The Salat
The Salat
The Salat
"Allahu Akbar"
The Prophet (SAW) would raise them with fingers apart (not spaced out, nor together). (Sahih - Abu
Dawood, Ibn Khuzaimah, Tammaam, and Al-Haakim)
Narrated Salim bin 'Abdullah (RA): My father said, "Allah's Apostle (SAW) used to raise both his
hands up to the level of his shoulders when opening the prayer…" (Sahih - Al-Bukhari)
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: "When the Messenger of Allah (SAW) got up for prayer, he would say
the takbir (Allahu Akbar) when standing…" (Sahih - Muslim)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise his hands sometimes with takbir. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and An-
Nasaa’ee)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise his hands sometimes after the takbir. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and An-
Nasaa’ee)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise his hands sometimes before it. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Abu
Dawood)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Verily, the prayer of a person is not complete until he has made and
ablution which has included the necessary parts of the body and has then said: 'Allahu
Akbar.'" (Sahih - Tabaraani)
the eyes.
"The Prophet (SAW) used to incline his head during prayer and fix his sight towards the
ground." (Sahih - Al-Baihaqee and Al-Haakim)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "People must refrain from looking up at the sky in prayer, or their sight
will not return to them (and in one narration ... or their sight will be plucked away)." (Sahih - Al-
Bukhari, Muslim and Siraaj)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Allah does not cease to turn to a slave in his prayer as long as he is not
looking around; when he turns his face away, Allah turns away from him." (Sahih - Abu Dawood
and others)
Wa'il ibn Hajr (RA) said, "I prayed with Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and he put his right hand over
his left hand over his chest." (Sahih - Muslim, Ibn Khuzaimah, Abu Dawood)
"The Prophet (SAW) used to forbid putting one's hand on the waist during prayer [and he put his
hand on his waist (to demonstrate)]." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
"Subhana kallah humma wabi hamdika watabara kasmuka wata'ala jad-duka wala ilaha
ghavruk"
(You are Glorified, O Allah, and Praised, Your Name is Blessed, Your Majesty is Exalted, and
none has the right to be worshipped but You)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Indeed, the words most loved by Allah are when His slave says: 'Subhana
kallah humma wabi hamdika watabara kasmuka wata'ala jad-duka wala ilaha ghavruk.'" (Hasan -
Abu Dawood and Tahaawi)
The following should be recited in the first rakah only. Always recite silently.
Then, the Prophet (SAW) would seek refuge with Allah (SWT) saying: "A’u’thu billahi minash-
Shaitan-ir-Rajeem." (Sahih - Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, Daaraquni and Al-Haakim)
(In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
Then Prophet (SAW) would recite, "Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem" (Sahih - Al-Bukhari, Muslim,
Abu Awaanah, Tahaawi and Ahmad)
[All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that
exists). The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of
the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection). You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and
everything). Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your
Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went
astray (such as the Christians).]
The Prophet (SAW) would say, "Alhamdu lil-lahi rab-bil 'alameen. (Here he would pause, and
then say:) Ar rahma nir-raheem. (Then he would pause, and then say:) Maliki yawmid-deen..."
and so on, until the end of the Surah. The rest of his recitation was also like this: stopping at the
end of the verse and not joining it with the one after. (Sahih - Abu Dawood and Sahmi)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Whoever does not recite Surah Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is
invalid." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari)
"Ameen."
When the Prophet (SAW) finished reciting Surah al-Fatiha, he (SAW) would say, 'Ameen.' (Sahih -
Al-Bukhari and Abu Dawood)
any Quran in prayer one must silently, at any time of day, "Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem."
