Learn Salät

Salät is the Muslim form of formal worship. Muslims offer Salät five times a day. This page helps you learn how to offer Salät. Various parts of salät are given below. Click the name of the part to go there.

A formal Prayer consists of units. One unit is a rak’ah and more than one units are raka’ät. A formal Islamic Prayer is 2, 3 or 4 raka’ät depending on the time of Prayer and the kind of Prayer.

There are two sajdahs in each rak’ah. Qa’da is performed in every second rak’ah and the last rak’ah. Only tashahhud is recited in a sitting (Qa’da) which is not the last one.

The Salät Guide

Download the entire Salaat Guide in mp3 format. (7.2 Mb)

Definitions

Adhän

Adhän is the call to prayer. When Adhän is heard, it means that the time for prayer is approaching. The call is made before obligatory Prayers. Muadhdhin (the caller) calls out the words loudly from a point in the mosque that his call is heard far and wide in the neighborhood of the mosque or the venue of the Prayer.

Iqämah

Iqämah is recited loudly, preferably by the muadhdhin, or a person in the congregation, just before the start of the obligatory part of the Prayer which is lead by the imäm, the person leading the Prayer.

Niyyah

Declaration of intention to engage in Prayer. Recited before a set of Prayers.

Qa’dah

Sitting down with folded left foot folded and the right foot straight up.

Qiyäm

Standing upright in Prayer.

Rukü

Bending forward with hands on knees.

Sajdah

Forehead touching the ground, hands flat on the sides, elbows raised up, knees on the ground.

Surah Al-Fätiha

The opening chapter of the Holy Qur’an. Must be recited in every rak’ah.

Surah Al-Ikhläs

Can be substituted by other chapters or verses from the Holy Qur’an.

Ta’awwudh

Seeking protection from God against Satan.

Takbir

Procaliming the Supremacy of the Almighty at the start and during the Prayer while changing posture.

Thanä

Glorification of the Almighty.

Adhän

Adhän is the call to Formal Islamic worship, Prayer. When Adhän is heard, it means that the time for Prayer is approaching. The call is made before obligatory Prayers. Muadhdhin (the caller) faces towards Ka’ba and calls out the words loudly from a point in the mosque that his call is heard far and wide in the neighborhood of the mosque or the venue of the Prayer.

The text to be recited in the Prayer and its transliteration are given in red.
Translation follows in blue.
Instructions and explanations are in black.

Listen to the Adhan in mp3 format.

– – –
allähu akbar – allähu akbar – allähu akbar – allähu akbar
Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest.

–
ash-hadu allä iläha illalläh – ash-hadu allä iläha illalläh
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah.

–
ash-hadu anna muhammadarrasülulläh – ash-hadu anna muhammadarrasülulläh.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

–
hayya ‘alassalä – hayya ‘alassalä
Come to Prayer. Come to Prayer.

–
hayya ‘alal-faläh – hayya ‘alal-faläh
Come to prosperity. Come to prosperity.

–
assalätu khairum-minannaum. assalätu khairum-minannaum.
(This line is recited during Adhän for Fajr only, and is skipped while making a call for other four Prayers.)
Salät is better than sleep. Salät is better than sleep.

–
allähu akbar allähu akbar
Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest.

lä iläha illalläh.
There is none worthy of worship except Allah.

Iqämah

Iqämah is recited loudly, preferably by the muadhdhin, or a person in the congregation, just before the start of the obligatory part of the Prayer which is lead by the imäm, the person leading the Prayer. The Prayer starts immediately after.

Listen to the Iqamah in mp3 format.

–
allähu akbar allähu akbar
Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest.

ash-hadu allä iläha illalläh
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship save Allah.

ash-hadu anna muhammadarrasülulläh.
I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

hayya ‘alassalä
Come to Prayer.

hayya ‘alal-faläh
Come to prosperity.

qad qämatissalä. qad qämatissalä.
The Prayer is ready. The Prayer is ready.

–
allähu akbar allähu akbar
Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest.

lä iläha illalläh.
There is none worthy of worship save Allah.

Niyyah

With regard to Niyyah, contrary to what many people believe, it should be kept in mind that there are no set words per se for the Niyyah, rather it is the intention of offering Salat.

Qiyäm

Standing upright in Prayer. Arms are folded preferably in the Qiyäm before ruku and the arms are free falling in the Qiyäm after the ruku.

Takbïr

allähu akbar
Allah is the Greatest.

Thanä

Listen to the Thana in mp3 format.

subhänakallähumma wa bi hamdika wa tabärakasmuka wa ta‘äla jadduka wa lä iläha ghairuka.
Glory to Thee, O Allah, praiseworthy and blessed is Thy name and exalted is Thy majesty and there is no worthy of worship except Thee alone.

Ta‘awwudh

Listen to the Ta’awwudh in mp3 format.

a‘üdhu billähi minash-shaitänir-rajïm.
I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed.

Surah Al-Fätiha

Listen to Surah Al-Fatiha in mp3 format.

bismillähir-rahmänir-rahïm.
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

alhamdulillähi rabbil-‘älamïn.
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

arrahmänir-rahïm mäliki yaumiddïn.
The Gracious, the Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgement.

iyyäka na‘budu wa iyyäka nasta‘ïn
Thee alone do we worship, and Thee alone do we implore for help.

ihdinassirätal-mustaqïm
Guide us on the right path.

sirätalladhïna ana‘mta ‘alaihim.
The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed Thy blessings.

ghairil-maghdübi ‘alaihim waladdällïn.
Not of those who have incurred thy displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray.

ämïn.
Amen.

Surah Al-Ikhläs

Listen to Surah Al-Ikhlas in mp3 format.

bismillähir-rahmänir-rahïm.
In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.

qul huwallähu ahad.
Say, He is Allah, the One.

allähussamad.
Allah, the Independent and Besought by all.

lam yalid wa lam yülad
He begets not, nor is He begotten.

wa lam yakullahü kufuwan ahad
And there is none like unto Him.

Rukü

Bending forward with hands on knees.

Listen to the prayers during Ruku in mp3 format.

From upright position, bend forward with your hands on knees while proclaiming:

Allähu akbar.
Allah is the Greatest.

And repeat odd number of times (three or above) in this posture:

subbäna rabbiyal-‘azïm
Holy is my Lord, the Most Great.

Then, stand upright with arms hanging down while reciting:

sami‘allähu liman hamidah.
Allah hears him, who praises Him.

Listen to the Tasmeeh in mp3 format.

Recite while standing upright with arms hanging freely:

rabbnä wa lakal-hamd
O our Lord, and Thine is the Praise.

hamdan kathïran tayyiban mubarakan fïh.
The Praise which is plenty, pure and blessed.

Listen to the Tahmeed in mp3 format.

Go to sajdah proclaiming:

allähu akbar.
Allah is the Greatest.

Sajdah

Forehead touching the ground, hands flat on the sides, elbows raised up, knees on the ground. There are two sajdahs in each rak’ah. There is a short sitting between the two sajdahs.

Sajdahs or Sujüd

Attain the sajdah posture and repeat the following three or more odd times during the first sajdah:

Listen to the prayer during Sajdah in mp3 format.

subhäna rabbiyal-a‘lä.
(Repeat three or more odd times)
Holy is my Lord, the Most High.

After the first sajdah, go to the sitting posture, proclaiming:

Allähu akbar.
Allah is the Greatest.

Recite the following prayer during this short sitting between the two sajdahs:

allähummaghfirlï warhamnï wahdinï wa ‘äfinï warfa‘nï wajburnï warzuqnï

O Allah, forgive me, and have mercy on me, and guide me, and grant me security, and raise me up, and make good for me my shortcoming, and provide for me.

Listen to the prayer during Jilsa in mp3 format.

Go to the posture of sajdah again to perform the second sajdah while reciting:

allähu akbar.
Allah is the Greatest.

Repeat again three or more odd times during the second sajdah:

subbana rabbiyal-a‘lä.
(Repeat three or more odd times)
Holy is my Lord, the Most High.

Rise to the next posture, qiyam (when it is not the second or the last rak’ah) or qa’dah (when it is the second or the last rak’ah), as the case may be, saying:

allähu akbar.
Allah is the Greatest.

Qa’dah

It is the sitting posture during Prayer. Tash-shahhud is recited in every sitting after two sajdahs. Durud and prayers from the Holy Qur’an are recited only in the last sitting of a Prayer.

Listen to general info about the Qa’dah in mp3 format.

Tashahhud

Listen to the Tashahhud in mp3 format.

attahiyyätu lillähi wassalawätu wattayyibätu
All verbal and physical acts of worship and financial sacrifices are due to Allah.

assalämu ‘alaika ayyuhannabiyyu wa rahmatullähi wa barakätuh
Peace be on you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.

assalämu ‘alainä wa ‘alä ‘ibädillähissälihïn
Peace be on us and on the righteous servants of Allah.

(Raise index finger while repeating this expression)
ash-hadu allä iläha illallähu
I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship save Allah.

wa ash-hadu anna muhammadan ‘abduhü wa rasüluh
And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His apostle.

Durüd

Listen to the Durud in mp3 format.

allähumma salli ‘alä muhammadi(n)wwa ‘alä äli muhammadin kamä sallaita ‘alä ibrähïma wa ‘alä äli ibrähïma innaka hamidummajïd
Bless, O Allah, Muhammad and his people as Thou didst bless Abraham and his people. Thou art indeed Praiseworthy, the Exalted.

allähumma bärik ‘alä muhammadi(n)wwa ‘alä äli muhammadin kamä bärakta ‘alä ibrähïma wa ‘alä äli ibrähïma innaka hamidummajïd
Prosper, O Allah, Muhammad and his people as Thou didst prosper Abraham and his people. Thou art indeed Praiseworthy, the Exalted.

Prayers from the Holy Qur’än

Listen to these Prayers in mp3 format.

rabbanä ätina fiddunyä hasanata(n)wwa fil äkhirati hasanata(n)wwa qinä ‘adhäbannär
Our Lord, bestow on us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and shield us from the torment of the Fire.

rabbij‘alnï muqimassaläti wa min dhurriyyatï rabbanä wa taqabbal du‘ä
My Lord, make me observe Prayer and my children, too. Our Lord, bestow thy Grace on me and accept my Prayer.

rabbanaghfirlï waliwälidayya wa lilmu’minïna yauma yaqümul-hisäb
Our Lord grant forgiveness to me and to my parents and to the believers on the Day of the Reckoning.

Taslïm

Taslïm indicates the end of a section of Prayer.

Listen to the Taslim in mp3 format.

assalämu ‘alaikum wa rahmatulläh (Turning right.)
Peace be on you and the blessings of Allah.

assalämu ‘alaikum wa rahmatulläh. (Turning left.)
Peace be on you and the blessings of Allah.

Post-Prayer Dhikr

Repeated after the completion of Prayer.

allähumma antassalämu wa minkassalämu tabarakta yä dhul-jaläli wal-ikräm
O Allah, Thou art the peace and all peace is because of You. Thou art the bestower
of blessings, the Master of Grandeur and the Most Respecting.

Du’ä Qunüt

The following supplication is recited during the Vitr Prayer. The Vitr Prayer is offered preferably at the end of the voluntary Tahujjud Prayer before dawn or after the two raka’ät of sunnah after the ‘Ishä Prayer. Vitr Prayer is named so as it consists of three raka’ät. This supplication is offered in the last of the three Vitr raka’ät, during the qiyäm (between rukü and the sajdah) just before sajdah.

allähumma innä nasta‘ïnuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu’minubika wa natawakkalu ‘alaika wa nuthnï ‘alaikal-khaira wa nashkuruka wa lä nakfuruka wa nakhla‘u wa natruku ma(n)yyafjuruka allähumma iyyäka na‘budu wa laka nusallï wa nasjudu wa ilaika nas‘ä wa nahfidu wa narjü rahmataka wa nakhshä ‘adhäbaka inna ‘adhäbaka bil-kuffäri mulhiq.
O Allah, we beseech Thy help and request Thy protection and believe in Thee and trust in Thee and we laud Thee in the best manner and we thank Thee and we are not ungrateful to Thee. And we cast off and forsake him who disobeys Thee. O Allah, Thee alone do we serve and to Thee alone do we pray and make obeisance and to Thee we flee and we are quick and we hope for Thy mercy and we fear Thy chastisement, for surely Thy chastisement overtakes the unbelievers.