Prayer salat word by word
I. Opening the Prayer (Takbiratul Ihram)
Action: Stand facing the Qiblah and raise hands to ears while saying:
Arabic: اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Transliteration: Allāhu Akbar.
Meaning: Allah is the Greatest.
(This marks the official start of the prayer. All worldly talk must cease.)
II. Standing (Qiyam) - After Takbir
Action: Place right hand over left hand below the navel. Recite the following in order:
Opening Supplication :
Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَايَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ
اللَّهُمَّ نَقِّنِي مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ
اللَّهُمَّ اغْسِلْ خَطَايَايَ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ
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Section 1: Seeking Distance from Sins
اللَّهُمَّ (Allāhumma) - O Allah
بَاعِدْ (bā'id) - separate / distance
بَيْنِي (baynī) - between me
وَبَيْنَ (wa bayna) - and between
خَطَايَايَ (khaṭāyāya) - my sins
كَمَا (kamā) - just as
بَاعَدْتَ (bā'adta) - You have distanced
بَيْنَ (bayna) - between
الْمَشْرِقِ (al-mashriqi) - the East
وَالْمَغْرِبِ (wal-maghrib) - and the West
Section 2: Seeking Purity from Sins
اللَّهُمَّ (Allāhumma) - O Allah
نَقِّنِي (naqqinī) - cleanse me / purify me
مِنْ (min) - from
خَطَايَايَ (khaṭāyāya) - my sins
كَمَا (kamā) - just as
يُنَقَّى (yunaqqa) - is cleansed
الثَّوْبُ (ath-thawbu) - the garment
الأَبْيَضُ (al-abyaḍu) - the white
مِنَ (minal) - from
الدَّنَسِ (ad-danas) - the filth / dirt
Section 3: Seeking the Washing of Sins
اللَّهُمَّ (Allāhumma) - O Allah
اغْسِلْنِي (ighsilnī) - wash me
خَطَايَايَ (khaṭāyāya) - my sins
بِالثَّلْجِ (bith-thalji) - with the snow
وَالْمَاءِ (wal-mā'i) - and the water
وَالْبَرَدِ (wal-barad) - and the hail / ice
Transliteration:
Allāhumma bā'id baynī wa bayna khaṭāyāya kamā bā'adta baynal-mashriqi wal-maghrib.
Allāhumma naqqinī min khaṭāyāya kamā yunaqqath-thawbul-abyaḍu minad-danas.
Allāhumma-ghsilnī min khaṭāyāya bith-thalji wal-mā'i wal-barad.
Meaning:
O Allah, separate me from my sins as You have separated the East from the West.
O Allah, cleanse me of my sins as a white garment is cleansed of filth.
O Allah, wash away my sins with snow, water, and ice.
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Seeking Refuge (Ta'awwudh):
Arabic: أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Transliteration: A'ūdhu billāhi minash-shayṭānir-rajīm.
Meaning: I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan.
أَعُوذُ (A'ūdhu) — I seek refuge / I take shelter بِاللَّهِ (billāhi) — in Allah مِنَ (mina) — from الشَّيْطَانِ (ash-shayṭāni) — the Satan / the Devil الرَّجِيمِ (ar-rajīm) — the accursed / the expelled / the stoned
The Basmala:
Arabic: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Transliteration: Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm.
Meaning: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Surah Al-Fatihah (The Opening - Obligatory):
Arabic: 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 . آمِين
Transliteration: Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-'ālamīn.
Ar-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm. Māliki yawmid-dīn.
Iyyāka na'budu wa iyyāka nasta'īn.
Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm.
Ṣirāṭal-ladhīna an'amta 'alayhim ghayril-maghḍūbi 'alayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn. Āmeen.
Meaning: All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all 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 upon whom You have bestowed favor,
not of those who have earned [Your] anger or of those who are astray. Amen.
