بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the 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 have earned Your anger, nor of those who go astray.
This is Surah Al-Fatiha, the opening chapter of the Qur’an. It is recited in every unit (rak‘ah) of the prayer. It praises Allah, asks for guidance, and declares worship and reliance on Him.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) – said at the start of prayer (Takbiratul Ihram) to begin the prayer.
قُمْتُ لِلَّهِ صَلَاةً
Say the intention silently in your heart: “I stand to pray to Allah.”
رَكْعَةٌ
Each unit of prayer includes these steps:
1. قِرَاءَةُ الْفَاتِحَةِ
(Recitation of Al-Fatiha)
2. قِرَاءَةُ آيَةٍ أَوْ سُورَةٍ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ
(Recite another short portion of the Qur’an)
3. الرُّكُوعُ
(Bowing) – say سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
(Subḥāna Rabbiyal-‘Aẓīm) three times.
4. الْقِيَامُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ
(Standing up straight) – say سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
(Sami‘a Allahu liman ḥamidah)
5. السُّجُودُ
(Prostration) – say سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
(Subḥāna Rabbiyal-A‘lā) three times.
6. الْجُلُوسُ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْنِ
(Sitting between the two prostrations) – say رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
(Rabbi ighfir lī)
7. السُّجُودُ الثَّانِي
(Second prostration) – repeat سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
three times.
Repeat steps 1–7 for the number of rak‘ahs in the prayer.
التَّشَهُّدُ
(At the end of the last rak‘ah, sit and recite the Tashahhud):
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
Translation:
"All greetings, prayers, and pure words are for 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."
الصَّلَوَةُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ
(Sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ):
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
Translation:
"O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious."
السَّلَامُ
(Ending the prayer): Turn your head to the right and say السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
then to the left and repeat.
**Takeaway:**
Prayer is a special conversation with Allah that has clear steps. Learning and practicing it with sincerity brings us closer to Allah.
Allah knows best.