It is obligatory to perform the following five prayers every day during the prescribed times:
- Salat al-Fajr (dawn prayer), which consists of two units (each unit of prayer is called a rak`ah)
- Salat al-Ẓuhr (midday prayer) consisting of four units
- Salat al-`Asr (afternoon prayer) consisting of four units
- Salat al-Maghrib (dusk prayer) which consist of three units
- Salat al-`Isha (night prayer) consisting of four units.
The performance of the daily prayers as taught by the holy Prophet (sawas) and his holy household (Ahlul Bayt) involves performing the prescribed steps of the prayer in proper order (tartīb) and in regular succession without undue delay between them (muwalāt).
The person must first perform the preliminary ablution such as wuḍu or ghusl if necessary, and fulfil all other prerequisites.
Preparation
Stand upright facing the Qiblah (direction of the holy Ka’ba in Makkah). It is recommended to recite the Adhan and Iqāma before entering the actual prayer.
Please note that all the recitations in the prayer must be in Arabic. Although approximate transliterations have been given below for each recitation, it is best to try and learn the Arabic script and proper pronunciation.
In first Unit (Rak`ah)
- Make Niyyah (intention): make the following intention in your mind that:
“I offer this 2 rak’ah of Fajr prayer (for instance) seeking closeness to God”.
- Say Takbīrat ul Iḥrām : Lift both hands up to the ears and say:
Allāhu Akbar (God is Greater)
This sentence, the Takbīr, will be repeated several times during the prayer.
- Stay standing in Qiyām: Remain in the standing position while performing the recitations.
- Say Qira’ah: Recite Surat al-Fatiha:
Bismillāhi’r-Raḥmāni’r-Raḥīm.
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi Rabbil-`ālameen
Ar Raḥmānir Raḥīm
Māliki Yawmid-dīn
Iyyāka na`budu wa iyyāka nasta`īn
Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāt al-mustaqīm
ṣirāṭ al-ladhīna an`amta `alayhim
ghayril maghḍūbi `alayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent the Merciful.
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
the Beneficent the Merciful,
Master of the Day of Judgement;
You alone do we worship and You alone do we ask for help.
Guide us on the Straight Path,
The path of those whom You have blessed,
Not of those on whom is [Your] Wrath,
Nor of those who have gone astray.
Then recite any complete chapter (surah) of the Holy Qur'an (we choose the short chapter number 112, Surat al-Ikhlas):
Bismillāhi’r-Raḥmāni’r-Rahīm.
Qul hu Allāhu aḥad.
Allāhuṣ ṣamad.
Lam yalid wa lam yūlad.
Wa lam yakullahu kufuwan aḥad.
In the Name of God, the Beneficent the Merciful.
Say! ‘He is Allah, the One,
Allah the Eternal and Besought of all,
He begets not nor is He begotten
And nothing is comparable or equal to Him’.
- Go into Rukū: After completing the second chapter, say the Takbir (Allaho Akbar) and then bow down until the hands can be placed on the knees.
- Recite Dhikr in Rukū: The following dhikr (glorification) should be recited at least once in this position:
ṣubḥāna Rabbiy al-`aẓīmi wa biḥamdih,
Glory be to my Lord, the Great, and praise belongs to Him
(you can repeat the same three times to get more reward)
- Resume the standing position (qiyām) and recite:
Sami` Allāhu li man ḥamidah
God hears the one who praises Him
Then Say Allahu Akbar, then
- Go into Prostration (sujūd): Sujūd means that one should prostrate by placing one's forehead on earth in a special manner with the intention of abasing onself before God.
While performing the sujūd, it is obligatory that both palms, knees, and both big toes be in contact with the ground.
- Recite Dhikr in Sujūd: The following dhikr should be recited in the sujūd once:
Subḥāna Rabbiy al-a`lā wa biḥamdih
Glory be to my Exalted Lord, and praise belongs to Him
After first sajdah, raise the forehead and…
- Sit up on the haunches with the ankle of the right foot in the sole of the justify foot, with hands resting on the thighs and say Allahu Akbar, followed by:
AstaghfiruLlāha Rabbī wa atūbu ilayh
I ask forgiveness of God, my Lord, and turn towards him
Then say Allahu Akbar again.
- Go into the second sajdah: do the sajdah again and repeat the same dhikr
- Sit up for a moment and then rise for the second rak’ah (unit): while (optionally) saying:
BihawliLlāhi wa quwwatihi aqūmu wa aq`ud
With God’s help and through His power I stand and sit
The second rak’ah
After standing upright again, recite surat al-Fatiḥa and another surah of the Holy Qur'an as in the first rak`ah. Then say Allahu Akbar, and then
Do Qunūt: Raise your cupped hands in front of your face with the palms facing upwards as if begging for something and, keeping both hands and the fingers close together, recite any supplication, for example say:
Rabbanā ātinaa fi d-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fi’l-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā `adhāb an-nār
O our Lord! Bestow upon us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the fire [Qur’an, chapter 2, verse 201]
[Note: Qunūt is recommended, not obligatory]
after Qunūt, Say Allahu Akbar, followed by rukū`, then the two sujūd, both as described for the first rak`ah.
Do Tashahhud: After the second sajdah resume the sitting position on the haunches, and recite:
Ash’hado al lā ilāha illallaahu waḥdaho lā sharīka lah, wa ash’ ḥadu anna Muhammadan `abduhu wa rasūluh Allāhumma salli `alā Muhammadin wa Aali Muhammad
I bear witness that there is no god apart from Allah, Who is unique and without partners. I also bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Prophet. O God, bless Muhammad and the progeny of Muhammad.
If you are performing the Fajr (Dawn) prayer, skip the rest and go to section entitled Completion.
If you are performing the Ẓuhr (Midday), `Asr (Afternoon), Maghrib (Dusk), or `Isha (Night) prayer, continue by standing up for the third rak’ah while reciting:
Bihawlillahi…. as described at the end of the section First Rak`ah.
The Third Rak`ah
Recite Tasbīhāt ul-Arba`ah: After standing up again, either recite surat al Fatiha, or recite al-Tasbīhāt ul-Arba`ah three times, as follows:
Subhānallaahi wa’l hamdu lillāhi wa lā ilāha illaLlāhu waLlāhu akbar
Glory be to God, and praise be to God; there is no god but Allah, and Allah is Greater
Perform the rukū`, as you did in first and second rak’ahs.
Stand up momentarily and then
Do the two sujud. This is exactly as described under the section, First Rak`ah.
If you are performing the Maghrib (Dusk) prayers, recite the Tashahhud next. Then skip the rest and go to Completion.
If you are performing the ẓuhr (midday), `Asr (afternoon), or `Isha (night) prayer, continue by standing up for the fourth rak`ah while reciting Bihawlillahi…. as described at the end of the section First Rak`ah.
The Fourth Rak`ah
This is identical to the third rak`ah. After the second prostration resume the kneeling position, and recite the tashahhud.
Completion:
After reciting the tashahhud of the final rak`ah, Recite the taslīm (salutation) which completes your prayer:
Assalāmu `alayka ayyuhan nabiyyu wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh. Assalāmu `alaynā wa `alā `ibādillāhiṣ ṣāliheen. Assalāmu `alaykum wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh
Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and God’s mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us, and upon the righteous servants of God. Peace be upon you [all], and God’s mercy and blessing.
Thereafter (optionally) say Allahu Akbar three times.
Your Prayer is come to the end.
To find out further details about the ritual and spiritual aspects of the Daily Prayers, visit:
