Salaah (Prayers)

1. Intention

Start with making your intention for performing Salaah. The intention is made in the heart but if someone wants to reinforce it verbally, it is allowed to do so. However, taking verbal intention as mandatory for the validity of the Salaah is a Bid’ah.

2. Takbeer-e-Tahreema 

الله أَكْبَر 

Allah is the Greatest

3. Thana (Praise) 

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إَلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

Glory and praise are due to you, O Allah, Blessed is Your Name, Exalted is Your Majesty, and there is none worthy of worship except You.

4. Ta'awwudh (Seeking refuge) 

أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

5. Tasmiyah (Seeking refuge) 

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful the Most Gracious

6. Recite Surah Fatiha

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful the Most Gracious

7. Recite any Surah

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful the Most Gracious

8. Ruku

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ العَظِيمِ

All glory is due to my Lord, the Magnificent 

9. Qiyam (While standing back from Ruku)

سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

Allah has heard those who praised Him

10. Qiyam (Standing position)

رَبَّنَا لَكَ الحَمْدُ

Our Lord, all praise is for you

11. Sujood (Prostration)

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى

Glory be to my Lord, most High

or preferably

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى وّبِحَمْدِهِ

Glory be to my Lord, most High, and Praise be to Him

The addition of "WabiHamdihi" is very virtuous according to scholars. 

12. Tashahhud (Sitting | Qa'dah)

اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ. اَلْسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ. اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِينَ. أَشْهَدُ أَن لَّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

All greetings of humility are for Allah, and all prayers and goodness. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.

13. Durood-e-Ibraheem | Salawaat  (Prophet Ibraheem's Du'aa)

اللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى مُحمَّد، وَعَلى آلِ مُحمَّد، كَما صَلَّيتَ عَلى إبْراهِيمَ وَعَلى آلِ إبْراهيم، إِنَّكَ حَميدٌ مَّجيد.  اللّهُمَّ بارِكْ عَلى مُحمَّد، وَعَلى آلِ مُحمَّد، كَما بَارِكْتَ عَلى إبْراهِيمَ وَعَلى آلِ إبْراهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ

O Allah, bestow Your mercy on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad as You have bestowed Your mercy on Ibrahim and on the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious

14. Dua after Salawaat (Du'aa Qunoot | The Supplication of Obedience)

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا وَّلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِّنْ عِنْدِكَ وَارْحَمْنِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

O Allah! I have been extremely unjust to myself, and none grants forgiveness against sins but You; therefore, forgive me with forgiveness that comes from You, and have mercy upon me. Verily, You are the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.

On completing the prayer, one should recite ASTAGHFIRULLAH thrice, then one should raise both hands to the level of the chest and make Du’a to ALLAH TA’ALA:

أّسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ، أّسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ، أّسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ

I seek forgiveness of Allah (Recite three times)

اللّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ تَبارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الجَلَالِ وَالإِكْرَامِ

O Allah, You are Peace and from You comes peace. Blessed are You, O Owner of majesty and honor

اللّهُمَّ أَعِنِّي عَلَى ذِكْرِكَ وَشُكْرِكَ وَحُسْنِ عِبَادَتِكَ

O Allah, help me to remember You, to thank You, and to worship You in the best manner.

رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ. وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ

Our Lord, accept [this] from us. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing, and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of Repentance, the Merciful.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ. وَسَلَامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ. وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Exalted is your Lord, the Lord of might, above what they describe. And peace upon the messengers. And praise to Allah, Lord of the worlds.

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ المُلْكُ وَلَهُ الحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ. اللَّهُمَّ لِا مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ وَلَا مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ وَلَا يَنْفَعُ ذَا الجَدِّ مِنْكَ الجَدُّ.

None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, He has no partner, His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is Able to do all things. O Allah, there is none who can withhold what You give, and none may give what You have withheld, and the might of the mighty person cannot benefit him against You.

Aayatul Kursiyy

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ

Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Self-Sustaining. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursī extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Magnificent.

اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَّفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَّقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

What is salaah or namaaz?

Salaah is a special type of prayer that has been taught by Allah through His Prophet (peace be upon him) to Allah’s servants.

What conditions are necessary for salaah ?

The prerequisites for salaah are seven. Without them salaah cannot be performed. These conditions are called fard or sharaa-it of salaah.

What are those seven conditions that must be observed before saying salaah?

They are:

1. Taahir (clean) body;

2. Taahir dress;

3. Taahir place of prayer;

4. Covering the satar (the private parts of one’s body);

5. The correct time of the salaah;

6. Facing towards the qiblah; and

7. Niyyah or intention of saying salaah.

What are the Faraaidh (Compulsary Acts) of Salaah?

