How to Perform Salaat,

the Islamic Ritual Prayer

Before Salaat
1. Body, clothes and place of prayer must be clean.
2. Perform wudu (ritual ablution) if needed.
3. Women are required to cover their hair.
4. Face the Qibla, the direction of Mecca.

5. Stand erect, head down, hands at sides, feet evenly spaced. 

6. Recite Iqama (private call to prayer):
6a. Here are some sample audiofiles of the Athan (call to prayer) Quicktime, they are very similar to Iqama: Real Audio  MP3

 
 
Allaahu Akbar (4x) God is great. (x4)
Ashhadu Allah ilaaha illa-Lah (2x) I bear witness that there none worthy of worship except God. (x2)
Ash Hadu anna Muhamadar rasuulullah (2x) I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. (x2)
Hayya' alas Salaah (2x) Come to prayer. (x2)
Hayya' ala Falaah (2x) Come to felicity. (x2)
[Fajr only] A-Salaatu Khayrun Mina-Naum (2x) [Fajr only] Prayer is better than sleep. (x2) 
Qad qaamitis Salaah (2x) [Iqama only - not recited in Athan] [Iqama only] Our prayers are now ready. Our prayers are now ready. (x2)
Allaahu Akbar (2x) God is great. (x2)
Laa ilaaha illa-Lah There is none worthy of worship except God.

7. Express intent to perform Salaat (niyyat):

I intend to offer  _____ rakats of the ____ prayer, and face the Qibla for the sake of Allah and Allah alone.
(For example: "I intend to offer the 4 rakats of the Isha prayer and face the Qibla for the sake of Allah and Allah alone.")

Begin Salaat
1. Niyyat: Stand with respect and attention; put the world behind you.
Bring hands to ears, palms forward, thumbs behind earlobes and say (The entire prayer must be recited in Arabic, but for your information we give
the English translation next to the Arabic transliteration) :

 
 

Allahu Akbar God is great.

2. Qiyam: Place right hand over left, men below navel, women at chest level;
look at the ground in front of you and recite Opening Supplication (optional):
 
 
Subhaana ala humma wa bihamdika Glory to You, O Allah, and Yours is the praise.
wa tabaara kasmuka wa ta'aalaa jadduka
wa laa ilaaha ghairuk
And blessed is Your Name, and exalted is Your Majesty.
And there is no deity to be worshipped but You
* * * 
***

I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

A'uudhu billaahi minash shaitaan ar-Rajeem
3. Fatiha: Recite aloud the Fatiha, the first surah of the Qur'an. MP3  RealAudio
 
 
Bismillaah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem In the name of God, the infinitely Compassionate and Merciful.
Praise be to God, Lord of all the worlds.
The Compassionate, the Merciful.
Al hamdu lillaahi rabbil 'alameen Ruler on the Day of Reckoning.
Ar-Rahman ar-Raheem  You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.
Maaliki yaumid Deen Guide us on the straight path,
Iyyaaka na'abudu wa iy yaaka the path of those who have received your grace;
nasta'een not the path of those who have brought down wrath, nor of those who
Ihdinas siraatal mustaqeem wander astray.
Siraatal ladheena an 'amta' alaihim Amen.
Ghairil maghduubi' alaihim
waladaaleen
Aameen

 
 
For the first two rakats at any time of prayer, recite an additional short selection from the Qur'an after al Fatiha.
4. Ruk'u: Hands drop to sides; bend from waist, palms on knees, back parallel to ground; look at feet.

 
 (While bending:) Allahu Akbar God is great.

(While bent:) Subhanna rabbiyal 'Azeem (3x)  Holy is my Lord, the Magnificent.

5. Qauma: Rise from bending to standing, arms at sides.

 
 
(While rising:) Sami' allaahu liman hamidah Allah listens to him who praises Him.
   
(Response from congregation:) Rabbanaa wa lakal hamd Our Lord, to You is due all praise. 
 
(Standing straight, pause:) Allahu Akbar God is great.

6. Sudjood: Prostrate—hands on knees, lower slowly to kneeling position;

touch forehead, nose and palms to ground (but not elbows);
bend toes so tops of feet face the Qibla.
 
 
 Subhaana rabbiyal 'Alaa (3x)  Glory to my Lord, the Most
High. 
 
 
(Pause:) Allahu Akbar
God is great.

7. Qu'ud: Rise to sitting position, looking at lap. Men turn up heel of right foot,
right toes bent; women keep both feet, soles up, under body.
 
 

(Pause:) Allahu Akbar God is  great.

8. Sudjood: Prostrate again.

 
 
Subhaana rabbiyal 'Alaa (3x)  Glory to my Lord, the Most High. 
   
(Pause:) Allahu Akbar God is great.

9. Qu'ud: Rise to sitting position;

 
 
 pause pause

10. To proceed to the second and fourth rakats:

 
(While rising:) Allahu Akbar God is great. Return to standing position recite al-Fateha
Then recite the Fatiha, (if this is the second rakat of any time of prayer, recite another short portion of the Qur'an); continue the second or fourth
rakat with Ruku.... 

11. To complete every second rakat and the last rakat:

Remain seated and recite At-Tashahhud:1

 
 
 At Tahiyyaatu lilaahi was Salawaatu wat
tayibaatu
As Salaamu 'alaika ayyuhan nabiyyu wa
rahmatul laahi wa barakaatuh
As Salaamu 'alainaa wa 'alaa 'ebaadillaahis
saaliheen,
(Hands on knees, raise right forefinger:)
Ash hadu allaa ilaah ilallaah
Wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhuu
wa rasuuluh
All greetings, blessings and good acts
are from You, my Lord.
Greetings to you, O Prophet, and the
mercy and blessings of Allah.
Peace be unto us, and unto the righteous
servants of Allah.
I bear witness that there is none worthy
of worship except Allah.
And I bear witness that Muhammad is
His servant and messenger.

To proceed to the third rakat:

 
 
(While rising:) Allahu Akbar God is  great. Return to standing position recite al-Fatiha
Recite the Fatiha and continue third rakat with Ruk'u.... 

At the end of any time of prayer (when all rakats have been completed):
Remain seated, recite At-Tashahhud, and then recite the Salawat:

 
 
 Allaahumma salli 'alaa Muhammadin wa
'alaa ali Muhammadin
Kamaa sallaita 'alaa Ibraaheema wa 'alaa
ali Ibraaheema
Innaka hameedun Majeed
Alaahumma baarik 'ala Muhammadin wa
'alaa ali Muhammadin
Kamaa baarakta 'alaa Ibraaheema wa
'alaa ali Ibraaheema
Innaka hameedun Majeed
O Allah, bless our Muhammad and the
people of Muhammad;
As you have blessed Abraham and the
people of Abraham.
Surely you are the Praiseworthy, the
Glorious.
O Allah, be gracious unto Muhammad and
the people of Muhammad;
As you were gracious unto Abraham and
the people of Abraham.
Surely you are the Praiseworthy, the
Glorious.

To Complete the Prayer:  Look over right shoulder (toward the angel recording your good deeds), then the left (toward the angel recording
your wrongful deeds); say each time:
 
 

As Salaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatulaah Peace and blessings of God be upon you.

Say personal prayers with hands cupped and palms up at chest level.
Wipe face with palms.

If praying in a group, stand and greet each other individually,

saying: "May God receive our prayers."
1
At-Tashahhud is a recreation of the conversation held between Allah and the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing upon him) during the night
of the Heavenly Ascent (Miraj)

How to Perform Wudu

(Islamic Ablution)

There are two forms of ablution: the partial ablution (wudu) and the complete ablution (ghusl). In addition, there is a symbolic ablution
(tayammum), to be used when no water is available or a person cannot use water because of reasons of health. One should be in a state of purity
before performing prayer or reading the Qur'an. The following actions or conditions nullify this state of purity and require the partial ablution:

discharges from the body (urine, stools, gas)

the flow of blood or pus from the body
vomiting
falling asleep
becoming intoxicated

The following actions or conditions require the full ablution:

sexual intercourse
wet dreams
the expiration of a women's menstrual period
after childbirth

Wudu, the Partial Ablution

1. Declare the intention that this act is for the purpose of worship and purity.
2. Wash the hands up to the wrist three times.
3. Rinse out the mouth with water three times.
4. Cleanse the nostrils of the nose by sniffing water into them three times.
 5. Wash the whole face three times with both hands—from the top of the forehead to the bottom of the chin, from ear to ear.
6. Wash the right arm three times up to the top of the elbow, then wash the left arm.
7. Wipe the whole head from the forehead to the back of the neck one time with a wet hand.
8. With wet fingers, wipe the inner sides of the ears with the forefingers and their outer sides with the thumbs.
9. Wipe around the neck with wet hands.
10. Wipe the two feet up to the ankles, three times, beginning with the right foot. (If shoes and socks or stockings are on and and socks or
stockings have been on since last performing the ablution, it is not four hours, the socks or stockings should be removed and the feet
washed.)

Ghusl, the Full Ablution

1. Declare the intention that this act is for the purpose of worship and purity. 
2. Wash the whole body—including nostrils, mouth and head. 

Tayammum, the Symbolic Ablution

1. Declare the intention that this act is for the purpose of worship and purity. 
2. Touch earth, sand, or stone lightly with both hands and then wipe the face with them once as done in the partial ablution. 

Touch earth, sand, or stone lightly with both hands and then wipe the right arm to the elbow with the left hand and the left arm with the
right hand. 

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