
(There is neither might nor any power except with Allah), ” and added, "We heard your
Prophet saying the same."

4- Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah: Allah's Apostle (SAW) said, "Whoever after listening to
the Adhan says,

َ َ ‫َا ﻠﻬُﻢ َرب َﻫ ِﺬ ِﻩ ا ْﻋ َﻮ ِة اﻟﺘﺎﻣ ِﺔ َواﻟﺼﻠَﻮ ِة اﻟْ َﻘﺎﺋِ َﻤ ِﺔ َا ِت َﺳ ّﯿِﺪ َ َ ُﻣ َﺤﻤﺪ َ ِناﻟْ َﻮ ِﺳ ْﯿ‬
‫َواﻟْ َﻔ ِﻀ ْﯿ َ َ َوا َر َ َﺔ اﻟﺮِﻓ ْ َﻌ َﺔ َواﺑْ َﻌﺜْ ُﻪ َﻣ َﻘﺎ ًﻣﺎ ﻣ ْﺤ ُﻤ ْﻮ َد ِنا ِ ْى َو َ ْﺪﺗﻪ َو ْار ُز ْﻗ َﺎ‬
‫َﺷﻔَﺎ َﻋ َﺘ ُﻪ ﯾ َ ْﻮ َم اﻟْ ِﻘ َﺎ َﻣ ِﺔ ِا َﻧﻚ َﻻ ُ ْﲣ ِﻠ ُﻒ اﻟْ ِﻤ ْﯿ َﻌﺎ ْد‬
(O Allah! Lord of this perfect call and of the regular prayer which is going to be
established, give Muhammad (SAW) the right of intercession and illustriousness and
resurrect him to the best and the highest place in Paradise that You promised him, and
bless us with his intercession on the Doomsday. Undoubtedly, you don't do anything
against your promise), then intercession for me will be permitted for him on the Day
of Resurrection."

5- Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle (SAW) said, "If the people knew the reward for
pronouncing the Adhan and for standing in the first row (in congregational prayers)
and found no other way to get that except by drawing lots, they would draw lots, and
if they knew the reward of Zuhr prayer (in the early moments of its stated time) they
would race for it (go early) and if they knew the reward of 'Isha' and Fajr (morning)
prayers in congregation, they would come to offer them even if they had to crawl."

6- Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (SAW) said, "When you hear the Iqamah, proceed
to offer the prayer with calmness and solemnity and do not make haste. And pray
whatever you are able to pray and complete whatever you have missed.”
Ayaz Malik [7] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

7- Narrated Malik bin Huwairith: Prophet (SAW) said (to two persons), "Whenever the
prayer time becomes due, you should pronounce Adhan and then Iqamah and the
older of you should lead the prayer."

8- Narrated Nafi: Once on a very cold and stormy night, Ibn Umar pronounced the
Adhan for the prayer and then said, "Pray in your homes." He (Ibn Umar) added. "On
very cold and rainy nights Allah's Apostle used to order the Muadhdhin to say, “Pray in
your homes."

9- Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri: A cloud came and it rained till the roof started leaking
and in those days the roof used to be of the branches of date-palms. Iqamah was
pronounced and I saw Allah's Apostle (SAW) prostrating in water and mud and even I
saw the mark of mud on his forehead.

10- Narrated Aisha (RA): The Prophet (SAW) said, "If supper is served, and Iqamah is
pronounced one should start with the supper."

11- Imam As-Sadiq (AS) has said: “One who offers his prayers along with Adhan and
Iqamah, two rows of angels pray behind him, while one who offers his prayers with
only the Iqamah and without the Adhan, one row of angels pray behind him.” The
Imam (AS) was asked: “And how long is each row?” The Imam (AS) replied: “At the
very minimum, its length is the distance between East and West, while at the
maximum, its length is the distance between the earth and the heavens.” (Wasa’ilush
Shi`a, Volume 4, Page 620)
Ayaz Malik [9] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

SALAH (PRAYER)

WHY FIVE OBLIGATORY SALAH/ PRAYERS?

SAHIH AL-BUKHARI 5-227

Narrated Anas bin Malik: Malik bin Sasaa said that Allah's Apostle (SAW) described to them his
Night Journey saying, "While I was lying in Al-Hatim or Al-Hijr, suddenly someone came to me
and cut my body open from here to here." I asked Al-Jarud who was by my side, "What does he
mean?" He said, "It means from his throat to his pubic area," or said, "From the top of the chest."
The Prophet (SAW) further said, "He then took out my heart. Then a gold tray of Belief was
brought to me and my heart was washed and was filled (with Belief) and then returned to its
original place. Then a white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey
was brought to me." (On this Al-Jarud asked, "Was it the Buraq, O Abu Hamza?" I (i.e. Anas)
replied in the affirmative). The Prophet (SAW) said, "The animal's step (was so wide that it)
reached the farthest point within the reach of the animal's sight. I was carried on it, and Jibrail
(AS) set out with me till we reached the nearest heaven. When he asked for the gate to be
opened, it was asked, “Who is it?” Jibrail (AS) answered, “Jibrail.” It was asked, “Who is
accompanying you?” Jibrail (AS) replied, “Muhammad (SAW).” It was asked, “Has Muhammad
(SAW) been called?” Jibrail (AS) replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, “He is welcomed.
What an excellent visit his is!” The gate was opened, and when I went over the first heaven, I
saw Adam (AS) there. Jibrail (AS) said (to me), “This is your father, Adam (AS); pay him your
greetings.” So I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and said, “You are welcomed, O
pious son and pious Prophet (SAW).” Then Jibrail (AS) ascended with me till we reached the
second heaven. Jibrail (AS) asked for the gate to be opened. It was asked, “Who is it?” Jibrail
(AS) answered, “Jibrail (AS).” It was asked, “Who is accompanying you?” Jibrail (AS) replied,
“Muhammad (SAW).” It was asked, “Has Muhammad (SAW) been called?” Jibrail (AS) replied in
the affirmative. Then it was said, “He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!” The gate was
opened. When I went over the second heaven, there I saw Yahya (AS) (i.e. John (AS)) and Essa
(AS) (i.e. Jesus (AS)) who were cousins of each other. Jibrail (AS) said (to me), “These are Yahya
(AS) and Essa (AS); pay them your greetings.” So I greeted them and both of them returned my
Ayaz Malik [10] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

