AN INTRODUCTION TO SALAH:

Salah is not intended to just be a mandatory enactment. Rather it is the first and a continuing sign of the
believer’s obedience to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.

It is a spiritual ritual, a source for gaining strength and patience and as a means of self purification. A
believer does not see salah as a burden but rather a privilege to learn and develop a deeper connection
to his creator. A Muslim offers prayer out of humility and love to show their inner devotion to Allah
because he or she depends on him.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF SALAH:

There are four different types of Salah which make up the five daily prayers.

Fardh – Imperative (missing a fardh salah is considered a grave sin).

Wajib – Obligatory (missing is considered a sin, just not as great as a fardh salah).

Sunnah – Prophet’s Practice. Here there are two types, one Rasulullah prayed regularly known as
Muakkadah and one prophet prayed occasionally, Ghair Muakkadah.

Nafl – Voluntary.

This table summarizes the number of rakats for each prayer. These should be memorized so you know
how many rakats each you will need to pray. A rakat can be viewed as a single unit or cycle of prayer.

table of rakats

PREPARATION BEFORE SALAH (CHECKLIST):

Before beginning to pray one must be in a state of cleanliness. This is done by performing Wudu
(ablution). In other cases, Tayammum or Ghusl are also acceptable methods of purification.

To be mature and a sane Muslim.

Have the proper intention to pray salah and to know whether one is praying fardh, sunnah, or nafl.

To have completed wudu.

Covering of satr (private parts). For males, clothes should cover from the naval (bellybutton) to just
below the knees. For females’ clothes should cover the whole body besides hands and face.

Praying at the prescribed times for salah.

Praying towards proper direction of the Qibla (Mecca).

“O Children of Adam! wear your beautiful apparel at every time and place of prayer”

7:31

HOW TO PRAY FARDH, SUNNAH, AND NAFL SALAH / NAMAZ:

After going through the prerequisites of Salah we are now ready to begin our prayer.

1. Begin with the proper niyyah (intention) that you want to pray, this can be done in your mind or
verbally. The purpose is so that you are not heedless in prayer but are aware of the kind of salat you are
about to offer.

I intend to offer the _____ rakats of the ____ prayer. So you could say something along the lines, “I
intend to offer the 4 rakats fardh of the Isha prayer” or “2 rakat nafl for zuhr prayer”.
Standing position in prayer

2. Ensure your praying area is clean, put down you prayer mat facing the direction of the Qiblah. Stand
as you would normally with your feet around four inches apart. Direct your gaze towards the place of
your sajdah. Now, with palms open, raise your hands to your ears and say the Takbir (Allahu Akbar)
which means Allah is the greatest. Your prayer has now commenced. Women praying should raise their
hands to their shoulders.

saying allahu akbar to start prayer

3. After Takbir, place cross your hands at chest level grabbing your left wrist with your right hand.[3]
Begin with the recitation of thana. [4]

‫ َو َال ِإَلَه َغْيُرَك‬، ‫ َو َتَع اَلى َج ُّد َك‬، ‫ َو َتباَرَك اْس ُم َك‬، ‫ُسْبحاَنَك الَّلُهَّم َو ِبَحْمِد َك‬

Subhaanaka Allaahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabaarakasmuka, wa ta’aalaa jadduka, wa laa ‘ilaaha

ghayruka.

Meaning: Glory and praise be to You, O Allah. Blessed be Your name and exalted be Your majesty, there
is none worthy of worship except You.

Recite Tauz or Ta’awwudh and continue with saying bismillah.

‫اعوذ باہلل من الشیطان الرجیم‬

auzu billahi minash shaitan rajeem

Meaning: I seek Allah’s protection from Satan, the accursed.

