What is the Muslim Prayer: Salah?
The Salah, or the prayer of the Muslims, is the second pillar of Islam. This makes it one of the 5 fundamental tenets of Islam. It is a blessing for Muslims because it allows them to pray for themselves and the chance to converse with Allah 5 times a day.
It holds great importance in Islam. Regardless of the situation, Allah has commanded Muslims never to forgo their prayers.
“Guard strictly [on] the prayers, and the prayer – [the] middle, and stand up for Allah devoutly obedient.” (2:238)
Further, the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) also said about Salah:
Abu Dharr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah Almighty continues to face towards the servant while he is in prayer as long as he does not avert his eyes. If he looks elsewhere, Allah will turn elsewhere.” Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 909
What Does Salah Mean?
The root word of “salah” (صلاة) in Arabic is “salat” (صلت), which means to “connect,” “link,” or “communicate.”
So, the word “salah” means a connection or link with Allāh through the five daily prayers. Additionally, the practice of salah establishes a strong and continuous connection between Allah and the Muslim.
Why is Salah Important?
The importance of Salah dates back to the times of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. This is when it was made the first obligatory act of worship in Islam and no other form of obligatory worship existed. It was made compulsory in Makkah three years before the Hijra.
Allah invited the Prophet ﷺ to the heavens to offer prayer, which is known as Mi’raj. The Prophet ﷺ traveled with Jibril (May Allah be pleased with him) to the heavens and witnessed many wonders, during this night journey. It was during this night the Prophet ﷺ received Salah as a special gift to himself and his community.
Allah says in the Quran about Miraj:
Glory to Him who made His servant travel by night from thesacred place of worship to the furthest place of worship,by whosesurroundings We have blessed, to show him some of Our signs: Healone is the All Hearing, the All Seeing.(Qur’an 17:1)
The main benefit and purpose of salah is to ensure Muslims maintain their faith and devotion to Allah SWT, to increase taqwa (closeness to Allah SWT), and to understand the importance of faith and submission to their Creator.
“A man said to Ibn Mas’ud: ‘Which deed is most virtuous?’ He said: ‘I asked Allah’s Messenger (that). He said: “Salah at the beginning of its time.” I asked him: “What is after that O Messenger of Allah?” He said: “Being dutiful to one’s parents.” I said: “What is after that [O Messenger of Allah]?” He said: “Jihad in the Way of Allah.“ Tirmidi 173
Salah Times
Muslims pray 5 prayers throughout the day. These prayers have a specific time limit within which it is obligatory to perform the Salah. Here are the obligatory prayers:
- Fajr – this is performed before sunrise
- Zohr – this is performed at midday
- Asr – this is performed between Zohr and sunset
- Maghrib – this is performed at sunset.
- Isha – this is performed between Maghrib and midnight.
Guidelines for Performing Salah
When a Muslim is regular in performing Salah, he becomes emotionally and mentally stronger to fight his nafs and temptations around him. Praying regularly makes a Muslim steadfast on the right path shown in the Quran.
Performing Salah is not a random act of worship, it has a specific process and set of principles that must be followed to ensure that the prayer is valid.
- All prayers must be performed in the state of Wudu. Wudu or ablution is a specific way to wash the face, hands, arms, and feet. Each prayer must be performed after the Wudu.
- The Adan or the call to prayer is made before each prayer. It is best for men to pray in a congregation in a mosque, while women can pray at home.
- All prayers are performed facing the Qiblah, which is the Holy Ka’abah in Makkah.
How to Pray Namaz or Salah
Now that we know all the details about Namaz, let’s look at the physical act of performing the prayer. As mentioned before, salah is not just a random prayer. It consists of a set of steps that must be followed attentively.
There are different positions for each step of the prayer. The steps of the Namaz are as follows:
Step 1: Takbeer Tahrimah
Starting the Prayer by saying Takbir Tahrimah
Arabic:
الله أكبر
Transliteration:
Alla-hu Akbar
Translation:
Allah is the greatest
Instructions: Bring your hands to the sides of your head near your ears.
Step 2: Al-Qayyam-Sana
Arabic:
سُبْـحانَكَ اللّهُـمَّ وَبِحَمْـدِكَ وَتَبارَكَ اسْمُـكَ وَتَعـالى جَـدُّكَ وَلا إِلهَ غَيْرُك
Transliteration:
“Subhanaka allahumma wa bi hamdika wa tabara kasmuka wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuka.”
Translation:
Glory be to You O Allah, and praise be to You, and blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty, and none has the right to be worshipped but You.
Next, recite the Tawuuz and Tasmiyah:
Arabic:
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ
Transliteration:
A’uzu bil-lahi minash Shayta-nir-rajeem. Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim
Translation:
I seek Allah’s protection from Satan who is accursed. In the name of Allah, The most Gracious , The most Merciful”
Next step is reciting Surah Fatiha:
Arabic:
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِیْنَ(1) الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِ(2) مٰلِكِ یَوْمِ الدِّیْنِﭤ(3) اِیَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَ اِیَّاكَ نَسْتَعِیْنُﭤ(4) اِهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِیْمَ(5) صِرَاطَ الَّذِیْنَ اَنْعَمْتَ عَلَیْهِمْ ﴰ غَیْرِ الْمَغْضُوْبِ عَلَیْهِمْ وَ لَا الضَّآلِّیْنَ(7)
Transliteration:
Alhamdul lil-lahi rab-bil ‘alameen
Ar rahma nir-raheem
Maliki yawmid-deen
Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’een
Ihdinas siratal mustaqeem
Siratal Lazeena an’amta ‘alayhim
Ghai-ril maghdubi ‘alayhim
Walad dal-leen. Ameen
Translation:
Praise is only for Allah, Lord of the Universe.