greetings to me and said, “You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet (SAW).” Then
Jibrail (AS) ascended with me to the third heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was
asked, “Who is it?” Jibrail (AS) replied, “Jibrail (AS).” It was asked, “Who is accompanying your?”
Jibrail (AS) replied, “Muhammad (SAW).” It was asked, “Has he been called?” Jibrail (AS) replied
in the affirmative. Then it was said, “He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!” The gate
was opened, and when I went over the third heaven there I saw Yusuf (AS) (Joseph (AS)). Jibrail
(AS) said (to me), “This is Yusuf (AS); pay him your greetings.” So I greeted him and he returned
the greeting to me and said, “You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet (SAW).”
Then Jibrail (AS) ascended with me to the fourth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It
was asked, “Who is it?” Jibrail (AS) replied, “Jibrail (AS).” It was asked, “Who is accompanying
you?” Jibrail (AS) replied, “Muhammad (SAW).” It was asked, “Has he been called?” Jibrail (AS)
replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, “He is welcomed, what an excellent visit his is!” The
gate was opened, and when I went over the fourth heaven, there I saw Idris (AS). Jibrail (AS)
said (to me), “This is Idris (AS); pay him your greetings.” So I greeted him and he returned the
greeting to me and said, “You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet (SAW).” Then
Jibrail (AS) ascended with me to the fifth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was
asked, “Who is it?” Jibrail (AS) replied, “Jibrail (AS).” It was asked, “Who is accompanying you?”
Jibrail (AS) replied, “Muhammad (SAW).” It was asked, “Has he been called?” Jibrail (AS) replied
in the affirmative. Then it was said “He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!” So when I
went over the fifth heaven, there I saw Harun (AS) (Aaron (AS)), Jibrail (AS) said, (to me), “This
is Harun (AS); pay him your greetings.” I greeted him and he returned the greeting to me and
said, “You are welcomed, O pious brother and pious Prophet (SAW).” Then Jibrail (AS) ascended
with me to the sixth heaven and asked for its gate to be opened. It was asked, “Who is it?” Jibrail
(AS) replied, “Jibrail (AS).” It was asked, “Who is accompanying you?” Jibrail (AS) replied,
“Muhammad (SAW).” It was asked, “Has he been called?” Jibrail (AS) replied in the affirmative.
It was said, “He is welcomed. What an excellent visit his is!” When I went (over the sixth
heaven), there I saw Musa (AS). Jibrail (AS) said, (to me), “This is Musa (AS); pay him your
greetings.” So I greeted him and he returned the greetings to me and said, “You are welcomed,
O pious brother and pious Prophet (SAW).” When I left him (i.e. Musa (AS)), he wept. Someone
asked him, “What makes you weep?” Musa (AS) said, “I weep because after me there has been
Ayaz Malik [11] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

sent (as Prophet (SAW)) a young man whose followers will enter Paradise in greater numbers
than my followers.” Then Jibrail (AS) ascended with me to the seventh heaven and asked for its
gate to be opened. It was asked, “Who is it?” Jibrail (AS) replied, “Jibrail (AS).” It was asked,
“Who is accompanying you?” Jibrail (AS) replied, “Muhammad (SAW).” It was asked, “Has he
been called?” Jibrail (AS) replied in the affirmative. Then it was said, “He is welcomed. What an
excellent visit his is!” So when I went (over the seventh heaven), there I saw Ibrahim (AS).
Jibrail said (to me), “This is your father; pay your greetings to him.” So I greeted him and he
returned the greetings to me and said, “You are welcomed, O pious son and pious Prophet
(SAW).” Then I was made to ascend to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha (i.e. the Lote Tree of the utmost
boundary) Behold! Its fruits were like the jars of Hajr (i.e., a place near Medina) and its leaves
were as big as the ears of elephants. Jibrail (AS) said, “This is the Lote Tree of the utmost
boundary.” Behold! There ran four rivers, two were hidden and two were visible, I asked,
“What are these two kinds of rivers, O Jibrail (AS).” He replied, “As for the hidden rivers, they
are two rivers in Paradise and the visible rivers are the Nile and the Euphrates.” Then Al-Bait-
ul-Maur (i.e., the Sacred House) was shown to me and a container full of wine and another full
of milk and a third full of honey were brought to me. I took the milk. Jibrail remarked, “This is
the Islamic religion which you and your followers are following.” Then the prayers were
enjoined on me: They were fifty prayers a day. When I returned, I passed by Musa (AS) who
asked (me), “What have you been ordered to do?” I replied, “I have been ordered to offer fifty
prayers a day.” Musa (AS) said, “Your followers cannot bear fifty prayers a day, and by Allah, I
have tested people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel (in vain). Go back
to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your followers' burden.” So I went back, and Allah
reduced ten prayers for me. Then again I came to Musa (AS), but he repeated the same as he
had said before. Then again I went back to Allah and He reduced ten more prayers. When I
came back to Musa (AS) he said the same, I went back to Allah and He ordered me to observe
ten prayers a day. When I came back to Musa (AS), he repeated the same advice, so I went back
to Allah and was ordered to observe five prayers a day. When I came back to Musa (AS), he
said, “What have you been ordered?” I replied, “I have been ordered to observe five prayers a
day.” He said, “Your followers cannot bear five prayers a day, and no doubt, I have got an
experience of the people before you, and I have tried my level best with Bani Israel, so go back
Ayaz Malik [12] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

to your Lord and ask for reduction to lessen your follower's burden.” I said, “I have requested so
much of my Lord that I feel ashamed, but I am satisfied now and surrender to Allah's Order.”
When I left, I heard a voice saying; “I have passed My Order and have lessened the burden of
My Worshippers."

FIVE OBLIGATORY SALAH

The Farz are the number of Rakahs that are obligatory to perform Salah (Prayer). Additional
Rakahs, often called “Sunnah” are after the example of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and are
offered individually, that is, not in congregation. Table below shows the number of Rakahs one
needs to offer for five obligatory prayers.

Obligatory Optional
Prayer Name Sunnah, Sunnah WitrÃ
Farz Nafil
before Farz after Farz
Fajr 2 2
Zuhr 4 4 2
Asr 4 4
Maghrib 3 2 2
Isha 4 4 2 2 Odd Number

à Many scholars have an opinion that Witr prayer (which is followed by Isha prayer) is
obligatory. However, correct view is that it is a Sunnah.

TIMINGS OF FIVE OBLIGATORY SALAH

Time of Salah
Prayer Name
From To
Fajr Breaking of the dawn Sunrise
Zuhr Sun declining from its Zenith About midway from Sunset
Asr About midway from Sunset Sunset
Maghrib Sunset Disappearance of red glow in the sky
Isha Disappearance of red glow in the sky Midnight/ Dawn
Ayaz Malik [13] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

STEPS IN OFFERING SALAH

As discussed before, Salah is offered by offering specified number of Rakahs. Each Rakah is
offered in a manner specified by Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,
"Pray as you have seen me praying.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, Vol.1, Hadith No.604)

First, steps which are required to complete a Salah consisting of four Rakahs will be explained
in detail. Later each Salah will be explained in the form of a flow chart utilizing these steps.

STEP 1 – WUDU (ABLUTION)

Before we perform any Salah we must first prepare ourselves. This preparation includes
making sure that we are clean from any physical impurities and performing Wudu. Note that
after intercourse, re-performing Wudu alone is not enough to be able to perform Salah. There
is another form of purification that must be performed known as Ghusul (Which isn’t
discussed).

