The rakat / cycles of prayers consist of 2, 3 and 4 cycles/rakats. The procedure given below is that for two cycled prayers, that is Fajr prayer. For 3 and 4 cycled prayers, the procedures will be explained subsequently in the same post.
Preliminaries
Before standing up for the prayers, please ensure:
- It is the time for the salah / prayer being offered.
- You are standing at a place which is clean and devoid of any litter
- You are wearing clean clothes. It must be ensured that the clothes you wear should at a minimum, covers your awrah. The awrah for men is to cover everything from and including the navel to the knees. Women must cover everything except the hands, feet and face.
- If you are feeling call of nature, then attend to it first as it will distract your prayer while you are inn it.
- You have performed ablution. In case you are at a place where there is no water available, then carryout Tayammum.
- In case you have had sexual relations with your spouse or have ejaculated involuntary or voluntary, then you must have performed ghusl / complete bath before standing for prayers.
- If you are unable to stand due to illness or infirmity, you can pray sitting down on a chair or even sitting on the floor. Even in case of extreme illness, you can offer prayers while lying on the bed and making gestures for positions like ruku or sajdah.
- One must stand facing towards Kabah for prayers. While in a masjid, the direction is clearly directed, for places where no such landmarks are visible or during travel, one may take help from many free apps which will help in determining the direction of Qiblah, that is Kabah in Saudi Arabia.
Cycle 1 / Rakat One
1) Stand up facing Kabah. It is called Qayam. The space between feet should be about four to five fingers apart, do not stand wide spread like most people do these days. Your feet should be parallel to each other and be pointing towards direction of the the Kabah. It should also be ensured that while standing, one must not look right or left, but instead his/her gaze should be fixed at the place of his head during sajdah/prostration.
2) Now make a intention, called Niyat in Arabic, by saying in your heart "I pray two rakah (or as many required for that time) Fard (if its Fard or say Sunnah if its Sunnah or say Wajib if its Wajib or Say Nafil if its Nafil) for Allah Tala Face towards Kabah". If praying behind Imam add "Behind this Imam".
3) Now Raise both of your hands above your shoulders with palms facing outwards. (some suggest to touch your ear lobes while doing so with your thumbs) Then say "الله أكبر Allah Ho Akbar", called Takbeer-e-Tehrima
4) Now drop your hands and place the hands on navel right hand on top of left hand. Thumb and Pinky (smallest finger) should be wrapped around the wrist of left hand's wrist. It should be like you are locking or grabbing the left hand wrist. Rest of the three fingers of right hand should be strait in line to each other.
5) Now Read the following (called ثـنــــاء sanah),
سُبْحَانَکَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِکَ، وَتَبَارَکَ اسْمُکَ وَتَعَالٰی جَدُّکَ، وَلَا اِلٰهَ غَيْرُکَ.
"Subhana Kalla Humma Wa Bee Hamdika Wata Baara Kasmooka Wa Ta'ala Jaddoo Ka Wa La ilaha Ghairuka"
6) This should be followed by, called تعـــــــوذ Taudh:
أَعُوْذُ بِاﷲِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْمِ.
"Aaoo Zo Billahee Minash Shaitaunir Rajeem"
7) Then read following (called تســـــمیہ Tasmiah),
بِسْمِ اﷲِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ.
"Bismillah Hir Rahmaanir Raheem"
Thereafter recite Surah Fatiha, the very first chapter of the Qur'an:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلا الضَّالِّينَ"Alhamdo Lillahi Rabbil Aalameen Ar Rahmaanir Raheem Maaliki Yaomid Deen iyya Kana Budoo Wa iyya kanastaeen ihdinas Siratual Mustaqeem Siratual Lazeena An Amtaa Alaihim Ghairil Maghdoobe Alaihim Walad Dualleen"
8) Then say, " أمين Ameen".
9) Now while still standing, read any small Surah from the Qur'an or at least three ayat. Here we are sharing Surah 103 Al Asr for your guidance:
وَ الۡعَصۡرِ - اِنَّ الۡاِنۡسَانَ لَفِیۡ خُسۡرٍ ۙ - اِلَّا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا وَ عَمِلُوا الصّٰلِحٰتِ وَ تَوَاصَوۡا بِالۡحَقِّ ۬ۙ وَ تَوَاصَوۡا بِالصَّبۡرِ
" Wal A'sre Innal Insaana Lafi Khusr illal Lazeena Aamanoo Wa A'milos Sualihaati Wa Tawa Sao Bil Haqqi Wa Tawa Sao Bis Sabr "
12) Then Say "الله أكبر Allah Ho Akbar" and bow down half standing (its called Ruku رکـــــــوع ), hold your knees with your hands. The fingers should be separated with gaps in them. The back should be horizontally straight as shown in the figure below:
13) Recite, "سُبْحَانَ رَبِّیَ الْعَظِيْمِ Subhaana Rabbi yal Azeem" At least three times. Three, five and seven times are Sunnat (Sunnat means what Prophet Mohammad peace be upon him liked to do).
14) Then slowly start to stand up saying, "سَمِعَ اﷲُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ Samee Allahoo Layman Hamidah - " رَبَّنَا لَکَ الْحَمْدُ Rabbana Lakal Hamd" Start to say Samee when leaving Rookh (bowing poster) and end with Hameedah when you are standing fully straight. Wait a little.
15) Now say, "الله أكبر Allah Ho Akbar"
16) Now go to Sajdah (placing face on ground) in a manner that the palms of the hands first touch the floor followed by your knees. In sajdah all the fingers of feet should be twisted so that the round soft part of the fingers is touching the ground. Hand fingers should be close to face and facing Kabah in strait line. Put enough pressure on nose so that the bone of nose should feel the hardness of earth (do not hurt your self but should be firm) Arms should be away from body like a bird opens the wings.
