The Complete Guide

Prayer Journey

Every word. Every posture. Every meaning — in the order you pray.

Standing

Qiyam

The opening — standing in the presence of Allah

Qiyam — Standing

Niyyahالنِّيَّة

Optional

Niyyah is the intention of the heart — standing upright, the worshipper consciously turns their heart toward Allah before the prayer begins. This verse (Quran 6:79) captures that turning perfectly.

إِنِّي وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِي فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

Inni wajjahtu wajhiya lilladhee fataras-samawati wal-arda hanifan wa ma ana minal-mushrikin.

I have turned my face sincerely to the One who created the heavens and the earth, and I am not of those who associate partners with Allah.

Hadith

Actions are judged only by intentions, and every person will have only what they intended.

إِنِّي

Inni

Indeed I

وَجَّهْتُ

wajjahtu

have turned / directed

وَجْهِيَ

wajhiya

my face

لِلَّذِي

lilladhee

to the One who

فَطَرَ

fatara

created / originated

السَّمَاوَاتِ

as-samawati

the heavens

وَالْأَرْضَ

wal-arda

and the earth

حَنِيفًا

hanifan

as a true monotheist

وَمَا

wa ma

and I am not

أَنَا

ana

مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِينَ

minal-mushrikin

of those who associate partners

Qiyam — Standing

Takbirتَكْبِيرَةُ الإِحْرَام

Hands are raised to the earlobes (Hanafi) and then folded — the physical act of entering the state of prayer. This single declaration locks out the world and locks in your focus on Allah.

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allahu Akbar.

Allah is the Greatest.

Hadith

The opening of Salah is the Takbir and its closing is the Tasleem.

اللَّهُ

Allahu

Allah

أَكْبَرُ

Akbaru

is the Greatest

Qiyam — Standing

Thana'الثَّنَاء

Hanafi

Recited silently after the opening Takbir, hands folded, before Ta'awwudh and Al-Fatiha. This is the opening glorification of Allah — the worshipper introduces themselves to their Lord.

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ

Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk.

Glory be to You, O Allah, and with Your praise. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.

Hadith

The Prophet ﷺ would open his prayer with this praise before beginning the recitation — a moment of pure, intimate glorification before any request is made.

سُبْحَانَكَ

Subhanaka

Glory be to You

اللَّهُمَّ

Allahumma

O Allah

وَبِحَمْدِكَ

wa bihamdika

and with Your praise

وَتَبَارَكَ

wa tabaraka

and blessed is

اسْمُكَ

ismuka

Your name

وَتَعَالَىٰ

wa ta'ala

and exalted is

جَدُّكَ

jadduka

Your majesty

وَلَا

wa la

and there is no

إِلٰهَ

ilaha

god worthy of worship

غَيْرُكَ

ghairuk

but You

Qiyam — Standing

Ta'awwudh & Tasmiyahالاِسْتِعَاذَة والتَّسْمِيَة

Both phrases are recited silently in the first rak'ah only, immediately before Al-Fatiha. In Hanafi madhab, the Tasmiyah (Bismillah) is not a verse of Al-Fatiha — it is recited separately before it.

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytanir rajim. Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.

I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Quran

When you recite the Quran, seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan.

أَعُوذُ

A'udhu

I seek refuge

بِاللَّهِ

billahi

in Allah

مِنَ

min

from

الشَّيْطَانِ

ash-shaytani

the Shaytan

الرَّجِيمِ

ar-rajim

the accursed

بِسْمِ

Bismi

In the name of

اللَّهِ

Allahi

Allah

الرَّحْمَٰنِ

ar-Rahmani

the Most Gracious

الرَّحِيمِ

ar-Rahim

the Most Merciful

Qiyam — Standing

Al-Fatihaالْفَاتِحَة

Standing in direct address to Allah — Al-Fatiha is the 6 verses of the opening chapter. In Hanafi madhab, the Tasmiyah (Bismillah) is not a verse of Al-Fatiha; it is recited separately before it (see Ta'awwudh & Tasmiyah section).