‫بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم‬

bismillah hir rahman nir Raheem

Meaning: In the name of Allah who is kind and merciful.

crossing hands for namaz

4. After this recite Surah Al-Fatiha which is the first chapter of the Quran.

‫) ِص َر اَط اَّلِذ ْیَن‬۵( ‫) ِاْهِد َنا الِّص َر اَط اْلُم ْسَتِقْیَۙم‬۴(‫) ِاَّیاَك َنْعُبُد َو ِاَّیاَك َنْسَتِع ْیُؕن‬۳(‫) ٰم ِلِك َیْو ِم الِّدْیِؕن‬۲( ‫) الَّرْح ٰم ِن الَّر ِح ْیِۙم‬۱( ‫َاْلَح ْم ُد ِهّٰلِل َر ِّب اْلٰع َلِم ْیَۙن‬
۷ ‫)َاْنَعْم َت َع َلْیِهْم َغْیِر اْلَم ْغ ُضْو ِب َع َلْیِهْم َو اَل الَّض آِّلْیَ۠ن‬

Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem Maaliki Yawmid-Deen Iyyaaka na’budu wa

lyyaaka nasta’een Ihdinas-Siraatal-Mustaqeem Siraatal-lazeena an’amta ‘alaihim ghayril-maghdoobi
‘alaihim wa lad-daaalleen

Meaning: Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds; Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek. Show us the straight way,
The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who
go not astray.

At the end of reciting Surah Fatiha say Ameen.

5. While praying the first two rakats, after saying ameen, recite any passage from the Qur’an. Surah
Ikhlas is commonly taught first because it is one of the shorter surahs and for the great rewards
associated with it. [11] For prayers which exceed two rakat, you only need to recite Surah Fatiha and can
move onto step 6 without reciting any extra passage after fatiha.

Surah Ikhlas:

‫ و لم يكن له كفوا أحد‬،‫ لم يلد و لم يولد‬،‫هللا الصمد‬،‫بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم قل هوا هلل أحد‬

Bismillah hir Rahman nir Rahim Qul Huwallahu ahad. Allahussamad. Lam yalid wa lam yu-lad. Wa lam
yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.
Meaning: In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful. 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.

6. Say Allahu Akbar, bend down for ruku. Ruku is the position where you keep your head and back
aligned and put your hands on your knees. Here recite Tasbeeh three times or any odd number of times
you like.

‫ُسْبَحاَن َر ِّبَي اْلَعِظ يِم‬

Subhana Rabbiyal Adhim

Meaning: Glory be to my Lord Almighty

ruku or bowing position

7. Next stand up from the bowing position saying [5],

‫َسِمَع ُهَّللا ِلَم ْن َح ِم َده‬

Sami’Allahu liman hamidah

Meaning: Allah hears those who praise Him

‫َر َّبَنا َو َلَك اْلَح ْم د‬

Rabbana lakal hamd

Meaning: Our lord, to you be the praise.

According to Hambali Fiqh, you can raise both your hands up to your earlobes before entering ruku and
after coming up from ruku. While coming up from ruku your hands should be at your side and not
crossed at the chest.

standing after ruku

8. Say Allahu Akbar and go down for sajdah (prostration). There should 5 points of contact with the
ground, your forehead, nose, palms of hand, knees, and toes of the feet. Put your head between your
palms such that your thumbs are aligned with earlobes. The elbows should be raised away from the
ground. In this position recite Tasbeeh three or any odd number of times you like.

‫ُسْبَحاَن َر ِّبَي اَألْعَلى‬

Subhana Rabbiyal A’la

Meaning: How Perfect is my Lord, the Highest

Sujud or prostration

9. Say Allahu Akbar, sit upright. It is sunnah to keep your right foot up and lay the left foot on the
ground. [6] This position is called Jalsah Al-istiraha or the sitting position of the prayer. Rest your hands
on the thighs with fingers reaching the knees. Recite the following, [7]

‫رب اغفر لي‬

Rabbighfir li

Meaning: O my Lord! Forgive me

Say Allahu Akbar and go for your second sujud, recite Subhana Rabbiyal A’la tasbeeh three times. After
say Allahu Akbar and stand back up and cross your arms just as before. This represents one complete
rakat of salah.