Wudu is required for performing Salah. We cannot offer our Salah without first making
Wudu. Wudu further requires many steps as tabulated below:

Step Picture Step Description

Make Intention (Niyyah) to perform Wudu. Niyyah is the

Islamic concept of performing an act for the sake of Allah.
1 Niyyah doesn't involve saying anything out loud, but
focusing on the phrase "Bismillah" (In the name of Allah)
is good way to accomplish the centering necessary

Wash your hands. Use your left hand to wash your right
hand. Do this three times. After that, use your right hand
2
to wash your left hand three times. Make sure to wash in
between your fingers and all the way up to your wrists
Ayaz Malik [14] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

Take water into your mouth. Use your right hand to cup
water into your mouth three times. Swish it around in
3
your cheeks and the back of your throat. Do this
thoroughly to get all remaining food in your mouth, out

Inhale water into your nose. Use your right hand to cup
water and inhale it into your nose three times. You can
use your left hand to close one nostril and blow out if you
4 need to. Snort sharply and abruptly without taking too
much water into your nose and choking yourself. If you
cannot inhale water into your nose, you can wet your
fingers and put water on the lower part of your nostril

Wash your face. Wash your face three times by spreading

5 your hands from your right ear to the left, and from the
edge of the hair to the chin

Wash your lower arms from wrists to elbows, leaving no

part dry. From your wrist to your elbow, wash your right
6
arm with your left hand three times and then wash your
left arm with your right hand three times

Clean your head. Using your wet hands, gently wipe your
forehead from the eyebrow to the hairline. Also wipe
7
down your hair, the back of your neck, and your temples.
Do this one time
Ayaz Malik [15] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

Wipe your ears inside and out. With the same water, use
your finger to clean all the crevices of your ear. Use your
8
thumb to clean behind your ears from the bottom
upward. This is also done one time

Wash each of your feet. Clean up to the ankles and be

sure water goes between the toes. Use your pinky finger
9
and go through each toe to eliminate anything between.
Start with your right foot and scrub each foot three times

While pointing the right index finger to the sky, recite a

10 brief prayer of witness. Generally, the prayer is 2nd
Kalma V

V
2nd Kalma is as below;

ْ ُ ‫ﴍﯾْ َﻚ َ ُ َو َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َان ُﻣ َﺤﻤﺪ ً ا َﻋ ْﺒﺪُ ُﻩ َو َر ُﺳ ْﻮ‬

ِ َ ‫ﷲ َو ْ ﺪَ ُﻩ َﻻ‬
ُ ‫َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َا ْن ٓ ِا َ َ ِاﻻ‬
(I bear witness that no-one is worthy of worship but Allah, the One alone, without partner, and
I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger)

STEP 2 – INTENTION FOR SALAH (NIYAH)

Narrated Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA): Allah's Apostle (SAW) said, "The reward of
deeds depends upon the intention and every person will get the reward according
to what he has intended.” As per Muhammad (SAW) way of offering Salah, the
intention is made within the mind and not uttered out aloud. A person should be
facing in the direction of Qibla before making an intention.

Typical Intention (Niyah): I am going to pray “(Salah name which is being

offered)” Salah, facing the Qiblah, “(Number of Rakahs being offered)” Rakahs, as
an imam or following an imam.
Ayaz Malik [16] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

STEP 3 – TAKBEER TAHRIMAH

Abu Humaid As-Saidi (RA) said, "I remember the prayer of Allah's Apostle (SAW)
better than any one of you … I saw him raising both his hands up to the level of
the shoulders on saying the Takbeer …" (Bukhari, Vol.1, Hadith no. 791, Narrated
Muhammad bin Amr bin Ata). One should start his Salah saying Takbeer, i.e.,

‫َا ُ ْﻛ َ ْﱪ‬
(Allah is the greatest),

Raising both of his hands to the level of his shoulders/ ears. Then he should fold
his hands over his chest, right hand over the left hand. This first step is called Takbeer
Tahrimah because after saying Takbeer Tahrimah every common and worldy action, talk or
movement is forbidden.

Wail bin Hujr (RA) says, “I prayed with the Prophet (SAW) and he placed his right hand over
his left on his chest.” (Ibn Khuzaimah,Hadith:479) However, it is common to see Muslims
folding their hand between chest and abdomin.

STEP 4

Throughout the Salah the eyes of the worshipper should point to the spot where
the forehead rests in Sajdah. Dont look towards the sky. Narrated by Anas bin
Malik (RA), The Prophet (SAW) said, "What is wrong with those people who look
towards the sky during the prayer?" His talk grew stern while delivering this
speech and he said, "They should stop (looking towards the sky during the prayer);
otherwise their eye-sight would be taken away." (Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 1, Book 12,
Hadith no. 717).

Now, in this position, one should recite the following in the order presented:

DUA BEFORE FATIHAH

‫ﺪك َو َﻻ ا َ َ َ ْ ُﲑ َك‬
َ َ ‫اﲰ َﻚ َوﺗ َ َﻌ َﺎﱃ‬
ُ ْ ‫ُﺳ ْﺒ َ ﺎ ﻧ ََﻚ اﻠﻬُﻢ َو ِ َﲝ ْﻤ ِﺪ َك َوﺗ َ َﺒ َﺎر َك‬
Ayaz Malik [17] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

(O Allah, how perfect You are and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your
majesty, and none has the right to be worshipped but You)

One should recite this silently (as an Imam). This dua should only be recited in the first Rakah
of any Salah.

TAAWUDH

‫َا ُﻋ ْﻮ ُذ ِ ِ ِﻣ َﻦ اﻟﺸ ْﯿ َﻄ ِﻦ اﻟﺮ ِﺟ ْ ِﲓ‬

(I seek refuge in Allah from the rejected Satan)

One should recite this silently (as an Imam)

TASMIYAH

‫ِْﺴ ِﻢ ا ِ اﻟﺮ ْ َﲪـ ِﻦ اﻟﺮ ِﺣ ِﲓ‬

(In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful)

One should recite this silently (as an Imam)

SURAH FATIHAH

‫اﻟْ َﺤ ْﻤﺪُ ِ َر ِّب اﻟْ َﻌ ﻠَ ِﻤ َﲔ◌ اﻟﺮ ْ َﲪ ِـﻦ اﻟﺮ ِﺣ ِﲓ◌ َﻣ ِ ِ ﯾ َ ْﻮ ِم ا ّ ِ ِﻦ◌ ا َك ﻧ َ ْﻌ ُﺒﺪُ َوا َك‬
‫ﻮب‬ َ ِ ◌‫اﻟﴫ َاط اﻟْ ُﻤ ْﺴ َﺘ ِﻘ َﲓ‬
ِ ُ‫ﴏ َاط ا ِ َﻦ ﻧ ْ َﻌ ْﻤﺖ َ َﻠ َ ْ ِﳱ ْﻢ َ ْ ِﲑ اﻟْ َﻤﻐْﻀ‬ َ ّ ِ َ ‫َ ْﺴ َﺘ ِﻌ ُﲔ◌ ا ْﻫ ِﺪ‬
◌ ‫َﻠَ ْ ِﳱ ْﻢ َو َﻻ اﻟﻀ ِٓﻟ ّ َﲔ‬
(Praise be to Allah, the lord of all the worlds, The Beneficent, the Merciful, Master of the Day of
Judgement. You alone we worship, and to You alone we beseech for help. Guide us on the right
path, the path of those on whom You have bestowed Your grace, not of those who have
incurred Your wrath, nor of those who have gone astray)