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Photo)
Sajdah: In sajdah, your forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes of your feet should be in contact with the floor
Sajdah points touching the floor (
Photo)
17) Now read, "سُبْحَانَ رَبِّیَ الْأَعْلَی Subhaana Rabbiyal Aala" at least three times. Three, five and seven times are Sunnah.
18) Now rise from the sajdah saying "الله أكبر Allah Ho Akbar" and sit down on your left foot (It's called Jalsa) the right foot should be sticking out and all of the foot fingers should be twisted. The soft part of the foot fingers should touch the ground. Sit for the amount of time you could say Subhan Allah at least three times.
Jalsa (pause between first and second sajdah)
19) Now go down again saying "الله أكبر Allah Ho Akbar" for the second sajdah, reciting "سُبْحَانَ رَبِّیَ الْأَعْلَی Subhaana Rabbiyal Aala" at least three times.
Cycle 2 / Rakat Two
20) After completing second sajdah get up and go back to Qayam (standing up) Saying "الله أكبر Allah Ho Akbar" Then read , "Bismillahir Rahamaanir Raheem"
21) Now again read Surah Fatiha,
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلا الضَّالِّينَ
"Alhamdo Lillahi Rabbil Aalameen Ar Rahmaanir Raheem Maaliki Yaomid Deen iyya Kana Budo Wa iyyaka Nastaeen ihdinas Sirataul Mustaqeem Siratual Lazeena An Amtaa Alaihim Ghairil Maghdoobe Alaihim Walad Dualeen"
22) Then say, " أمين Ameen"
23) Then read, "Bismillahir Rahamaanir Raheem"
24) Then read any surah from Quran or at least three Ayahs. We are writing you another small one. Surah 108 Al Kawthar,
اِنَّاۤ اَعۡطَیۡنٰکَ الۡکَوۡثَرَ ؕ - فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّکَ وَ انۡحَرۡ - اِنَّ شَانِئَکَ ہُوَ الۡاَبۡتَرُ
"Innaa Aataina Kal Kauser Fasalli Li Rabbi Ka Vanhar Inna Shaaniaka Hooal Abtar".
Now repeat steps from 12 to 18.
25) Now after second Sajdah do not go back to Qayam (standing up) but keep sitting as in Jalsa. From now on this stage is called Qaidah and read:
التَّحِيَّاتُ ِﷲِ وَالصَّلَوٰتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْکَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِیُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اﷲِ وَبَرَکَاتُهُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَی عِبَادِ اﷲِ الصّٰلِحِيْنَ. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا اِلٰهَ إِلَّا اﷲُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ.
"Atthayyato Lillahe Wassalawato Wat Tayyebato Assalamu Alaika Ayyohan Nabiyo Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatoh Assalamu Alaina Wa Ala ibadillahis Sualaiheen Ashadu An La ilaah illal Laho Wa Ashadu Anna Mohammadan Abdohoo Wa Rasooluhoo"
Note: When you reach at Ashadu An La raise your index finger of your right hand upward facing about 45 degrees by closing the fist, and drop it back and spread the hand to its original position at illal Laho as shown under:
26) Now read this Durood Sharif,
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰی مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰی آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، کَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَی إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَی آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، إِنَّکَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ.
اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِکْ عَلٰی مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰی آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، کَمَا بَارَکْتَ عَلَی إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَی آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ، إِنَّکَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ.
"Allah Humma Salle Ala Mohammadiyon Wa Ala Ale Mohammadin Kama Sallaita Aala ibraheema Wa Ala Aalay ibraheema inna Ka Hameedum Majeed. Allah Humma Baarik Aala Mohammadiyon Wa Ala Ale Mohammadin Kama Barakta Ala ibraheema Wa Ala Ale ibraheema inna Ka Hameedum Majeed."
27) Now read this dua,
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِیْ مُقِيْمَ الصَّلٰوةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِیْ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَآءِ
رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِیْ وَلِوَالِدَءَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ يَوْمَ يَقُوْمُ الْحِسَابُ
"Rabijalni muqeemassalata wa min zuriyati, rabbana wataqabal dua, Rabbanagfirli walewalediyya wa lilmumineena yuma yaqoomal hisab.
28) Now turn your head towards right and say:
" السلام عليكم ورحمة الله Assalamo Alaikum Wa Rehmatullah"
Then turn your head towards left and read the same as above, " السلام عليكم ورحمة الله Assalamo Alaikum Wa Rehmatullah"
This completes a two-cycled prayer / Salah.
Procedure for salah / prayer with Four cycles
If a person is offering four Rakaat Payer, then he/she will stand-up after first Tashahud (after reciting ‘Attahiyyaat’ only, without supplicate for blessing upon the Prophet (S.A.W.) and supplication after Tashahud) in the Second Cycle. The person will Say “Allah-u-Akbar” while standing for the third Rakaat. Then he/she should complete his third and fourth Rakaat in the manner of the first and second one.
Procedure for salah / prayer with Three cycles
If a person is offering three or four Rakaat Payer, then he/she will stand-up after first Tashahud (after reciting ‘Attahiyyaat’ only, without supplicate for blessing upon the Prophet (S.A.W.) and supplication after Tashahud). The person will Say “Allah-u-Akbar” while standing for the third Rakaat. Then he/she should complete his third Rakaat and proceed to end the prayer as is done in the second cycle.
Note: For obligatory / fardh salah /prayer, the surah/ayats recited after surah Fateha will be omitted in the third and fourth rakat.
Errors and Omissions are regretted and if someone observes any errors or omissions, we may be notified for corrections.
You may refer to our reference page:
As Salat / Prayers for any Q&A you may have with regard to prayers.