Surah Al-Fatihah: Word-by-Word
الْحَمْدُ (Al-ḥamdu) — All praise
لِلَّهِ (lillāhi) — is for Allah
رَبِّ (rabbi) — Lord
الْعَالَمِينَ (al-ʿālamīn) — of the worlds
الرَّحْمَٰنِ (Ar-Raḥmān) — The Most Gracious
الرَّحِيمِ (Ar-Raḥīm) — The Most Merciful
مَالِكِ (Māliki) — Master/Owner
يَوْمِ (yawmi) — of the Day
الدِّينِ (ad-dīn) — of Judgment
إِيَّاكَ (Iyyāka) — You alone
نَعْبُدُ (naʿbudu) — we worship
وَإِيَّاكَ (wa iyyāka) — and You alone
نَسْتَعِينُ (nastaʿīn) — we ask for help
اهْدِنَا (Ihdinā) — Guide us
الصِّرَاطَ (aṣ-ṣirāṭa) — to the path
الْمُسْتَقِيمَ (al-mustaqīm) — the straight
صِرَاطَ (Ṣirāṭa) — The path
الَّذِينَ (alladhīna) — of those
أَنْعَمْتَ (anʿamta) — You bestowed favor
عَلَيْهِمْ (ʿalayhim) — upon them
غَيْرِ (ghayri) — not (of)
الْمَغْضُوبِ (al-maghḍūbi) — those who earned anger
عَلَيْهِمْ (ʿalayhim) — upon them
وَلَا (wa lā) — and not
الضَّالِّينَ (aḍ-ḍāllīn) — those who go astray
آمِين (Āmīn) — Amen / O Allah, accept
A Surah or Verses from the Qur'an (Recited after Al-Fatihah):
Example: Surah Al-Ikhlas (The Sincerity)
Arabic: قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ . اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ . لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ . وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Transliteration: Qul huwa Allāhu Aḥad.
Allāhuṣ-Ṣamad.
Lam yalid wa lam yūlad.
Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan aḥad.
Meaning: Say, "He is Allah, the One.
Allah, the Eternal Refuge.
He neither begets nor is born.
Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
Surah Al-Ikhlas: Word-by-Word
قُلْ (Qul) — Say
هُوَ (huwa) — He
اللَّهُ (Allāhu) — [is] Allah
أَحَدٌ (Aḥad) — One
اللَّهُ (Allāhu) — Allah
الصَّمَدُ (aṣ-Ṣamad) — The Eternal Refuge
لَمْ (Lam) — Not
يَلِدْ (yalid) — He begets
وَلَمْ (wa lam) — and not
يُولَدْ (yūlad) — is He born
وَلَمْ (Wa lam) — And not
يَكُنْ (yakun) — there is
لَهُ (lahū) — for Him
كُفُوًا (kufuwan) — equivalent
أَحَدٌ (aḥad) — anyone
III. Ruku' (Bowing): Word-by-Word
1. The Takbir (Moving into Ruku')
Bow down, holding knees, back straight.
While moving into Ruku':
Arabic: اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Transliteration: Allāhu Akbar. (said while moving down)
اللهُ (Allāhu) — Allah
أَكْبَرُ (Akbar) — [is] Greatest
2. The Tasbih (While Bowing)
The Tasbih of Ruku' (said at least 3 times):
Arabic: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Transliteration: Subḥāna Rabbiyal-'Aẓīm.
Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.
سُبْحَانَ (Subḥāna) — Glory be to
رَبِّيَ (Rabbiyal) — my Lord
الْعَظِيمِ (al-ʿAẓīm) — the Almighty / the Magnificent
3. Tasmi' (Rising from Ruku')
While rising from Ruku':
Arabic: سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Transliteration: Sami' Allāhu liman ḥamidah.
Meaning: Allah hears the one who praises Him.
(The follower in congregation says only: "Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd")
سَمِعَ (Samiʿa) — Hears
اللَّهُ (Allāhu) — Allah
لِمَنْ (liman) — whoever
حَمِدَهُ (ḥamidah) — praises Him
4. Tahmid (Standing Upright)
Upon standing upright:
Arabic: رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Transliteration: Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd.
Meaning: Our Lord, to You is all praise.