Perform the second rakat the same, except you do not need to recite subhanaka. When you complete
the second sujood of the second rakat stay seated in position of Jalsah.

Jalsah al Istiraha
10. Here we recite Tashahhud silently:

‫ َأْش َهُد َأْن َال ِإَلَه ِإَّال ُهَّللا‬، ‫ الَّس َالُم َع َلْيَنا َو َع َلى ِع َباِد ِهَّللا الَّصاِلِح يَن‬،‫ الَّس َالُم َع َلْيَك َأُّيَها الَّنِبُّي َو َر ْح َم ُة ِهَّللا َو َبَر َكاُتُه‬، ‫الَّتِح َّياُت ِهَّلِل َو الَّص َلَو اُت َو الَّطِّيَباُت‬
‫َو َأْش َهُد َأَّن ُمَح َّم ًدا َع ْبُد ُه َو َر ُسوُلُه‬

Attahiyat lillahi wa salawatu wa’t-tayyibat, as-salamu ‘alayka ayyuha’n-Nabiyyu wa rahmat-Allahi wa

barakatuhu. As-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘alaa ‘ibad-Illah is-saliheen. ashhadu alla ilaha illallah wa ashhadu
anna muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu

Meaning: All the best compliments and the prayers and the good things are for Allah. Peace and Allah’s
Mercy and Blessings be on you, O Prophet! Peace be on us and on the pious slaves of Allah, I testify that
none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and I also testify that Muhammad is Allah’s slave and His
Apostle.

When you read the shahada (testimony of faith – ashhadu alla ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna
muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu) ball up your right hand into a fist and raise your index finger. This
symbolizes the tawhid or oneness of Allah. At this point if the salat consists of more than two rakat you
would say the takbir, i.e. Allahu akbar and begin the third rakat. If the salah only consists of two rakats
then you would continue with the following supplication known as Salawat which is sends blessings and
salutations towards the Prophet Muhammad and Prophet Ibrahim, may peace be upon them.

‫الَّلُهَّم َص ِّل َع َلى ُمَح َّمٍد َو َع َلى آِل ُمَحَّمٍد َك َم ا َص َّلْيَت َع َلى آِل ِإْبَر اِهيَم ِإَّنَك َحِم يٌد َمِج يٌد الَّلُهَّم َباِرْك َع َلى ُمَح َّمٍد َو َع َلى آِل ُمَحَّمٍد َك َم ا َباَر ْك َت َع َلى آِل‬
‫ِإْبَر اِهيَم ِإَّنَك َحِم يٌد َمِج يٌد‬

Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin Wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin Kama sallaita ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali
Ibrahima wa barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin Kama barakta ‘ ala Ibrahima Wa ‘ ala ali
Ibrahima Fil a’lamina Innaka hamidun Majid.”

Meaning: “O Allah, let Your mercy come upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You let it
come upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad
as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Truly You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.”

tashahhud
11. Turn your face towards looking over your right shoulder and then turn to left. Each time recite the
following:

‫الَّس َالُم َع َلْيُك ْم َو َر ْح َم ُة ِهللا‬

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah [8]

Meaning: peace and the mercy of Allah be on you.

This would complete the two rakah salah. It is recommended to offer dua after salah, especially after
fardh salah. [9]

DUA AFTER SALAM:

‫ َو ُحْس ِن ِع َباَد ِتَك‬،‫ َو ُشْك ِرَك‬، ‫الَّلُهَّم َأِع ِّني َع َلى ِذ ْك ِرَك‬

Allahumma a’innee alaa dhikrika, wa shukrika, wa husni ‘ibaadatika

Meaning: O Allah, help me to remember You and thank You and help me to the best manner of
worshipping You. [10]

A note for the third and fourth rakah prayers (as in Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Insha) the process is the
repeated as per usual. The only difference is in the third and fourth rakat Surah Fatiha is always read
silently. After saying Ameen it’s not necessary to recite any other passage and to go straight into ruku
and sajdah.