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
(Say: [Oh Muhammad (SAW)]: He is Allah, (the) One. Allah As-Sawmad (The Self-Sufficient
Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He
begotten; And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him)
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
(Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of the day-break, From the evil of what He has created;
And from the evil of the darkening (night) as it comes with its darkness; (or the moon as it sets or
goes away). And from the evil of the witchcraft’s when they blow in the knots, And from the evil of
the envier when he envies)
(In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)
(Say: I seek refuge with (Allah) the Lord of mankind, The King of mankind, The ilah (God) of
mankind, From the evil of the whisperer (devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who
withdraws (from his whispering in one's heart after one remembers Allah), Who whispers in the
breasts of mankind, Of jinns and men)
The Prophet (SAW) used to recite the Quran in slow, measured rhythmic tones as Allah (SWT) had
instructed him, not racing or hurrying; rather, his was "a recitation clearly- distinguishing each
letter. (Sahih - Ibn Al-Mubaarak)
"After completing his recitation, The Prophet (SAW) would pause for a moment..." (Sahih - Abu
Dawood and Al-Haakim)
"Allahu Akbar"
Abu Hurairah (RA) reported: When the Messenger of Allah (SAW) got up for prayer, he would say
the takbir (Allahu Akbar) when standing, then say the takbir when bowing…" (Sahih - Muslim)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "When you make Ruku, place your palms on your knees, then space your
fingers out, then remain (like that) until every limb takes its (proper) place." (Sahih - Ibn Khuzaimah
and Ibn Hibbaan)
"He (SAW) used to spread himself (i.e. not be in a compact position), and keep his elbows away from
his sides." (Sahih - Tirmidhi and Ibn Khuzaimah)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "When you make Ruku, put your palms on your knees, spread your back
(flat) and hold firm in your Ruku." (Sahih - Ahmad and Abu Dawood)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "O assembly of Muslims! Verily, the prayer is not valid of the one who
does not settle his spine in Ruku and Sujud." (Sahih - Ibn Abi Shaibah, Iban Maajah and Ahmad)
The Prophet (SAW) would say, "Subhana rab-bi yal atheem" (On the authority of seven different
companions - Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, Daraaqutni, Tahaawi, Bazzaar, & Tabaraani)
The Prophet (SAW) used to make his ruku, his standing after ruku, his sujood, and his sitting in
between the two sajdahs, nearly equal in length. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (SAW) would straighten up his back out of ruku, saying, "Samee 'Allah hu liman
hameeda" (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise them (hands) with fingers apart (not spaced out, nor together).
(Sahih - Abu Dawood, Ibn Khuzaimah, Tammaam, and Al-Haakim)
Narrated Salim bin 'Abdullah (RA): My father said, "Allah's Apostle (SAW) used to raise both his
hands up to the level of his shoulders when opening the prayer; and on saying the Takbir for bowing.
And on raising his head from bowing he used to do the same and then say "Sami a-l-lahu Liman
hamida, Rabbana walaka-l-hamd." And he did not do that (i.e. raising his hands) in
prostrations." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari)
The Prophet (SAW) has commanded all worshippers, whether behind and imam or not, to say the
above on rising from ruku, by saying, "Pray as you have seen me praying." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and
Ahmad)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "…then rise from bowing till you stand straight…" (Sahih - Al-Bukhari)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "No person's prayer is complete until ... he has said takbir ... then makes
ruku ... then has said "Allah listens to the one who praises Him" until he is standing
straight." (Sahih - Abu Dawood and Al-Haakim)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "Allah, Mighty and Sublime, does not look at the prayer of the slave who
does not make his backbone upright in between his bowings and prostrations." (Sahih - Ahmad and
Tabraani)
The Prophet (SAW) would stand (for so long) sometimes that one would say, 'He has forgotten',
[because of his standing for so long]. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari, Muslim, and Ahmad)
"Allahu Akbar"
The Prophet (SAW) would say takbir and go down into sajdah (prostration). (Sahih - Al -Bukhari and
Muslim)
The Prophet (SAW) would say, "Subhana rab-bi a'la" (On the authority of seven different
companions - Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, Daaraqutni, Tahaawi, Bazzaar, and Tabaraani)
The Prophet (SAW) used to say, "When one of you performs sajdah, he should not kneel like a camel,
