How to perform Salat   - step by step

First Rakat

Niyyat

Stand erect facing the qibla (The Ka'aba), and form the following intention in your mind:

"I offer, the _________ prayer (name of a particular prayer), of ______ rakats (number of rakats) Wajib Qurbatan Ilallah, (seeking nearness to Allah, in obedience to Him").

Qayam

To stand erect facing the qibla (The Ka'aba) while saying Takbiratul Ehram, and to stand before the Ruku.

Takbiratul Ehram

Lift both hands up to the ears and say:

"Allaho Akbar"
(Allah is Great).

To say Allahu Akbar in the beginning of every prayer is obligatory. It is also necessary that these two words should be pronounced in correct Arabic. If a person pronounces these words incorrectly, or utters their translation, it will not be valid. It is necessary that when a person pronounces Takbiratul Ehram, his body is steady, if he pronounces Takbiratul Ehram intentionally when his body is in motion, his Takbir is void.

Qira'at (Reciting the Surah Al-Hamd and Other Surah of Holy Qur'an)

In the the daily obligatory prayers, after the Takbiratul Ehram, one should recite Surah al-Hamd

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil 'alamin
Arrahmanir Rahim
Maliki yaw middin
Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in
Ihdinas siratal mustaqim
Siratal lazina an'amta 'alayhim
Ghayril maghzubi 'alayhim walazzallin.           

I commence with the Name of Allah - in Whom all excellences are combined and Who is free from all defects. The Compassionate - One Whose blessings are extensive and unlimited. The Merciful - One Whose blessings are inherent and eternal.

Praise be to Allah, the Sustainer of the creation.

The Compassionate, the Merciful.

Lord of the Day of Judgement.

You alone we worship, and to You alone we pray for help.

Guide us to the straight path.

The path of those whom You have favoured - the Prophets and their successors.

Not of those who have incurred Your wrath, nor of those who have gone astray.

in the first and second Rak'ats, and thereafter one should, on the basis of precaution, recite one complete Surah (in this case Surah-Ikhlas).

Surah-Ikhlas

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
Qul huwallahu Ahad
Allahus Samad
Lam yalid walam yulad
Walam yakullahu kufuwan ahad.           

I commence with the Name of Allah - in Whom all excellences are combined and Who is free from all defects. The Compassionate - One Whose blessings are extensive and unlimited. The Merciful - One Whose blessings are inherent and eternal.

Say: Allah is One - the Eternal Being.

Allah is He Who is independent of all beings.

He begot none, nor was He begotten.

And none in the creation is equal to Him.

Do Takbir and go to Ruku

"Allaho Akbar"
(Allah is Great).

Ruku

In every Rak'at, a person offering prayers should, after reciting the Surahs (Qira'at), bow to an extent that he is able to rest his finger tips on his knees. This act is called Ruku.

The following zikr should be recited in the ruku once:

      
Subhana Rabbiyal 'Azimi wa bihamdih once.
(Free from all defects is my Lord, and with His praise I bow.)   or

Subhanallah three times. (Glory to Allah.)

After ruku stand up in Qayam and say:
   
Samey-Allaho Layman hamedah
Allah listens to one who praises Him

Say:

"Allaho Akbar"
(Allah is Great).

Now go to Sajdah

Sajdah

Sajdah means that one should place one's forehead on earth in a special manner, with the intention of humility (before Allah).

While performing Sajdahs during prayers, it is obligatory that both the palms and the knees, and both the big toes are placed on the ground.

A person offering prayers should perform two sajdahs after the Ruku, in each Rak'at of the obligatory.

The following zikr should be recited in the sajdah once:
      
Subhana Rabbi yal A'la wa bihamdih once.
(Glory be to my Great Sustainer, Most High, and I praise Him.)
or Subhanallah three times. (Glory to Allah.)

After first Sajdah,

sit up in a kneeling position with the ankle of the right foot in the sole of the left foot, with hands resting on the thighs and say:

"Allaho Akbar"
(Allah is Great).

followed by:
   
"Astaghfir-oolaha Rabbee wa Atoobo Ilaih"
(I ask Allah, my Lord, to cover up my sins and unto Him I turn repentant).

again followed by:

"Allaho Akbar"
(Allah is Great).

Repeat the Sajdah again and then sit up in a kneeling position and say:

"Allaho Akbar"
(Allah is Great).