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

Al-hamdu lillahi Rabb il-'alamin. Ar-Rahmanir-Rahim. Maliki yawmid-din. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in. Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim. Siratal-ladhina an'amta 'alayhim ghayril-maghdubi 'alayhim wa lad-dallin.

All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path — the path of those You have blessed, not of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray.

Hadith

Al-Fatiha is the mother of the Quran, the mother of the Book, and the seven oft-repeated verses.

الْحَمْدُ

Al-hamdu

All praise

لِلَّهِ

lillahi

is for Allah

رَبِّ

Rabbi

Lord

الْعَالَمِينَ

al-'alamin

of all worlds

الرَّحْمَٰنِ

ar-Rahmani

the Most Gracious

الرَّحِيمِ

ar-Rahim

the Most Merciful

مَالِكِ

Maliki

Master/Owner

يَوْمِ

yawmi

of the Day

الدِّينِ

ad-din

of Judgment

إِيَّاكَ

Iyyaka

You alone

نَعْبُدُ

na'budu

we worship

وَإِيَّاكَ

wa iyyaka

and You alone

نَسْتَعِينُ

nasta'in

we ask for help

اهْدِنَا

Ihdina

Guide us

الصِّرَاطَ

as-sirata

to the path

الْمُسْتَقِيمَ

al-mustaqim

the straight

صِرَاطَ

sirata

the path of

الَّذِينَ

alladhina

those

أَنْعَمْتَ

an'amta

You have blessed

عَلَيْهِمْ

'alayhim

upon them

غَيْرِ

ghayri

not

الْمَغْضُوبِ

al-maghdubi

those who earned Your anger

عَلَيْهِمْ

'alayhim

upon them

وَلَا

wa la

and not

الضَّالِّينَ

ad-dallin

those who went astray

Qiyam — Standing

Surahتِلَاوَة السُّورَة

After Al-Fatiha, at least three verses (or one long verse) of the Quran must be recited in the first two rak'ahs. Surah Al-Ikhlas is shown here as an example — you may recite any surah or verses you have memorised.

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Qul huwa Allahu ahad. Allahu as-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yoolad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.

Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He has never had offspring, nor was He born. And there is none comparable to Him.

Hadith

Reciting Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad is equivalent to reciting one-third of the Quran.

قُلْ

Qul

Say

هُوَ

Huwa

اللَّهُ

Allahu

Allah

أَحَدٌ

Ahad

the One

اللَّهُ

Allahu

Allah

الصَّمَدُ

as-Samad

the Eternal Refuge

لَمْ

Lam

He did not

يَلِدْ

yalid

have offspring

وَلَمْ

wa lam

nor was He

يُولَدْ

yoolad

born

وَلَمْ

wa lam

and there is not

يَكُن

yakun

there is

لَّهُ

lahu

to Him

كُفُوًا

kufuwan

comparable / equal

أَحَدٌ

ahad

anyone

Bowing

Ruku

Magnifying His greatness — the bow of the servant

Ruku — Bowing

Rukuالرُّكُوع

Bowing with back straight and parallel to the ground — the posture of humility before the Lord of all creation.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

Subhana Rabbiyal 'Azim.

Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.

Hadith

When you bow, place your palms on your knees and be still. None of you has prayed properly until he does this.

سُبْحَانَ

Subhana

Glory be to

رَبِّيَ

Rabbiya

my Lord

الْعَظِيمِ

al-'Azim

the Most Great

Qiyam — Standing

Qawmahالْقَوْمَة

The Imam says 'Sami' Allahu liman hamidah' while rising from Ruku. Followers (and those praying alone) respond with 'Rabbana wa lakal hamd' while standing fully upright. This brief standing between Ruku and Sujud is called Qawmah.

سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Sami' Allahu liman hamidah. Rabbana wa lakal hamd.

Allah hears the one who praises Him. Our Lord, and to You is all praise.

Hadith

Whoever says 'Rabbana wa lakal hamd' in a way that fills the heavens and fills the earth — his sins will be forgiven like foam on the sea.

سَمِعَ

Sami'a

hears / has heard

اللَّهُ

Allahu

Allah

لِمَنْ

liman

the one who

حَمِدَهُ

hamidah

praises Him

رَبَّنَا

Rabbana

Our Lord

وَلَكَ

wa laka

and to You

الْحَمْدُ

al-hamd

all praise

Qiyam — Standing

Extended Tahmidالتَّحْمِيد

Optional

Said after 'Rabbana wa lakal hamd' while standing upright in Qawmah. A companion said this aloud and the Prophet ﷺ asked who said it — then told him that over thirty angels raced to be the first to record it.

رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ

Rabbana wa lakal hamd, hamdan kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fih.

Our Lord, and to You is all praise — abundant, pure, and blessed praise.

Hadith

A man said this after the Imam said 'Sami' Allahu liman hamidah.' After the prayer the Prophet ﷺ asked: 'Who said those words just now?' The man said it was him. The Prophet said: 'I saw over thirty angels racing each other to be the first to write it down.'

رَبَّنَا

Rabbana

Our Lord

وَلَكَ

wa laka

and to You

الْحَمْدُ

al-hamd

all praise

حَمْدًا

hamdan

praise

كَثِيرًا

kathiran

abundant

طَيِّبًا

tayyiban

pure

مُبَارَكًا

mubarakan

blessed

فِيهِ

fih

within it

Prostration

Sujud

The closest a servant ever comes to Allah

Sujud — Prostration

Sujudالسُّجُود

Prostrating with seven parts of the body on the ground — the position of complete submission. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The closest a servant is to his Lord is when in prostration.'

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Subhana Rabbiyal A'la.

Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

Hadith

The nearest a servant can be to his Lord is while he is prostrating, so increase in supplication.

سُبْحَانَ

Subhana

Glory be to

رَبِّيَ

Rabbiya

my Lord

الْأَعْلَى

al-A'la

the Most High

Jalsa — Sitting between prostrations

Jalsaالْجَلْسَة

Optional

Sitting briefly between two prostrations — suspended between two moments of greatest closeness to Allah. In this pause, you ask for everything.

اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَعَافِنِي وَاجْبُرْنِي وَارْفَعْنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي

Allahumma ighfir li, warhamni, wa 'afini, wajburni, warfa'ni, wahdini, warzuqni.

O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, keep me well, restore me, raise my status, guide me, and provide for me.

Why This Matters

In the sitting between the two prostrations, you ask Allah for everything: forgiveness, mercy, health, healing, elevation, guidance, and sustenance — seven total gifts between two acts of prostration.

اللَّهُمَّ

Allahumma

O Allah

اغْفِرْ

ighfir

forgive

لِي

وَارْحَمْنِي

warhamni

and have mercy on me

وَعَافِنِي

wa 'afini

and keep me well

وَاجْبُرْنِي

wajburni

and restore me

وَارْفَعْنِي

warfa'ni

and raise my status

وَاهْدِنِي

wahdini

and guide me

وَارْزُقْنِي

warzuqni

and provide for me

Sitting

Qa'dah

The final testimony — sealing prayer with peace

Qadah — Final sitting

At-Tashahhudالتَّشَهُّد

Hanafi

Sitting in the final position — reciting At-Tahiyyatu, the greetings brought by the Prophet (peace be upon him) from his Night Journey.

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibatu. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-salihin. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.

All greetings, all prayers, and all good things belong to 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 god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

Why This Matters

The Tashahhud was taught by the Prophet ﷺ when he was taken up to the heavens on the Night Journey. He greeted Allah and Allah responded — and these words became the greeting of the prayer for every believer until the Day of Judgment.

التَّحِيَّاتُ

At-tahiyyatu

All greetings

لِلَّهِ

lillahi

belong to Allah

وَالصَّلَوَاتُ

was-salawatu

and all prayers

وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ

wat-tayyibatu

and all good things

السَّلَامُ

As-salamu

Peace

عَلَيْكَ

'alayka

be upon you

أَيُّهَا

ayyuha

النَّبِيُّ

an-nabiyyu

the Prophet

وَرَحْمَةُ

wa rahmatu

and the mercy

اللَّهِ

Allahi

of Allah

وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

wa barakatuh

and His blessings

السَّلَامُ

As-salamu

Peace

عَلَيْنَا

'alayna

be upon us

وَعَلَى

wa 'ala

and upon

عِبَادِ

'ibadi

the servants

اللَّهِ

Allahi

of Allah

الصَّالِحِينَ

as-salihin

the righteous

أَشْهَدُ

Ashhadu

I bear witness

أَنْ

that

لَا

there is no

إِلَهَ

ilaha

god

إِلَّا

illa

except

اللَّهُ

Allahu

Allah

وَأَشْهَدُ

wa ashhadu

and I bear witness

أَنَّ

anna

that

مُحَمَّدًا

Muhammadan

Muhammad

عَبْدُهُ

'abduhu

His servant

وَرَسُولُهُ

wa rasuluh

and His messenger

Qadah — Final sitting

Salawat (Ibrahimiyyah)الصَّلَاة الإِبْرَاهِيمِيَّة

Continuing in the seated position — sending blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his family as Allah commanded in the Quran.

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

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahima innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahima innaka Hamidun Majid.

O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. You are truly the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are truly the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.

Quran

Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O you who have believed, ask Allah to confer blessing upon him and ask Allah to grant him peace.

اللَّهُمَّ

Allahumma

O Allah

صَلِّ

salli

send blessings

عَلَى

'ala

upon

مُحَمَّدٍ

Muhammadin

Muhammad

وَعَلَى

wa 'ala

and upon

آلِ

ali

the family of

مُحَمَّدٍ

Muhammadin

Muhammad

كَمَا

kama

صَلَّيْتَ

sallayta

You sent blessings

عَلَى

'ala

upon

إِبْرَاهِيمَ

Ibrahima

Ibrahim

وَعَلَى

wa 'ala

and upon

آلِ

ali

the family of

إِبْرَاهِيمَ

Ibrahima

Ibrahim

إِنَّكَ

innaka

You are truly

حَمِيدٌ

Hamidun

the Praiseworthy

مَجِيدٌ

Majidun

the Glorious

اللَّهُمَّ

Allahumma

O Allah

بَارِكْ

barik

bless

عَلَى

'ala

upon

مُحَمَّدٍ

Muhammadin

Muhammad

وَعَلَى

wa 'ala

and upon

آلِ

ali

the family of

مُحَمَّدٍ

Muhammadin

Muhammad

كَمَا

kama

بَارَكْتَ

barakta

You blessed

عَلَى

'ala

upon

إِبْرَاهِيمَ

Ibrahima

Ibrahim

وَعَلَى

wa 'ala

and upon

آلِ

ali

the family of

إِبْرَاهِيمَ

Ibrahima

Ibrahim

إِنَّكَ

innaka

You are truly

حَمِيدٌ

Hamidun

the Praiseworthy

مَجِيدٌ

Majidun

the Glorious

Qadah — Final sitting

Du'aالدُّعَاء

Optional

Recited in the final sitting (Qa'dah) after Salawat, before Tasleem. Du'a at this point is Sunnah — you may recite any supplication in Arabic. This Quranic verse (2:201) is the most beloved du'a of the Prophet ﷺ.

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Rabbana aatina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-aakhirati hasanatan wa qina 'adhaban-nar.

Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

Hadith

Anas ibn Mālik said: The most frequent supplication of the Prophet ﷺ was: 'Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.'

رَبَّنَا

Rabbana

Our Lord

آتِنَا

aatina

give us

فِي الدُّنْيَا

fid-dunya

in this world

حَسَنَةً

hasanatan

good

وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ

wa fil-aakhirati

and in the Hereafter

حَسَنَةً

hasanatan

good

وَقِنَا

wa qina

and protect us

عَذَابَ

'adhaba

the punishment of

النَّارِ

an-nar

the Fire

Qadah — Final sitting

Tasleemالتَّسْلِيم

Turning the head right then left — concluding Salah with peace, first to the right then to the left.

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah.

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.

Hadith

The opening of prayer is the Takbir and its closing is the Tasleem.

السَّلَامُ

As-salamu

Peace

عَلَيْكُمْ

'alaykum

be upon you all

وَرَحْمَةُ

wa rahmatu

and the mercy

اللَّهِ

Allahi

of Allah

🤲

The prayer is complete.