After reciting Surah Fatihah, say “Ameen.” Narrated by Ubada bin As-Samit (RA), Allah's Apostle
(SAW) said, “Whoever does not recite Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid.” (Sahih
Bukhari, Vol. 1, Book 12, Hadith no. 723)
Ayaz Malik [18] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

Then Allah's Messenger (SAW) said "Do not recite anything (behind the Imam) except Fatihah-
tul-Kitab (Surah Fatihah) because he who does not include it in his recitation in prayer, his
Salah is not valid." (Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi)

RECITATION AFTER SURAH FATIHAH

Abu Qatadah (RA) reported that the Prophet, (SAW), would recite al-Fatihah and some surah in
the first two Rakahs of the noon prayer, and only Al-Fatihah in the last two Rakahs. Sometimes
he would recite some verses. The first Rakah’s recital would be longer than the second. That
was how it was done in the afternoon and morning prayers. (Al-Bukhari, Muslim and by Abu
Dawud).

From above mentioned Hadith it is concluded that it is Sunnah for a person who is praying that
he should read a Surah from Quran after Al Fatihah in at least, the first two Rakahs of the Farz
prayer. He can recite one or more Surah. For example, one can recite Surah Al-Ikhlas;

◌‫ﷲ َا َ ٌﺪ◌ َا ُ اﻟﺼ َﻤﺪُ ◌ ﻟَ ْﻢ ﯾ َ ِ ْ َوﻟَ ْﻢ ﯾُ ْﻮ َ ْ ◌ َوﻟَ ْﻢ َ ُﻜ ْﻦ ُ ُﻛ ُﻔ ًﻮا َا َ ٌﺪ‬

ُ ‫ﻗُ ْﻞ ﻫ َُﻮ‬
(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)

STEP 5 - RUKU

Narrated by Abu Qilaba (RA): I saw Malik bin Huwairith saying Takbeer
and raising both his hands (on starting the prayers) and raising his hands
on bowing and also on, raising his Head after bowing. Malik bin
Huwairith said, "Allah's Apostle (SAW) did the same." (Sahih Bukhari
Volume 1, Book 12, Number 704)

One should say Takbeer while raising his hands up to the shoulder/ ears
then bend in Ruku so that his trunk (i.e. from head to hips) becomes perpendicular to the rest
of the body. His hands should rest on his knees with the fingers spread apart, taking care that
his arms do not touch his body. The person should be calm and composed in the Raku posture
and not hurry it. Then he should read at least three times:
Ayaz Malik [19] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

‫ُﺳ ْﺒ َ َﺎن َر ِ ّ َﰉ اﻟْ َﻌ ِﻈ ْ ِﲓ‬

(Glory to my Lord, the Exalted)

(Muslim, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah)

STEP 6 – QAWMAH (STANDING AFTER RUKU)

Narrated by Salim bin Abdullah: "… And on raising his (Muhammad (SAW))
head from bowing he used to do the same and then say ‘Verily, Allah listens to
one who praises him, Our Lord, praise be to You’ …" (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 1,
Book. 12, Hadith no.702)

So in accordance with above hadith, after the Ruku, one should raise his head
from bowing position, saying,

‫َ ِﲰ َﻊ ا ُ ﻟِ َﻤ ْﻦ َ ِﲪﺪَ ﻩ‬
(Verily, Allah listens to one who praises Him)

Then one should raise his hands up to the level of his shoulders/ ears (as per hadith stated in
Step 5) and then he should lower his hands to his sides. In the standing position, he should be
erect so that the joints of his body go back in place. While in this position, he should say,

ُ‫اﻟْ َﺤ ْﻤﺪ‬ َ َ ‫َرﺑ َ ﺎ َو‬

(Our Lord, praise be to You)

Narrated by Nafi: Whenever Ibn Umar started the prayer with Takbeer, he used to raise his
hands: whenever he bowed (ruku), he used to raise his hands (before bowing) and also used to
raise his hands on saying, "Verily, Allah listens to one who praises Him", and he used to do the
same on rising from the second Rakah (for the 3rd Rakah). Ibn Umar said: "The Prophet (SAW)
used to do the same." Sahih Bukhari (Volume 1 : Book 12 : Hadith 706)
Ayaz Malik [20] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

STEP 7 – 1ST SAJDAH (PROSTRATION)

After the Qawmah the person praying should move to perform

Sajdah saying Takbeer, putting palms downwards on the ground
below the ears. The knees should be brought downwards on the
ground. His fingers and toes should be pointing towards Qiblah
without spreading the fingers of the hands. In this position, he
should say,

‫ُﺳ ْﺒ َ َﺎن َر ِ ّ َﰉ ا ْ َﲆ‬

(Glory to my Lord, the Most High)

He should say this at least 3 times. There are some other Dua which can be read in the Sajdah
position. Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “The nearest a servant
comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state).” (Sahih
Muslim, Book 4, Number 0979)

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to say while prostrating himself, “O
Lord, forgive me, all my sins, small and great, first and last, open and secret.” (Sahih Muslim,
Book 4, Number 0980)

STEP 8 – JALSAH (SITTING BETWEEN TWO SUJOOD)

After performing 1 st Sajdah, one praying should raise his

head form Sajdah saying Takbeer, bending the left foot and
sitting on it while keeping the right foot propped up with
its toes pointing towards the Qiblah, the palms of his
hands should rest on his thighs and knees, the back should
be straight so that the joints go back in place. One should
say the following Dua in this position,

‫َر ِ ّﰉ اﻏْ ِﻔ ْﺮ ِ ْﱄ‬

(O Lord, forgive me).
Ayaz Malik [21] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

The worshipper can say this Dua once or as many times as he likes. However it is sunnah to say
the following Dua while sitting in between the two Sujood:

‫َا ﻠﻬُﻢ اﻏْ ِﻔ ْﺮ ِ ْﱃ َو ْار َ ْﲪ ِ ْﲎ َو َﺎ ِﻓ ِ ْﲎ َوا ْﻫ ِﺪ ِ ْﱏ َو ْار ُز ْﻗ ِ ْﲎ‬

(Oh, Allah, forgive me, and have mercy on me, and grant me safety, and guide me, and provide
me with sustenance) (Abu Dawood, Vol. 1, Page 130).

