Salah Prayer Recitations
1. Niyyah (Intention)
The intention is made in the heart, not verbally. This is based on the hadith:
“Actions are judged by intentions, and every person will have what they intended.” (Sahih Bukhari 1, Sahih Muslim 1907)
Simply intend in your heart which prayer you are performing (Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, or Isha) before saying Takbiratul Ihram.
2. Takbiratul Ihram (Opening Takbir)
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Transliteration: Allahu Akbar
Translation: Allah is the Greatest
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud 61, Jami’ At-Tirmidhi 3
3. Dua Al-Istiftah (Opening Supplication)
وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ ، إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ، لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَبِذَلِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
Transliteration: Wajjahtu wajhiya lilladzii fatharas-samaawaati wal-ardha haniifan wa maa ana minal-mushrikiin. Inna shalaatii wa nusukii wa mahyaaya wa mamaatii lillaahi rabbil-‘aalamiin. Laa shariika lahu wa bidzaalika umirtu wa ana minal-muslimiin.
Translation: I have turned my face toward He who created the heavens and the earth, inclining toward truth, and I am not of those who associate others with Allah. Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. No partner has He. And this I have been commanded, and I am of the Muslims.
Source: Sahih Muslim 771, from Ali ibn Abi Talib
4. Ta’awwudh (Seeking Refuge)
أَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Transliteration: A’udzu billaahi minash-shaitaanir-rajiim
Translation: I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed.
Source: Quran 16
, Abu Dawud5. Basmalah
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Transliteration: Bismillaahir-rahmaanir-rahiim
Translation: In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.
6. Surah Al-Fatihah (The Opening)
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٧﴾
Transliteration:
- Alhamdu lillaahi rabbil-‘aalamiin
- Ar-rahmaanir-rahiim
- Maaliki yawmid-diin
- Iyyaaka na’budu wa iyyaaka nasta’iin
- Ihdinas-siraatal-mustaqiim
- Siraatal-ladziina an’amta ‘alaihim ghairil-maghdhuubi ‘alaihim wa ladh-dhaalliin
Translation:
- All praise is for Allah—Lord of all worlds,
- the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
- Master of the Day of Judgment.
- You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help.
- Guide us along the Straight Path,
- the Path of those You have blessed—not those You are displeased with, or those who are astray.
After Al-Fatihah, say: Aamiin
7. Ruku’ (Bowing)
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Transliteration: Subhaana rabbiyal-‘adhiim
Translation: Glorious is my Lord, the Magnificent.
Recite 3 times (minimum)
Source: Jami’ At-Tirmidhi 262, from Hudhaifah. Classified as Hasan Sahih.
8. I’tidal (Rising from Ruku’)
When rising, the Imam or person praying alone says:
سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Transliteration: Sami’allaahu liman hamidah
Translation: Allah hears those who praise Him.
Then everyone says:
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، مِلْءَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمِلْءَ الْأَرْضِ، وَمِلْءَ مَا شِئْتَ مِنْ شَيْءٍ بَعْدُ
Transliteration: Rabbanaa wa lakal-hamd, mil’as-samaawaati wa mil’al-ardhi, wa mil’u maa shi’ta min shai’in ba’du
Translation: Our Lord, to You belongs all praise, filling the heavens, filling the earth, and filling whatever else You will.
Source: Sahih Muslim 476, Sahih Bukhari 799
9. Sujud (Prostration)
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Transliteration: Subhaana rabbiyal-a’laa
Translation: Glorious is my Lord, the Most High.
Recite 3 times (minimum)
Source: Jami’ At-Tirmidhi 262, from Hudhaifah. Classified as Hasan Sahih.
10. Sitting Between Two Sujud
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَاجْبُرْنِي وَارْفَعْنِي وَارْزُقْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَعَافِنِي
Transliteration: Rabbighfir lii, warhamnii, wajburnii, warfa’nii, warzuqnii, wahdinii, wa ‘aafinii
Translation: My Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, help me, raise me, grant me sustenance, guide me, and grant me well-being.
Source: Sunan Abu Dawud 850, Sunan At-Tirmidhi 284
11. Tashahhud (Testimony of Faith)
التَّحِيَّاتُ الْمُبَارَكَاتُ الصَّلَوَاتُ الطَّيِّبَاتُ لِلَّهِ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللهِ
Transliteration: At-tahiyyaatul-mubaarakaatush-shalawaatuth-thayyibaatu lillaah. As-salaamu ‘alaika ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuh. As-salaamu ‘alainaa wa ‘alaa ‘ibaadillaahish-shaalihiin. Ashhadu an laa ilaaha illallaah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasuulullaah.
Translation: All blessed greetings, prayers, and good words are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
Source: Sahih Muslim 403, from Ibn Abbas. This is the version preferred by Imam Ash-Shafi’i.
12. Shalawat (Blessings upon the Prophet)
Added in the final tashahhud after the testimony
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
Transliteration: Allaahumma shalli ‘alaa Muhammad wa ‘alaa aali Muhammad, kamaa shallaita ‘alaa Ibraahiim wa ‘alaa aali Ibraahiim, innaka hamiidun majiid. Allaahumma baarik ‘alaa Muhammad wa ‘alaa aali Muhammad, kamaa baarakta ‘alaa Ibraahiim wa ‘alaa aali Ibraahiim, innaka hamiidun majiid.
Translation: O Allah, send Your Mercy on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your Mercy on Ibrahim and on the family of Ibrahim, for You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious. O Allah, send Your Blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent your Blessings on Ibrahim and on the family of Ibrahim, for You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious.
Source: Sahih Bukhari 3370, Sahih Muslim 406
13. Salam (Closing Salutation)
Turn head to the right and say:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ
Transliteration: As-salaamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullaah
Translation: Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.
Turn head to the left and say:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ
Transliteration: As-salaamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullaah
Translation: Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.
Source: Sahih Muslim 582, from Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas