A GUIDE TO PRAYING SALAAT
[With Arabic transliteration in "CAPITAL
LETTERS" and English translation in "Caps and Lower Case" below
each line of Arabic.]
#1
TAKBEER
Stand facing the direction of Ka’bah (this is a north-east direction for most locations
in the
ALLAAHO AKBAR
(Allah is the greatest.)
OPENING SUPPLICATION (OPTIONAL)
Stand with your left hand on your chest or upper
stomach, and your right hand on top of the left. Keep your gaze on the ground
in front of you.
SUB-HAA-NA KAL-LAA-HUM-MA WA-BI-HAM-DIKA
(You are glorified, oh Allah! And praises are for you)
WA-TA-BAA-RA-KAS-MOKA WA-TA’AA-LA JAD-DO-KA
(And blessed is Your name and exalted is Your
majesty,)
WA LAA-ILAA-HA GHAIROKA
(And there is not any deity but You.)
TA’WWUZ
AA-‘OOO-ZO BIL-LAA-HI MI-NASH-SHAI-TAA-NIR-RAJEEM
(I seek refuge with Allah from the Satan, the rejected.)
TASMIYAH
BIS-MIL-LAA-HIR-RAH-MAA-NIR-RA-HEEM
(In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most
Merciful.)
#2
SOORAT UL FATIHA
AL-HAM-DU-LIL-LAA-HI RAB-BIL-‘AALA-MEEN
(Praises be to Allah who
is Lord of all worlds,)
AR-RAH-MAA-NIR-RAHEEM MAA-LI-KI-YAU-MID-DEEN
(The All Gracious, the All
Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement.)
IEE-YAA-KA NA-‘
(Thee do we worship and Thine aid we seek.)
IH-DI-NAS-SI-RAA-TAL MUS-TA-QEEM
(Show us the straight way,)
SI-RAA-TAL-LA-ZEE-NA AN-‘AM-TA
‘A-LAI-HIM
(The way of those Thou
hast bestowed Thy grace on them;)
GHAI-RIL-MAGH-DOO-BI ‘A-LAI-HIM
(Not of those who earned Thy anger on themselves,)
WA-LAD-DAAL-LEEN
(Nor of those who had gone astray.)
AAMEEN
(Our Lord, accept our supplication)
#3
SOORAT UL IKHLAAS (OR ANY OTHER SURAH MAY BE READ HERE)
BIS-MIL-LAA HIR-RAH
MAA-NIR-RA-HEEM
(In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most
Merciful.)
QUL-HO-WAL-LAA-HO-AA-HAD
(Say: He is Allah,
the One and Only.)
AL-LAA-HUS-SA-MAD
(Allah is Absolute and all depends on Him.)
LAM
(Neither has He an off-spring, nor is He the off-spring of anyone.)
WA LAM YA-KUL-LA-HU KU-FU-WAN AA-HAD
(And to Him, there is no equal whoever.)
#4
TAKBEER
ALLAAHO AKBAR
(Allah is the greatest.)
#5
TASBEEH (GLORIFICATION) WHILE IN RUKO’O (BENDING)-
REPEAT THIS PHRASE 3 TIMES
Bend over with your arms hanging down and hands
resting on your knees. Keep your gaze on the ground in front of you.
SUB-HANA-RAB-BI-YAL-‘AZEEM
(How Glorious is my Lord the Supreme!)
COMPLIMENTS WHILE STANDING AFTER RUKO’O (BENDING)
Say while slowly returning to an upright
standing position.
SAM-I-‘A-AL-LAA-HO-LI-MAN-HAMI-DA
(Allah has listened to the one who has praised Him.)
Stand with your hands hanging down at your
sides.
RAB-BANAA WA-LAKAL-HAMD
(Our Lord, and to You
be all praise.)
TAKBEER
ALLAAHO AKBAR
(Allah is the greatest.)
#6
GLORIFICATION WHILE IN SAJDAH (PROSTRATION)-
REPEAT THIS PHRASE 3 TIMES
Bow on the ground with your forehead, palms,
knees, and toes all touching the ground.
SUB-HA-NA RAB-BI-YAL-‘A-LAA
(How glorious is my Lord, Most High.)
TAKBEER
ALLAAHO AKBAR
(Allah is the greatest.)
#7
QA’ADAH (SITTING) BETWEEN SAJDAHS
Sit in a kneeling position on the floor, with
your hands resting flat on your knees.
TAKBEER
ALLAAHO AKBAR
(Allah is the greatest.)
#8
Repeat step #6
#9
Return to step #2 if this is the first or third time to complete
through step #8 (unless you are praying the maghrib, in which you continue on to step #10 and
through to the finish on the third time.) Continue on to step #10 if this is
your second or fourth time to complete through step #8.
#10
TASHAHHUD (COMPLIMENTS AND SUPPLICATIONS) IN QA’ADAH (SITTING)
Sit in a kneeling position on the floor, with
your hands resting flat on your knees.