STEP 9 – 2ND SAJDAH

Then one should perform the 2 nd Sajdah after saying Takbeer and repeat what he did in the 1 st
Sajdah i.e, Step 7.

STEP 10 – JALSAH-E-ISTARAHAT (SITTING FOR REST)

Then one should raise his head up saying Takbeer and sit for a short while as he did in Jalsah
i.e., Step 8. He does this before standing up for the 2 nd Rakah. Note that one doesn’t have to
recite anything in this position. 1 st Rakah ends at this step.

Narrated by Malik bin Huwairith Al-Laithi, ''I saw the Prophet praying and in the odd Rakah,
he used to sit for a moment before getting up.'' (Sahih Bukhari, Vol.1, Hadith no. 0786)

STEP 11 – 2ND RAKAH

After standing up for the 2nd Rakah (or any Rakah other than 1 st Rakah), one should fold his
hands over his chest as he did in the first Rakah, but this time he should recite the following in
the order presented,

TASMIYAH

‫ِْﺴ ِﻢ ا ِ اﻟﺮ ْ َﲪـ ِﻦ اﻟﺮ ِﺣ ِﲓ‬

(In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful)

One should recite this silently (as an Imam)

Ayaz Malik [22] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

SURAH FATIHAH

‫اﻟْ َﺤ ْﻤﺪُ ِ َر ِّب اﻟْ َﻌ ﻠَ ِﻤ َﲔ◌ اﻟﺮ ْ َﲪ ِـﻦ اﻟﺮ ِﺣ ِﲓ◌ َﻣ ِ ِ ﯾَ ْﻮ ِم ا ّ ِ ِﻦ◌ ا َك ﻧ َ ْﻌ ُﺒﺪُ َوا َك‬
‫ﻮب‬ َ ِ ◌‫اﻟﴫ َاط اﻟْ ُﻤ ْﺴ َﺘ ِﻘ َﲓ‬
ِ ُ‫ﴏ َاط ا ِ َﻦ ﻧ ْ َﻌ ْﻤﺖ َ َﻠ َ ْ ِﳱ ْﻢ َ ْ ِﲑ اﻟْ َﻤﻐْﻀ‬ َ ّ ِ َ ‫َ ْﺴ َﺘ ِﻌ ُﲔ◌ ا ْﻫ ِﺪ‬
◌ ‫َﻠَ ْ ِﳱ ْﻢ َو َﻻ اﻟﻀ ٓ ِﻟ ّ َﲔ‬
(Praise be to Allah, the lord of all the worlds, The Beneficent, the Merciful, Master of the Day of
Judgement. You alone we worship, and to You alone we beseech for help. Guide us on the right
path, the path of those on whom You have bestowed Your grace, not of those who have
incurred Your wrath, nor of those who have gone astray)

After reciting Surah Fatihah, say “Ameen.”

RECITATION AFTER SURAH FATIHAH

One who is praying should read a Surah from Quran after Al Fatihah in the first two Rakah of
the Farz prayer. He can recite one or more Surah. (Similar to what he did in Step 4) After Step
11, one should complete his second Rakah following the Steps 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9, in the manner of
the first Rakah. However, Step 10 is replaced by Step 12 in 2 nd Rakah.

STEP 12 – TASHAHHUD

After repeating Step 9 in 2 nd Rakah, a person should raise

his head up saying Takbeer and sit as shown. But now he
should recite the following; Yahya related that Abdullah
ibn Umar used to say the Tashahhud saying,

‫َاﻟﺘ ِﺤﯿ ُﺎت ِ ِ َواﻟﺼﻠ َ َﻮ ُات َواﻟﻄ ِﯿ َﺒ ُﺎت ◌ َاﻟﺴ َﻼ ُم‬

ِ ‫َﻠَ ْﯿ َﻚ َاﳞَﺎاﻟﻨ ِﱯ َو َر ْ َﲪ ُﺔ‬
‫ﷲ َو َ َﺮ َﰷﺗُ ُﻪ ◌ َاﻟﺴ َﻼ ُم‬
‫ﷲ اﻟﺼﺎ ِﻟ ِ ْ َﲔ ◌ َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َا ْن ﻻ ِا َ َ ِاﻻ ا ُ ◌ َو َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َان‬ ِ ‫َﻠَ ْﯿ َﻨﺎ َو َ َﲆ ِﻋ َﺒﺎ ِد‬
◌ ُ ُ ‫ُﻣ َﺤﻤ ًﺪا َﻋ ْﺒﺪُ ُﻩ َو َر ُﺳ ْﻮ‬
Ayaz Malik [23] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

((In the name of Allah) Greetings belong to Allah. Prayers belong to Allah. Pure actions belong
to Allah. Peace be on the Prophet and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be on us and
on the slaves of Allah who are salihun (Righteous servants of Allah). I testify that there is no
god except Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah).

RAISING INDEX FINGER

Abdullah bin Zubair narrated on the authority of his father: When the
Messenger of Allah (SAW) sat in prayer. he placed the left foot between his
thigh and shank and stretched the right foot and placed his left hand or his left
knee and placed his right hand on his right thigh, and raised his finger. (Sahih
Muslim, Book #004, Hadith #1201)

Raising the index finger is something which is neglected by many worshippers because they
are ignorant of its great benefits and its effect. The Prophet (SAW) said: “It is more powerful
against the Shaitan than iron” (reported by Imaam Ahmad, 2/119, with a hasan isnaad, as
stated in Sifat al-Salaah, p. 159), i.e., pointing with the forefinger during the Tashahhud is
more painful to the Shaitan than being beaten with a rod of iron, because it reminds the slave
of the Unity of Allaah and to be sincere in his worship of Him alone, and this is what the
Shaitan hates most; we seek refuge with Allaah from him.” (al-Fath al-Rabbani by al-Saa’idi,
4/15). Because of this great benefit, the Companions (RA), used to enjoin one another to do this
and were very keen to remember to do this thing.

After completing Step 12, one should stand up for 3 rd Rakah saying Takbeer. Note that in case
of prayers offered with 2 Rakahs one doesn’t need to do this step and should do step 15 instead.

STEP 13 – 3RD RAKAH

After standing up for the 3 rd Rakah, one should fold his hands over his chest as, he did in the 1 st
Rakah, and start again with Step 11. Then he should complete his 2 nd Rakah following Step 5 to
Step 10, in the manner of the 1 st Rakkah. After performing Step 10, he should stand up for the
4th Rakah saying Takbeer.
Ayaz Malik [24] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

STEP 14 – 4TH RAKAH

After standing up for the 4th Rakah, one should fold his hands over his chest, as he did in the 1 st
Rakah, and start again with Step 11. Then he should offer his 4 th Rakah following Step 5 to Step
9.

STEP 15 – TASHAHHUD WITH DUROOD AND DUA

After repeating Step 9 in 4 th Rakah, a person should raise his head up saying Takbeer and sit. In
4th Rakah (or the last Rakah in case of prayer consisting of 2 or 3 Rakahs), one should recite the
following in the order presented,

TASHAHHUD

ِ ‫َاﻟﺘ ِﺤﯿ ُﺎت ِ ِ َواﻟﺼﻠَ َﻮ ُات َواﻟﻄ ِﯿ َﺒ ُﺎت ◌ َاﻟﺴ َﻼ ُم َﻠَ ْﯿ َﻚ َاﳞَﺎاﻟﻨ ِﱯ َو َر ْ َﲪ ُﺔ‬
‫ﷲ َو َ َﺮ َﰷﺗُ ُﻪ‬
◌ ُ ‫ﷲ اﻟﺼﺎ ِﻟ ِ ْ َﲔ ◌ َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َا ْن ﻻ ِا َ َ ِاﻻ ا‬ِ ‫◌ َاﻟﺴ َﻼ ُم َﻠ َ ْﯿ َﻨﺎ َو َ َﲆ ِﻋ َﺒﺎ ِد‬
◌ ُ ُ ‫َو َا ْﺷﻬَﺪُ َان ُﻣ َﺤﻤﺪً ا َﻋ ْﺒﺪُ ُﻩ َو َر ُﺳ ْﻮ‬
((In the name of Allah) Greetings belong to Allah. Prayers belong to Allah. Pure actions belong
to Allah. Peace be on the Prophet and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be on us and
on the slaves of Allah who are salihun (Righteous servants of Allah). I testify that there is no
god except Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah)

DUROOD-E-IBRAHIM

‫َا ﻠﻬُﻢ َﺻ ِ ّﻞ َ َﲆ ُﻣ َﺤﻤ ٍﺪ و َ َﲆ ٓ ِل ُﻣ َﺤﻤ ٍﺪ َﳈ َ ﺎ َﺻﻠ ْﯿﺖ َ َ َﲆ ِا ْ َﺮا ِﻫ ْ َﲓ َو َ َﲆ ٓ ِل ِا ْ َﺮا ِﻫ ْ َﲓ‬

‫ِا َﻧﻚ َ ِﲪ ْﯿ ٌﺪ ﻣ ِﺠ ْﯿ ٌﺪ َا ﻠﻬُﻢ ﺑ َ ﺎ ِرك ْ َ َﲆ ُﻣ َﺤﻤ ٍﺪ و َ َﲆ ٓ ِل ُﻣ َﺤﻤ ٍﺪ َﳈ َ ﺎ ﺑ َ َﺎ َر ْﻛﺖ َ َ َﲆ ِا ْ َﺮا ِﻫ ْ َﲓ‬
‫َو َ َﲆ ٓ ِل ِا ْ َﺮا ِﻫ ْ َﲓ ِا َﻧﻚ َ ِﲪ ْﯿ ٌﺪ ﻣ ِﺠ ْﯿ ٌﺪ‬
(Oh Allah, send grace and honour on Muhammad and on the family and true followers of
Muhammad just as you sent Grace and Honour on Ibrahim and on the family and true
Ayaz Malik [25] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

followers of Ibrahim Surely, you are praiseworthy, the Great. Oh Allah, send your blessing on
Muhammad and the true followers of Muhammad, just as you sent blessings on Ibrahim and
his true followers Surely, you are praiseworthy, the Great)

DUA A FTER DUROOD-E-IBRAHIM

‫َر ِ ّب ا ْﺟ َﻌﻠْ ِ ْﲎ ُﻣ ِﻘ ْ َﲓ اﻟﺼﻠَﻮ ِة َو ِﻣ ْﻦ ُذ ّ ِرﯾ ِ ْﱴ َرﺑ َﻨﺎ َوﺗَ َﻘ ْﻞ د ُ َ ٓ ِء ◌ َرﺑ َ ﺎ ا ْﻏ ِﻔ ْﺮ ِ ْﱃ َو ِﻟ َﻮا ِ َ ى‬

◌ ‫ﺎب‬ ُ ‫َو ِﻠْ ُﻤ ْﺆ ِﻣ ِ ْ َﲔ ﯾ َ ْﻮ َم ﯾ َ ُﻘ ْﻮ ُم اﻟْ ِﺤ َﺴ‬
(Oh Lord, make me and my children keep up prayers, our Lord, accept our prayer, our Lord,
forgive me and my parents and all the Believers on the Day of Judgement.)

STEP 16 – TASLEEM (SALAAM)

After praying for himself as much as the person wishes, he should end his Salah saying,

ْ ُ َ‫َاﻟﺴ َﻼ ُم َﻠ‬
ِ ‫ﯿﲂ َو َر ْ َﲪ ُﺔ‬
‫ﷲ‬
(Peace and mercy of Allah be on you)

He should say this by turning the face first to the right and then to the left, both times over the
shoulder. This is called Tasleem. This brings the 4 Rakahs of the Salah to completion. Now in
the following sections we will see how we can implement these steps to Salahs consisting of 2
and 3 Rakahs, as well as Witr Salah.
Ayaz Malik [26] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

OFFERING FAJR SALAH (TWO RAKAHS)

Start Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Step 11 Step 10 Step 9 Step 8 Step 7 Step 6

Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Step 9 Step 15

End Step 16

OFFERING ZUHR, ASR & ISHA SALAH (FOUR RAKAHS)

Start Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Step 11 Step 10 Step 9 Step 8 Step 7 Step 6

Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Step 9 Step 12

Step 9 Step 8 Step 7 Step 6 Step 5 Step 11

Step 10 Step 11 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8

End Step 16 Step 15 Step 9

Ayaz Malik [27] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

OFFERING MAGHRIB SALAH (THREE RAKAHS)

Start Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Step 11 Step 10 Step 9 Step 8 Step 7 Step 6

Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Step 9 Step 12

Step 9 Step 8 Step 7 Step 6 Step 5 Step 11

Step 15 Step 16 End

OFFERING WITR SALAH (ODD NUMBER OF RAKAHS)

Scholars have differed as to whether it was obligatory to pray the Witr Salah or not. Some of
Hanafis even thought it was obligatory. Imam Ahmad said, "Whoever neglects Witr is a bad
man whose testimony should not be accepted.” This indicates that Witr Salah is something that
is confirmed. This shows its great importance. However the correct view is that it is one of the
Sunnah (confirmed Sunnah) that Muslims should try to observe regularly and not neglect it.
However not performing it does not mean your Farz prayers are not valid.