رَبَّنَا (Rabbanā) — Our Lord
وَلَكَ (wa laka) — and to You [alone]
الْحَمْدُ (al-ḥamd) — [is] all praise
IV. Prostration (Sujud)
Action: Place forehead, nose, palms, knees, and toes on the ground.
While moving into Sujud:
Arabic: اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Transliteration: Allāhu Akbar. (said while moving down)The Tasbih of Sujud (said at least 3 times):
Arabic: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Transliteration: Subḥāna Rabbiyal-A'lā.
Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.While rising from Sujud to sit:
Arabic: اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Transliteration: Allāhu Akbar.Sitting between the two prostrations (Jalsah):
While sitting, one may say silently:
Arabic: رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Transliteration: Rabbi ghfir lī.
Meaning: My Lord, forgive me.While going for the second Sujud:
Arabic: اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Transliteration: Allāhu Akbar.
(Repeat the sujud tasbih again)
V. The First Sitting (Qa'dah) - Tashahhud (At-Tahiyyat)
Action: After the 2nd Rak'ah, sit for the Tashahhud.
The Tashahhud:
Arabic: 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 وَرَسُولُهُ1
Transliteration: At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt.
As-salāmu 'alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh.
As-salāmu 'alaynā wa 'alā 'ibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ash-hadu al-lā ilāha illallāh,
wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan 'abduhū wa rasūluh.
Meaning: All greetings, prayers, and good things 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 His Messenger.
The Tashahhud: Word-by-Word
Section 1: Divine Greetings
التَّحِيَّاتُ (At-taḥiyyātu) — The greetings
لِلَّهِ (lillāhi) — [are] for Allah
وَالصَّلَوَاتُ (waṣ-ṣalawātu) — and the prayers
وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ (waṭ-ṭayyibāt) — and the good things
Section 2: Salutation to the Prophet
السَّلَامُ (As-salāmu) — Peace
عَلَيْكَ (ʿalayka) — be upon you
أَيُّهَا (ayyuhan) — O you
النَّبِيُّ (Nabiyyu) — Prophet
وَرَحْمَةُ (wa raḥmat) — and the mercy
اللَّهِ (Allāhi) — of Allah
وَبَرَكَاتُهُ (wa barakātuh) — and His blessings
Section 3: Salutation to the Righteous
السَّلَامُ (As-salāmu) — Peace
عَلَيْنَا (ʿalaynā) — be upon us
وَعَلَى (wa ʿalā) — and upon
عِبَادِ (ʿibādi) — servants
اللَّهِ (Allāhi) — of Allah
الصَّالِحِينَ (aṣ-ṣāliḥīn) — the righteous
Section 4: The Testimony (Shahadah)
أَشْهَدُ (Ash-hadu) — I bear witness
أَنْ (an) — that
لَا (lā) — [there is] no
إِلَهَ (ilāha) — god
إِلَّا (illā) — except
اللَّهُ (Allāh) — Allah
وَأَشْهَدُ (wa ash-hadu) — and I bear witness
أَنَّ (anna) — that
مُحَمَّدًا (Muḥammadan) — Muhammad
عَبْدُهُ (ʿabduhū) — [is] His servant
وَرَسُولُهُ (wa rasūluh) — and His Messenger
The Tashahhud: Word-by-Word
Section 1: Divine Greetings
التَّحِيَّاتُ (At-taḥiyyātu) — The greetings
لِلَّهِ (lillāhi) — [are] for Allah
وَالصَّلَوَاتُ (waṣ-ṣalawātu) — and the prayers
وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ (waṭ-ṭayyibāt) — and the good things
Section 2: Salutation to the Prophet
السَّلَامُ (As-salāmu) — Peace
عَلَيْكَ (ʿalayka) — be upon you
أَيُّهَا (ayyuhan) — O you
النَّبِيُّ (Nabiyyu) — Prophet
وَرَحْمَةُ (wa raḥmat) — and the mercy
اللَّهِ (Allāhi) — of Allah
وَبَرَكَاتُهُ (wa barakātuh) — and His blessings
Section 3: Salutation to the Righteous
السَّلَامُ (As-salāmu) — Peace
عَلَيْنَا (ʿalaynā) — be upon us
وَعَلَى (wa ʿalā) — and upon
عِبَادِ (ʿibādi) — servants
اللَّهِ (Allāhi) — of Allah
الصَّالِحِينَ (aṣ-ṣāliḥīn) — the righteous
Section 4: The Testimony (Shahadah)
أَشْهَدُ (Ash-hadu) — I bear witness
أَنْ (an) — that
لَا (lā) — [there is] no
إِلَهَ (ilāha) — god
إِلَّا (illā) — except
اللَّهُ (Allāh) — Allah
وَأَشْهَدُ (wa ash-hadu) — and I bear witness
أَنَّ (anna) — that
مُحَمَّدًا (Muḥammadan) — Muhammad
عَبْدُهُ (ʿabduhū) — [is] His servant
وَرَسُولُهُ (wa rasūluh) — and His Messenger
VI. The Final Sitting (Qa'dah al-Akhirah) - Full Tashahhud & Salawat
Action: In the final Rak'ah, after the Tashahhud (above), add:
Salawat upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم):
Arabic: 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 إ2ِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ3
Transliteration: Allāhumma ṣalli 'alā Muḥammadin wa 'alā āli Muḥammad,kamā ṣallayta 'alā Ibrāhīma wa 'alā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd.
Allāhumma bārik 'alā Muḥammadin wa 'alā āli Muḥammad,
kamā bārakta 'alā Ibrāhīma wa 'alā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd.
Meaning: O Allah, send Your grace upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad,
as You sent Your grace upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim.
You are indeed Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad,
as You sent Your blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed Praiseworthy, Glorious.
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As-Salat al-Ibrahimiyyah: Word-by-Word Analysis
This prayer, known as the Ibrahimic Prayer, is the most complete way to send blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him). Here is the breakdown formatted for narrow width.
Section 1: Sending Grace (Salat)
اللَّهُمَّ (Allāhumma) — O Allah
صَلِّ (ṣalli) — send grace
عَلَى (ʿalā) — upon
مُحَمَّدٍ (Muḥammadin) — Muhammad
وَعَلَى (wa ʿalā) — and upon
آلِ (āli) — the family of
مُحَمَّدٍ (Muḥammad) — Muhammad
كَمَا (kamā) — just as
صَلَّيْتَ (ṣallayta) — You sent grace
عَلَى (ʿalā) — upon
إِبْرَاهِيمَ (Ibrāhīma) — Ibrahim
وَعَلَى (wa ʿalā) — and upon
آلِ (āli) — the family of
إِبْرَاهِيمَ (Ibrāhīm) — Ibrahim
إِنَّكَ (innaka) — indeed You
حَمِيدٌ (Ḥamīdun) — [are] Praiseworthy
مَجِيدٌ (Majīd) — [and] Glorious
Section 2: Sending Blessings (Barakah)
اللَّهُمَّ (Allāhumma) — O Allah
بَارِكْ (bārik) — send blessings
عَلَى (ʿalā) — upon
مُحَمَّدٍ (Muḥammadin) — Muhammad
وَعَلَى (wa ʿalā) — and upon
آلِ (āli) — the family of
مُحَمَّدٍ (Muḥammad) — Muhammad
كَمَا (kamā) — just as
بَارَكْتَ (bārakta) — You sent blessings
عَلَى (ʿalā) — upon
إِبْرَاهِيمَ (Ibrāhīma) — Ibrahim
وَعَلَى (wa ʿalā) — and upon
آلِ (āli) — the family of
إِبْرَاهِيمَ (Ibrāhīm) — Ibrahim
إِنَّكَ (innaka) — indeed You
حَمِيدٌ (Ḥamīdun) — [are] Praiseworthy
مَجِيدٌ (Majīd) — [and] Glorious
VII. Closing the Prayer (Tasleem)
Action: Turn head to the right and then to the left.
For each turn:
Arabic: السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
Transliteration: As-salāmu 'alaykum wa raḥmatullāh.
Meaning: Peace and the mercy of Allah be upon you.
. It marks the end of the prayer.)