but should place his hands before his knees." (Sahih - Abu Dawood, Tammamm, and An-Nasaa’ee)
"The Prophet (SAW) would support himself on his palms (and spread them)." (Sahih - Abu Dawood)
"The Prophet (SAW) put his fingers together." (Sahih - Ibn Khuzaimah, Al-Baihaqee, and Al-
Haakim)
"The Prophet (SAW) pointed them (fingers) towards the Qiblah." (Sahih - Al-Baihaqee)
"The Prophet (SAW) would put them (his palms) level with his shoulders." (Sahih - Abu Dawood and
At-Tirmithi)
"The Prophet (SAW) would put his nose and forehead firmly on the ground." (Sahih - Abu Dawood
and At-Tirmithi)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "When you prostrate, put your face and hands down firmly, until all of
your bones are relaxed in their proper places." (Hasan - Ibn Khuzaimah)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "There is no prayer for the one whose nose does not feel as much of the
ground as the forehead." (See Akhbaar Isbahaan - Daaraqutni, Tabaraani, and Abu Nu'aim)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "I have been ordered to prostrate on seven bones: on the forehead ... and
he indicated by moving his hand around the nose, ... the hands, the knees and the toes, and not to
tuck up the garments and hair." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
The Prophet (SAW) would raise them (fore-arms) above the ground, and keep them away from his
sides such that the whiteness of his armpits could be seen from behind. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and
Muslim)
The Prophet (SAW) would also raise them (fore-arms) above the ground and keep them away from
his sides such that if a small lamb or kid wanted to pass under his arms, it would have been able to do
so. (Sahih - Muslim, Abu Awaanah, and Ibn Hibbaan)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "None of you should rest arms on the ground the way a dog rests
them." (Sahih - Ahmad and At-Tirmithi)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "O Assembly of Muslims! Verily, the prayer is not valid of the one who
does not settle his spine in ruku and sujood." (Sahih - Ibn Abi Shaibah, Tabaraani, and Haakim)
The Prophet (SAW) used to make his ruku, his standing after ruku, his sujood, and his sitting
between the two sajdahs, nearly equal in length. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
"Allahu Akbar"
"The Prophet (SAW) would raise his head from Sajdah while saying takbir." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari
and Muslim)
"Allah hum maghfirlee warhamnee wajburnee war fa'nee wahdinee wa 'afinee warzuqnee"
(Oh Allah, forgive me, and have mercy on me, and keep me on the right path, and keep me
healthy, and provide me with Halaal sources of living, and complete my shortcomings, and make
my rank high.)
The Prophet (SAW) would say, "Allah hum maghfirlee warhamnee wajburnee war fa'nee wahdinee
wa 'afinee warzuqnee " (Sahih - Abu Dawood, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Maajah, and Al-Haakim)
"The Prophet (SAW) would lay his left foot along the ground and sit on it (relaxed)." (Ahmad and
Abu Dawood)
"The Prophet (SAW) would have his right foot upright." (Sahih - An-Nasaa’ee)
"The Prophet (SAW) would point its (the foot) toes toward the Qiblah." (See Maa Rawaahu Abu Az-
Zubair ‘an Ghair Jaabir - Muslim, Abu Awaanah, Abu Shaikh, and Al-Baihaqee)
The Prophet (SAW) said, "The prayer of any of you is not complete until he does this (to be relaxed
until every bone returned to its (proper) position - Sahih - Abu Dawood and Al-Baihaqee)." (Sahih -
The Prophet (SAW) would lengthen it (sitting between the two sajdahs) until it was about almost as
long as his sajdah. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
"Allahu Akbar"
Always repeat the du'a silently atleast three times or more (in odd numbers, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11,etc.), and
make the sajdah nearly as long as the standing.
"The Prophet (SAW) would say takbir and prostrate for the second time." (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and
Muslim)
"The Prophet (SAW) would say, ‘Subhana rab-bi a'la.’" (On the authority of seven different
companions - Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah, Daaraqutni, Tahaawi, Bazzaar, and Tabaraani
"Allahu Akbar"
The Prophet (SAW) would raise his head from sajdah while saying takbir. (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and
Muslim)
Sit in this jalsah in exactly the same way as the first jalsah.
The Prophet (SAW) would sit straight (on his left foot, upright, until every bone returned to its
position). (Sahih - Al-Bukhari and Abu Dawood)
Abbreviations Clarified | Actions For Performing Wudu (Ablution) | Preparing For Salah (Prayer)
| How Many Rakat? | First Rakah | Second Rakah | Third and Fourth Rakah | Du'as After Salah
(Prayer) | Helpful Tools For Learning Prayer | Wudu Example | 2 Rakat Example | 3 Rakat
Example | 4 Rakat Example | References