The timing of the Witr Salah starts after a person prays the Isha Salah until dawn even if he has
joined Isha with Maghrib at the time of Maghrib. Evidence for this is that the Prophet (SAW)
said: “Allah has prescribed for you a prayer (by which He may increase your reward), which is
Witr; Allah has enjoined it for you during the time between ‘Isha’ prayer until dawn begins.”
(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 425; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi)

Jaabir (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Whoever fears that he will not get up at
the end of the night, let him pray Witr at the beginning of the night, but whoever thinks that he
Ayaz Malik [28] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

will be able to get up at the end of the night, let him pray Witr at the end of the night, for
prayer at the end of the night is witnessed (by the angels) and that is better.” (Narrated by
Muslim, 755)

Witr Salah is an odd number of Rakahs. There are several ways of performing the Witr Salah
one could pray 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or more Rakahs (odd numbers). The most common number of
Rakahs that are prayed by most Muslims is 3 Rakahs. If you are praying the Witr Salah and
dawn is approaching then you should pray 1 Rakah so that you can pray Witr Salah before the
start of dawn. There is one additional step in Witr Salah which is defined as below:

STEP 17 – DUA-E-QUNOOT

This step is usually performed between Step 4 and Step 5. In the Witr Salah the Dua-e-Qanoot
is recited in the final Rakah of the Witr Salah just before going to Ruku (i.e., bowing position).
Dua-e-Qunoot is as below,

‫ﰻ َﻠ َ ْﯿ َﻚ َوﻧ ُ ْ ِ ْﲎ َﻠَ ْﯿ َﻚ اﻟْ ْ ََﲑ ُﳇ ُﻪ‬ ُ ‫َا ﻠﻬُﻢ ِا َ ْﺴ َﺘ ِﻌ ْﯿ ُﻨ َﻚ َو َ ْﺴ َﺘ ْﻐ ِﻔ ُﺮ َك َوﻧ ُﺆ ِﻣ ُﻦ ﺑ َِﻚ َوﻧ َ َﺘ َﻮ‬
‫َو َ ْﺸ ُﻜ ُﺮ َك َو َﻻ َ ْﻜ ُﻔ ُﺮ َك َو َ ْﳔﻠَ ُﻊ َوﻧ ْ َُﱰكُ َﻣ ْﻦ ﯾ ْﻔ ُﺠ ُﺮ َك ط َا ﻠﻬُﻢ ِا َك ﻧ َ ْﻌ ُﺒﺪ ُ َو َ َ ﻧ َُﺼ ِ ّ ْﲆ‬
‫َو َ ْﺴ ُ ﺪُ َوِاﻟ َ ْﯿ َﻚ َ ْﺴ َﻌﻰ َو َ ْﳓ ِﻔﺪُ َو َ ْﺮ ُﺟ ْﻮا َر ْ َﲪﺘَ َﻚ َو َ ْﳔ َﴙ َ َﺬاﺑ َ َﻚ ا ِ ّ َ َﺬاﺑ َ َﻚ ِ ﻟْ ُﻜﻔﺎ ِر‬
‫ُﻣﻠْ ِﺤ ٌﻖ ط‬
(O Allah! We implore You for help and beg forgiveness of You and believe in You and rely on
You and extol You and we are thankful to You and not ungrateful to You and we alienate and
forsake him who disobeys You. O Allah! You alone do we worship and for You do we pray and
prostrate and we betake to please You and present ourselves for the service in Your cause and
we hope for Your mercy and fear Your chastisement. Undoubtedly, Your torment is going to
overtake infidels)

RECOMMENDED METHODS OF PERFORMING WITR SALAH:

Below are the recommended methods of performing 3 Rakah, Witr Salah,

1. Perform 2 Rakahs like a normal 2 Rakah Salah. Then pray one Rakah with the addition
of Dua-e-Qunoot before or after Ruku.
Ayaz Malik [29] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

2. Perform 3 Rakahs like the Maghrib Salah with two differences. First difference is that in
the 2nd Rakah of Maghrib after the second Sajdah (prostration) a person normally sits
down to recite the Tashahhud, but in the Witr you do not do that. So you get up and
perform the 3 rd Rakah. Second difference is that in the 3 rd Rakah of the Witr prayer you
should recite the Dua-e-Qunoot either just before Ruku or after Ruku.

HADITHS RELATED TO METHODS OF PERFORMING WITR SALAH:

1. Prophet (SAW) said: “Witr is one Rakah at the end of the night.” (Narrated by Muslim,
752)
2. Aishah (RA) said: The Prophet (SAW) used not to say the Tasleem in the (first) two
Rakahs of Witr. According to another version, “He used to pray Witr with three Rakahs
and he did not sit except in the last of them.” (Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 3/234; al-
Bayhaqi, 3/31. al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo’ (4/7): it was narrated by al-Nasaa’i with
a hasan isnaad, and by al-Bayhaqi with a saheeh isnaad. )
3. Aishah (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to pray thirteen Rakahs at night,
praying five Rakahs of Witr, in which he would not sit except in the last Rakah.
(Narrated by Muslim, 737)
4. Umm Salamah (RA) said: The Prophet (SAW) used to pray Witr with five or seven
(Rakahs) and he did not separate between them with any salaam or words. (Narrated by
Ahmad, 6/290; al-Nasaa’i, 1714. al-Nawawi said: Its isnaad is jayyid. Al-Fath al-
Rabbaani, 2/297. and it was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Nasaa’i)
5. Aishah (RA) said the Prophet (SAW) used to pray nine Rakahs in which he did not sit
except in the eighth, when he would remember Allah, praise Him and call upon Him,
then he would get up and not say the Tasleem, and he would stand up and pray the
ninth (Rakah), then he would sit and remember Allah and praise Him and call upon
Him, then he would say a Tasleem that we could hear. (Sahih Muslim)

All these ways of offering Witr prayer have been mentioned in the Sunnah, but the best way is
not to stick to one particular way; rather one should do it one way one time and another way
another time, so that one will have done all the Sunnah.
Ayaz Malik [30] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

With regard to Qunoot, some scholars say that Qunoot should only be recited before bowing
and some say that it should only be recited after bowing. The fuqaha’ among the scholars of
hadith, say that both are allowed, because both are mentioned in the saheeh Sunnah. Below are
the methods (one of the methods) of performing Witr prayer with one and three Rakahs,

ONE RAKAH WITR PRAYER :

Start Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 3

Step 9 Step 8 Step 7 Step 6 Step 5 Step 17

Step 15 Step 16 End

THREE RAKAH WITR PRAYER :

Start Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5

Step 11 Step 10 Step 9 Step 8 Step 7 Step 6

Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Step 8 Step 9 Step 10

Step 7 Step 6 Step 5 Step 17 Step 3 Step 11

Step 8 Step 9 Step 15 Step 16 End

Ayaz Malik [31] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

AHADITH RELATED TO SALAH

1- The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “The first thing that Allah made obligatory upon
my Ummah was the five prayers; and the first thing from their acts of worship that
shall be taken up will be the five prayers; and the first thing that they will be
questioned about will be the five prayers.” (Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition
18859)

2- Imam Al-Baqir (AS) has said: “Islam has been founded and established on five things:
Prayers, Zakat, Hajj, Sawm (Fasting) and Wilayah.” (Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page
234)

3- The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “One who adheres to the five (daily) prayers
diligently, they shall be a means of illumination and salvation for him on the Day of
Judgment.” (Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 18862)

4- The Messenger of Allah (SAW) has said: “The prayer of a person is (in reality) a light
in his heart, so whoever desires, can illuminate his heart (by means of prayers).”
(Kanzul `Ummal, Volume7, Tradition 18973)

5- The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “The prayer is the standard of Islam. Whosoever
loves prayers, and observes their limits, timings and methods, is a true believer.”
(Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 18870)

6- Imam Muhammad Al-Baqir (AS) advised: “We command our children to offer prayers
when they are five years old, so you too order your children to offer prayers (but only)
when they are seven years of age.” (Wasa’ilush Shi`a, Volume 3, Page 12)

7- Imam As-Sadiq (AS) said: “One obligatory prayer is better than performing Hajj
twenty times, and the performance of one Hajj is better than giving away a house full
of gold.” (Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 227)

8- The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “Whenever the time of each prayer arrives, an
Angel announces to the people: (O’ People!) Stand up and extinguish, with prayers,
Ayaz Malik [32] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

the fire which you have set alight for yourselves.” (Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page
209)

9- The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him and his progeny) said: “The position of
prayers with respect to religion is similar to that of the head with respect to the body.”
(Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 18972)

10- The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “The example of the five (daily) prayers is like
that of a clear-water river flowing in front of your houses in which a person washes
himself five times a day – cleansing him from all dirt.” (Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7,
Tradition 18931)

11- The Messenger of Allah (SAW) states that Allah, The Exalted has said: “I have made the
five prayers obligatory upon your Ummah and have made a covenant with Myself
that one who maintains his prayers with respect to their timings, I shall place him in
Paradise. As for the one, who does not maintain the timings, I have no covenant (with
him).” (Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 18872)

12- Imam Ali (AS) said: “When a person stands up for prayers, Iblis approaches him and
looks at him with envy and jealousy, as he sees the Mercy of Allah encompassing the
person.” (Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 207)

13- Aishah (RA) narrates: “We would be engaged in conversation with the Messenger of
Allah (SAW), but with the arrival of the time of prayers it would appear as if he
neither knew us nor we knew him.” (Al-Mahajjatul Baidha, Volume 1, Page 350)

14- Imam As-Sadiq (AS) has said: “When a person maintains his prayer and offers it at its
stipulated time, it ascends in the form of a pure white light and calls out to him: “You
have guarded me, may Allah protect you.” But if he does not maintain his prayer and
does not offer it at its decreed time, it ascends as a dark and gloomy form and says to
him: You have destroyed me, may Allah destroy you.” (Al-Mahajjatul Baidha, Volume
1, Page 340)
Ayaz Malik [33] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

15- The Messenger of Allah (SAW) has said: “The most beloved of deeds in the eyes of
Allah are: offering prayers at the stipulated times; (then) goodness and kindness
towards parents; (and then) Jihad in the way of Allah.” (Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7,
Tradition 18897)

16- The Messenger of Allah (SAW) has said: “One who considers the prayers to be
insignificant and trivial is not from me. By Allah! He shall never come close to me at
the pool of Kauthar.” (Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 224)

17- Imam As-Sadiq (AS) said: “Our intercession shall never reach one who considers his
prayers to be inconsequential and unimportant.” (Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page
227)

18- The Messenger of Allah (SAW) has said: “Do not destroy your prayers for verily one
who destroys his prayers shall be resurrected in the company of Qarun, Haman and
Firaun.” (Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 202)

19- The Messenger of Allah (SAW) has said: “Prayer is the pillar of your religion and one
who intentionally forsakes his prayer has destroyed his religion. And one who does
not guard the times of the prayers, shall be made to enter ‘Wayl’, which is a valley in
Hell, as Allah, the Exalted, has said: “So woe to the praying ones, who are unmindful of
their prayers.” (Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 202)

20- The Noble Prophet (SAW) has said: “If a person abandons his prayer such that he
neither desires its rewards nor fears its chastisement, for such a person I do not care if
he dies a Jew, a Christian or a Magian.” (Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 202)

21- The Noble Prophet (SAW) has said: “The good deeds of one who, without any
appropriate excuse does not offer his prayer until its time passes away, are annulled.”
He then said: “The divide between a believer and disbelief is the abandonment of
prayers.” (Biharul Anwar, Volume 82, Page 202)
Ayaz Malik [34] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

22- The Noble Prophet (SAW) has said: “The name of one who forsakes his prayer
intentionally is written upon the door of Hell from which he shall (eventually) enter.”
(Kanzul `Ummal, Volume 7, Tradition 19090)

23- Imam As-Sadiq (AS) said that Allah, the Exalted has said: “I shall accept the prayers of
one who: exhibits humility before My Greatness; restrains himself from his base and
carnal desires for My sake; passes his day in My remembrance; does not seek to show
his greatness over My creation; feeds the hungry ones; clothes the bare ones; acts with
kindness and mercy to those in misery and trouble; provides shelter to those who are
strangers (in his city) and away from their homes.” (Wasa`ilush Shi`a, Volume 15,
Page 210)

24- Imam Al-Baqir (AS) narrates: One day the Messenger of Allah (SAW) was seated in
the mosque when a person entered and began praying, but in a manner such that
neither did he perform his Ruku (bowing), nor his Sujood (prostration) in a correct
manner. Observing this, the Messenger of Allah commented: “(This person) pecks as a
crow pecks. Should he die and the state of his prayers be as they are now, he shall
surely not die upon my religion.” (Al-Mahajjatul Baidha, Volume 1, Page 34)

25- Imam As-Sadiq (peace be upon him) has said: “One who desires to know whether his
prayers have been accepted or not should observe if his prayers have restrained him
from evil and sinful acts. (If yes,) then the measure in which they have restrained him
is the measure of his prayers that have been accepted.” (Biharul Anwar, Volume 82,
Page 198)

26- Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle (SAW) said, "The reward of the prayer offered
by a person in congregation is twenty five times greater than that of the prayer
offered in one's house or in the market (alone). And this is because if he performs
ablution and does it perfectly and then proceeds to the mosque with the sole intention
of praying, then for every step he takes towards the mosque, he is upgraded one
degree in reward and his one sin is taken off (crossed out) from his accounts (of
deeds). When he offers his prayer, the angels keep on asking Allah's Blessings and
Ayaz Malik [35] Understanding of Adhan, Iqamah & Salah

Allah's forgiveness for him as long as he is (staying) at his Musalla. They say, 'O Allah!
Bestow Your blessings upon him, be Merciful and kind to him.' And one is regarded in
prayer as long as one is waiting for the prayer."

27- Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (SAW) said, "Allah will prepare for him who goes
to the mosque (every) morning and in the afternoon (for the congregational prayer)
an honorable place in Paradise with good hospitality for (what he has done) every
morning and afternoon goings.