Prayer Guide

Intention (Niyyah)

The intention is made in the heart together with the opening takbir, matching the prayer you are about to perform. It does not need to be spoken aloud.

Opening Takbir (Takbiratul Ihram)

Raise both hands level with the shoulders or ears while saying the takbir, marking the start of the prayer.

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allāhu akbar.

Allah is the Greatest.

Opening Supplication (Iftitah)

Recited quietly after the opening takbir and before Al-Fatihah. Several authentic versions exist; here is one short version.

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا

Allāhu akbaru kabīrā, wal-ḥamdu lillāhi kaṡīrā, wa sub-ḥānallāhi bukrataw wa aṣīlā.

Allah is greater, truly greater; much praise is due to Allah; and glory be to Allah morning and evening.

Reciting Al-Fatihah

Obligatory in every rak'ah, for both the imam and those following, as a pillar of the prayer.

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

Bismillāhir-raḥmānir-raḥīm. Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-'ālamīn. Ar-raḥmānir-raḥīm. Māliki yaumid-dīn. Iyyāka na'budu wa iyyāka nasta'īn. Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm. Ṣirāṭal-lażīna an'amta 'alaihim gairil-magḍụbi 'alaihim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path, the path of those You have blessed, not of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray.

Reciting a Short Surah

Recited after Al-Fatihah, only in the first and second rak'ahs. Any surah you know is fine, such as Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, or An-Nas (see the Supplications menu).

Bowing (Ruku')

Bow until your back is level with your head, with both hands on your knees, saying the takbir as you go down.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

Sub-ḥāna rabbiyal-'aẓīm.

Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great. (recite 3 times)

Rising from Bowing (I'tidal)

Rise from bowing until you stand upright again.

سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Sami'allāhu liman ḥamidah. Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd.

Allah hears those who praise Him. Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.

First Prostration (Sujud)

Place your forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and the tips of your toes on the ground, saying the takbir as you go down.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Sub-ḥāna rabbiyal-a'lā.

Glory be to my Lord, the Most High. (recite 3 times)

Sitting Between the Two Prostrations

Sit briefly on your left foot with the right foot upright, saying the takbir as you rise from prostration.

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاجْبُرْنِي وَارْفَعْنِي وَارْزُقْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَعَافِنِي وَاعْفُ عَنِّي

Rabbigfir lī, war-ḥamnī, wajburnī, warfa'nī, warzuqnī, wahdinī, wa 'āfinī, wa'fu 'annī.

My Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, make up my shortcomings, raise my rank, provide for me, guide me, grant me well-being, and pardon me.

Second Prostration

The same as the first prostration, before rising to the next rak'ah or sitting for the tashahhud.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Sub-ḥāna rabbiyal-a'lā.

Glory be to my Lord, the Most High. (recite 3 times)

First Tashahhud Sitting

Performed in the second rak'ah of prayers with 3 or 4 rak'ahs, before standing up for the next rak'ah. The recitation is the same as the first part of the final tashahhud, without continuing to the salawat.

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

At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt, as-salāmu 'alaika ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh, as-salāmu 'alainā wa 'alā 'ibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn, asy-hadu al lā ilāha illallāh, wa asy-hadu anna muḥammadan 'abduhụ wa rasụluh.

All greetings, prayers, and good things belong to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

Final Tashahhud Sitting

Performed in the last rak'ah before the salam. The tashahhud is the same as the first, followed by the salawat below.

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

Allāhumma ṣalli 'alā muḥammadiw wa 'alā āli muḥammad, kamā ṣallaita 'alā ibrāhīma wa 'alā āli ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdum majīd. Allāhumma bārik 'alā muḥammadiw wa 'alā āli muḥammad, kamā bārakta 'alā ibrāhīma wa 'alā āli ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdum majīd.

O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, bestow Your favor upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You bestowed it upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.

Salam

Turn the head to the right and then to the left, marking the end of the prayer.

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

As-salāmu 'alaikum wa raḥmatullāh.

Peace and the mercy of Allah be upon you.