There are six compulsory acts (Faraaidh) of Salaah

1. TAKBEERE TAHRIMA (The first Takbeer)

2. QIYAAM (standing position)

3. QIRAAT (reciting of at least 3 aayats or one long aayat of the Quraan.

4. RUKU (to bow down).

5. Both the SAJDAHS (prostration).

6. QAA’DAH AKHEERAH (to sit so long at the end of the last Rakaat that one can read the TASHAHHUD).

What are waajibaat (Necessary Acts) of Salaah?

WAAJIBAAT of Salaah are those items that are necessary to complete the Salaah. If one misses any of them unknowingly, it can be compensated by performing SAJDA SAHW (sajda done for mistakes made unknowingly). 

There are fourteen WAAJIBAAT in Salaah.

1. Fixing the first Rakaats of the Fardh Salaah for QIRAAT.

2. It is Waajib to recite Surah Faatiha in all the Rakaat of every Salaah. However, in the third and fourth Rakaat of any Fardh Salaah, it is Sunnat and not Waajib.

3. To recite a Surah or a lengthy Aayat or three small Aayats after SURAH FAATIHA in the first two Rakaats of FARDH Salaah and in all the Rakaats of WAAJIB, SUNNAT and NAFL Salaah.

4. To read SURA FATIHA before any other Surah or Aayat

5. To maintain order between QIRAAT, RUKU, SAJDA and RAKAAT.

6. QAUMA (Standing up erect after RUKU).

7. JALSA (Sitting between the two SAJDAS).

8. TA'DEELE ARKAAN, i.e. performing RUKU, SAJDA, etc with contentment and in a good way.

9. QAADAH-OOLAA or sitting to the extent of saying TASHAHHUD after two Rakaats in Salaah of three or four Rakaats.

10. To read TASHAHHUD in the two QAI'DAAS.

11. To recite QIRAAT aloud in Fajr, Maghrib, Esha, Jumuah, Eidain and Taraweeh Salaah in Ramadaan by the Imam. The Imam should recite Dhuhr and Asr Salaah silently.

12. To end the Salaah by saying 'SALAAM'

13. To say TAKBEER (Allahu-Akbar) for QUNOOT in Witr Salaah and also recite DUA-E-QUNOOT.

14. To say six additional TAKBEERS in both Eid Salaah.

If one does not perform SAJDA SAHW or if one misses a WAAJIB knowingly, it is necessary to perform that Salaah all over again.

What are the Sunnats of Salaah?

Those things that have been proven to be done in Salaah by the Holy Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم but not so much stress has been laid upon them as is laid upon things FARDH and WAAJIB are known as SUNNATS.

If any of these are missed unknowingly, neither does it invalidate the Salaah nor does Sajda Sahw become necessary.

There are 21 Sunnats in Salaah.

1. To raise the hands upto the EARS before saying TAKBEERE TAHREEMA.

2. While raising the hands for Takbeer, keep the fingers of both the hands RAISED and facing the QIBLAH.

3. Not to BEND the HEAD when saying Takbeer.

4. Saying Takbeere Tahreema and other Takbeers ALOUD by the IMAAM according to the NEED, while going from one RUKN (posture) to the other.

5. To fold the RIGHT hand around the LEFT below the NAVEL.

6. Saying THANAA.

7. To recite TA'AWWUZ.

8. To recite the complete BISMILLAH.

9. To recite only SURAH FATIHA in the THIRD and FOURTH Rakaats of FARDH Salaah.

10. To say AAMEEN (softly).

11. To recite Thanaa , Ta'awwuz and Aameen SOFTLY.

12. To recite as much QIRAAT as is SUNNAT for every Salaah.

13. To say TASBIH at least in RUKU and SAJDAH.

14. To keep the BACK and the HEAD in SAME LEVEL while holding the KNEES FINGERS of both the hands in RUKU.

15. Saying by Imaam SAMIALLAHU LIMAN HAMIDAH in Qawmah followed by RABBANA LAKAL HAMD by Muqtadi. The MUNFARID should say both TASMI and TAHMEED.

16. While going into SAJDAH, FIRST place the KNEES, then the HANDS and lastly the FOREHEAD on the GROUND.

17. In QA'IDAH or JALSA, placing the LEFT FOOT on the ground HORIZONTALLY and sitting upon it and RAISING the RIGHT FOOT VERTICALLY so that the TOES are facing the QIBLAH and resting both the HANDS on the THIGHS.

18. To RAISE the INDEX FINGER of the RIGHT HAND as one says "ASH HADU ALLA ILAHA" in TASHAHHUD.

19. To recite DUROOD SHARIF in QA'IDAH AKHEERA after TASHAHHUD.

20. To read DUA after DUROOD SHARIF.

21. To turn the FACE for SALAAM towards the RIGHT FIRST and then to the LEFT.

If these are left knowingly, the Salaah is valid and there is no need for Sajda Sahw. However, such a person is condemned.