AT-TA-HIY-YAA-TO LIL-LAA-HI WAS-SA-LA-WAA-TO
(All compliments are due to Allah, and all supplications and prayers,)
WAT-TA-YYI-BAA-TO
(And pure words and deeds.)
US-SA-LAA-MO ‘A-LAI-KA AY-YO-HANNABI-YO
(Peace be upon you, oh
Prophet,)
WA-RAH-MA-TUL-LA-HI-WA-BARA-KA-TO-HU
(And also the mercy of Allah
and His blessings.)
US-SA-LAAMO ‘A-LAI-NAA
(Peace be upon us)
WA ‘A-LAA ‘I-BA-DIL-LAA HIS-SAA-LI-HEEN
(And on the righteous
servants of Allah!)
Point the index finger of the right hand upward.
ASH-HA-DO-AL-LAA-ILAA-HA
IL-LAL-LAA-HO
(I bear witness that there
is no true god except Allah,)
WA-ASH-HA-DO AN-NA MUHAM-MA-DAN
‘AB-DO-HU WA-RA-SOO-LO-HU
(And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and
Messenger.)
#11
If this is for your fajr salaat,
continue on to step #12 and to the end to finish the salaat.
If this is your zuhr, asr,
or ishaa salaat, then
return to step #2 if you have completed through step #8 twice; if you have
completed through step #8 four times then continue on to step #12 and to the
end. If you are praying maghrib
and you have completed to step #8 three times, then continue on to step #12 and
to the finish.
#12
SENDING PEACE ON THE PROPHET (SALLALLAHU ‘ALAIHI WA SALLAM)
Put the finger back down so that your hands are
again lying flat on your knees.
AL-LAA-HUM-MA SAL-LE ‘A-LAA MU-HAM-MA DINW WA’A-LAA
(Oh Allah, send blessings on Muhammad and on)
AA-LE-MUHAM-MA-DIN KA-MAA
SAL-LAI-TA
(The followers of Muhammad, as you sent blessings)
‘A-LAA
(on Abraham and on the followers of Abraham.)
IN-NA-KA HA-MEE-DUM-MA-JEED
(Indeed, You are worthy of praise, full of
glory.)
AL-LAA-HUM-MA BA-RIK ‘A-LAA
MU-HAM-MA-DINW WA’A-LAA
(Oh Allah, send blessings on Muhammad and on)
AALE-MU-HAM-MA-DIN KA-MAA BAA-RAK-TA
(The followers of Muhammad, as You
sent blessings)
‘A-LAA IB-RAA-HEEMA WA’A-LAA AALE IB-RAA-HEEM
(on Abraham and on the followers of Abraham.)
IN-NA-KA MA-MEE-DUM MA-JEED
(Indeed, You are worthy of praise, full of glory.)
#13
SUPPLICATIONS AFTER Q’ADAH (LAST SITTING)- OR
ANY SHORT DUA
AL-LAA HUM-MA IN-NEE AA’-OOZO-BI-KA
MIN ‘A-ZAABIL QABRI
(Oh Allah, truly I seek
Thy refuge from the punishment of the
grave,)
WA AA-‘OO-ZO-BI-KA MIN ‘A-ZAABI JA-HAN-NAMA
(And I seek Thy refuge from the punishment of Hell,)
WA AA-‘OO-ZO-BI-KA MIN FIT-NA-TIL MASEE-HID DAJJAAL
(And I seek Thy refuge from the trials of the Maseehid Dajjaal (anti-Christ),)
WA AA-‘OO-ZO-BI-KA MIN FIT-NA-TIL MAH-YA WAL-MAMAAT
(And I seek Thy refuge from the trials of life and death.)
AL-LAA-HUM-MA IN-NEE AA’-OO-ZO-BI-KA
(Oh Allah, truly I seek Thy refuge)
MINAL M’ASAMI WAL-MAGHRAMI
(From sin and the burden of debt.)
#14
SALUTATION OF PEACE AT THE END OF SALAAT
Turn your face to the right.
US-SA-LAA-MO ‘
(Peace be upon you and Allah’s blessings.)
Turn your face to the left
US-SA-LAA-MO ‘
(Peace be upon you and Allah’s blessings.)
YOUR SALAAT IS NOW COMPLETE!
RUKO’O- DEFINITION AND NUMBER
Definition of Ruko’o
Number of Ruko’os for each Salaat
"Fard"= required
"Sunnah"= these were the habit of
Prophet Muhammad (saw), and they are good for us to do, but not absolutely
required
"Nafl"= optional prayers that may be
done at any time, usually in sets of 2
"Witr"= a special Sunnah
prayer that follows the isha’a
Fajr (before sunrise): 2 Sunnah, 2 Fard
Zuhr (
Asr
(mid-afternoon): 4 Sunnah, 4 Fard
Maghrib (before sunset): 3 Fard, 2 Sunnah
Isha’a (night): 4 Sunnah, 4 Fard, 2 Sunnah, any odd number (usually 1 or 3) Witr