Sit up for a moment and then rise while saying:
   
"Bay Hawlillahay wa Qoowateyhee Aqoomo wa Aqud"
(Due to the vigour given by Allah and because of the vitality from Him I rise and stand).

Second Rakat

Recite Surah Al-Hamd and Other Surah of Holy Qur'an as in the first rakat.
followed by:

"Allaho Akbar"
(Allah is Great).

Now do Qunoot

Qunoot

Keep your hands in front of your face, turning the palms facing the sky, and keeping both, the hands and the fingers, close together and recite the following:
      

Rabbana Aatayna Fiddoonya Hasasatawn wa fil Aakheratey Hasanatawn wa Qena Azabzn Nar
(O our Lord! Bestow upon us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the fire)

Go back to Ruku,

recite the zikr, stand up momentarily and then do the two sajdah's (just as in the first rakat)

Tashahhud
After the second Sajdah recite the following:
   
"Ash hadu an la ilaha illal lahu wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan 'Abduhu wa Rasuluh Alla humma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa Ali Muhammad"
(I testify that there is none worth worshipping except the Almighty Allah, Who is One and has no partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. O Allah! Send Your blessings on Muhammad and his progeny)

If you are doing the Dawn prayers (Fajr):-

( For Dawn prayers (Fajr) Only:

Recite the Salaam as follows:
   
Assalamu 'alayka ayyuhan Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
(O Prophet! Allah's peace, blessings and grace be upon you!).

Assalamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadil lahis salihin
(Allah's peace be on us, those offering prayers - and upon all pious servants of Allah).

Assalamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
(Allah's peace, blessings and grace be on you believers!)

Thereafter

 

say (below) three times and that completes your Salaat:

"Allaho Akbar"
(Allah is Great). )

If you are doing the Midday (Zuhr), Afternoon prayers ('Asr) or Night ('Isha), ignore the above section (in red)

and then stand up for the third rakat.

 

Third Rakat

Tasbihat Arba'ah

Recite Tasbihat Arba'ah three times, as follows:
   
"Subhanallahi wal hamdu lillahi wa la ilaha lallahu wallahu Akbar"
(Glory be to Allah, and all praise is for Him and there is no one worth worshipping other than Allah, and He is Greater than any description).

Go back to Ruku,

recite the zikr, stand up momentarily and then do the two sajdah's (just as in the first rakat) and thereafter recite the Tashahhud (only if this is a Dusk prayer) (just as in the second rakat).

If you are doing the Dusk prayers (Maghrib) :-

( For Dusk prayers (Maghrib) Only:

Tashahhud
After the second Sajdah recite the following:
   
"Ash hadu an la ilaha illal lahu wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan 'Abduhu wa Rasuluh Alla humma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa Ali Muhammad"
(I testify that there is none worth worshipping except the Almighty Allah, Who is One and has no partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. O Allah! Send Your blessings on Muhammad and his progeny)

If you are doing the Dusk prayers (Maghrib) :-

( For Dusk prayers (Maghrib) Only:

Recite the Salaam as follows:
   
Assalamu 'alayka ayyuhan Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
(O Prophet! Allah's peace, blessings and grace be upon you!).

Assalamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadil lahis salihin
(Allah's peace be on us, those offering prayers - and upon all pious servants of Allah).

Assalamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
(Allah's peace, blessings and grace be on you believers!)

Thereafter

 

say (below) three times and that completes your Salaat:

"Allaho Akbar"
(Allah is Great). )

 

Fourth Rakat

If you are doing the Midday (Zuhr), Afternoon prayers ('Asr) or Night ('Isha), ignore the above section (in red)

and then stand up for the fourth rakat.

Recite Tasbihat Arba'ah three times, as follows:
   
"Subhanallahi wal hamdu lillahi wa la ilaha lallahu wallahu Akbar"
(Glory be to Allah, and all praise is for Him and there is no one worth worshipping other than Allah, and He is Greater than any description).

Go back to Ruku,

recite the zikr, stand up momentarily and then do the two sajdah's (just as in the first rakat) and thereafter recite the Tashahhud.

Salaam

After the Tashahhud, recite the Salaam as follows:
   
Assalamu 'alayka ayyuhan Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
(O Prophet! Allah's peace, blessings and grace be upon you!).

Assalamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadil lahis salihin
(Allah's peace be on us, those offering prayers - and upon all pious servants of Allah).

Assalamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.
(Allah's peace, blessings and grace be on you believers!)

Thereafter

say (three times and that completes your Salaat):

"Allaho Akbar"
(Allah is Great).