What are the mustahabbaat (Recommended Acts) of Salaah?
There are 5 Mustahabbaat (Preferable/Recommended acts) in Salaah.

1. To pull the PALMS out of the SLEEVE while saying TAKBEERE TAHREEMA.

2. Saying TASBIH more than THREE times in RUKU and SAJDAH by MUNFARID.

3. To keep the EYES towards the place of SAJDAH in QIYAAM, at the TOES in RUKU, towards the LAP in QA'IDAH and JALSA, and at the SHOULDERS while turning for SALAAM.

4. To try best NOT to COUGH.

5. To try and keep the MOUTH CLOSED when YAWNING, but if it is OPENED, to COVER it by the UPPER portion of the RIGHT HAND in QIYAAM and by the LEFT HAND in all other postures.

What are makruhaat of Salaah?

Makruhaat are those things that cause the full blessing of the Salaah to be lost although the Salaah will not have to be repeated.

Some Makrooh Acts in Salaah are:

1. Saying SALAAH BARE-HEADED due to LAZINESS or CARELESSNESS and to EXPOSE the ARMS ABOVE the ELBOWS.

2. PLAYING with CLOTHES or the BODY.

3. Performing Salaah in CLOTHES in which people do NOT ORDINARILY LIKE to go OUT. 4. To dust the floor with one's hands to prevent the soiling of clothes.

4. Performing Salaah when one has the URGE to URINATE or PASS STOOL.

5. To CRACK one's FINGERS or PUTTING of FINGERS of one hand into FINGERS of the other HAND.

6. TURNING the FACE away from QIBLA and LOOKING AROUND.

7. It is MAKROOH for MEN to REST BOTH the ARMS and WRISTS on the GROUND in SAJDAH.

8. Performing Salaah when another person FACING him sits AHEAD.

9. YAWNING INTENTIONALLY and NOT PREVENTING it if one CAN do so.

10. CLOSING the EYES, but if it is done to CONCENTRATE in Salaah, it is ALLOWED.

11. It is Makrooh for a Baaligh (mature) person to stand alone behind a Saff (row) when there is place in the Saff before him.

12. Performing Salaah in CLOTHES with PICTURES of LIVING OBJECTS on them.

13. Performing Salaah at a place where there is a PICTURE of a LIVING (animate) object ABOVE or on the RIGHT or LEFT side of the Musallee or on the place where he makes SAJDAH.

14. To COUNT Aayats, Surahs or Tasbeehaat on FINGERS in Salaah.

15. Performing Salaah with a SHEET or CLOTHES WRAPPED on the BODY in such a way that it makes it DIFFICULT to FREE the HANDS QUICKLY.

16. To YAWN and STRETCH ARMS to REMOVE LAZINESS.

17. Doing something AGAINST SUNNAT in Salaah.

What are the mufsidaat (Nullifying Actions) of Salaah?

Mufsidaat of Salaah are factors which nullify the Salaah and make it necessary to be repeated.

The following are some of the MUFSIDAAT:

1. To TALK in Salaah KNOWINGLY or UNKNOWINGLY, a FEW WORDS or MANY will NULLIFY the Salaah.

2. To GREET a person by Assalamu Alaikum, or by any other method while performing Salaah.

3. To REPLY to GREETINGS or saying Yarhamukallah to one who SNEEZES and saying Ameen to a DUA NOT CONNECTED to his Salaah.

4. To say inna Lil Lahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raajioon on some SAD NEWS or Alhamdulillah or Subhanallah on hearing some GOOD or STRANGE NEWS.

5. To make NOISE or say "OH!" or "AAH!" due to PAIN etc.

6. Correcting the Qiraat of a person other than his own Imaam.

7. To RECITE the QURAAN by LOOKING at the TEXT.

8. To do such an act which gives the IMPRESSION to ONLOOKERS that he is doing something else rather than PERFORMING Salaah. This, is called AMALE KATHEER.

9. EATING or DRINKING KNOWINGLY or UNKNOWINGLY.

10. To TURN the CHEST away from the QIBLA without an EXCUSE.

11. Doing SAJDA at a NAJIS place.

12. DELAY in COVERING the SATR (private parts) when uncovered to the extent of performing ONE RUKN in Salaah.

13. UTTERANCES in PAIN or TROUBLE.

14. An ADULT'S LAUGHING ALOUD.

15. To STEP AHEAD of the Imaam DURING the Salaah.

16. Making some GREAT ERROR in the QIRAAT of the HOLY QURAAN.