The most Kind, the most Merciful.
The master of the Day of Judgement.
You alone we worship and to you alone we pray for help.
Show us the straight way,
The way of those whom you have blessed.
Who have not deserved your anger,
Nor gone astray.
Next, we recite any Surah from the Quran, this is Surah Al-Ikhlaas:
Arabic:
قُلْ هُوَ اللّٰهُ اَحَدٌۚ(۱) اَللّٰهُ الصَّمَدُۚ(۲) لَمْ یَلِدْ ﳔ وَ لَمْ یُوْلَدْۙ(۳) وَ لَمْ یَكُنْ لَّهٗ كُفُوًا اَحَدٌ۠(۴)
Transliteration:
Qul huwa Allahu ahad. Allahu assamad. Lam yalid wa lam yoolad. Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan ahad
Translation:
O Esteemed Messenger!) Proclaim: ‘He is Allah, Who is the One.
Allah is the Transcendent of all, the Protector and Far-Superior to all He has not begotten any, nor is He begotten.
Nor is there anyone equal to Him.’
Step 3: Takbeer
Next, while going into Ruku, you must say the Takbeer again:
الله أكبر
Step 4: Ruku
The next step is bending from the waist down to go into Ruku. While doing this, you must recite:
Arabic:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Transliteration:
Subhana rabbi al-azeem
Translation:
“Glory be to my Lord Almighty.”
Recite this 3, 5, 7, and 9 times.
Step 5: Qaumma
Arabic:
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Transliteration:
Sami ‘allah hu liman hamida. Rab-bana lakal hamd.
Translation:
Verily Allah listens to one who praises Him. Oh our Lord, all praises be to you.
Step 6: Takbeer
While going into Sajda, say the Takbeer again:
الله أكبر
Step 7: Sajda
While in Sajdah, recite the following supplication 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 or more times. Make it an odd number.
Arabic:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
Transliteration:
Sub-hana Rabbi yal a’la
Translation:
Oh Allah, glory be to you, the highest.
Step 8: Takbeer
Next, you sit up from Sajda, this position is called Jalsa while reciting Takbeer:
الله أكبر
The following steps are to repeat the Sajda again, and then stand up to recite Surah Fatiha again. This will complete one Rakah.
Step 9: Tashahud
Before starting the second rakat, say Alla-hu Akbar while standing up. Next, you must repeat steps 1 to 8. After the second Sajdah in step 8, say Alla-hu Akbar, but sit down for reciting Tashahud, Darud, and some supplications before finishing the prayer with salam.
Arabic:
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَهِ وَالصَّلَواتُ وَالطَّيِّبْاتُ ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَهِ وَبَرَكَاتُه السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلهَ إِلَّااللهُ وَاشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Transliteration:
At-tahiy-yatu lil-lahi was sala-watu wat-tay yibatu
As-salamu ‘alayka ay-yuhan-nabiy-yu
wa rahma tullahi wa bara-katuhu
As-salamu ‘alayna wa’ala ‘ibadil-la his-sali-heen
Ash hadu al-la ilaha il-lal lahu
wa ash hadu an-na Muhammadan
‘ab-duhu wa rasuluh.
Translation:
All compliments, all physical prayer,
and all monetary worship are for Allah.
Peace be upon you, Oh Prophet,
and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
Peace be on us and all righteous slaves of Allah.
I bear witness that no one is worthy of worship except Allah
And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
If you are offering 3 Rakath of salah (as in Maghrib), then after Tashahud in the second Rakath, you say the Takbeer and stand up. Then you repeat steps 1 to 8, again. It is only recommended to recite another surah in the first two rakats, after Surah Fatiha.
After the second Sajdah in the third Rakat, you must recite the following three supplications and finish the prayer. If you are offering 4 Rakath of salah, simply stand up after the second Sajdah in the third Rakat by saying the Takbeer. Carry on until the second Sajdah and sit for Tashahud in the fourth Rakat. Recite the following three supplications to finish the prayer.
Darood
Arabic:
اللّهُمَّ صَلّ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلى أَلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
اللّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ عَلى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَّجِيدٌ
Transliteration:
Allah humma sal-li ‘ala Muhammadin
wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin,
Kama sal-layta ‘ala Ibraheema
Wa’ala ali Ibraheema
innaka Hameedum Majeed
Allah humma barik ‘ala Muhammadin
wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin,
Kama barakta ‘ala Ibraheema
Wa ‘ala ali Ibraheema
innaka Hameedum Majeed.
Translation:
Oh Allah, send grace and honor on Muhammad and
On the family and true followers of Muhammad
just as you sent Grace and Honour on Ibrahim
and on the family and true followers of Ibrahim
Surely, you are praiseworthy, the Great.
Oh Allah, send your blessing on Muhammad and
the true followers of Muhammad, just
as you sent blessings on Ibrahim
and his true followers
Surely, you are praiseworthy, the Great.
Du’a-e-Masurah
Arabic:
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلوةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِى رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْلى وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُوْمُ الْحِسَاب
Transliteration:
Rab bij’alnee muqeemas salati wa min
zur-riy yatee rab-bana wata qab-bal du’a,
rab-ba nagh-firlee wali waliday-ya
wa lil mu-mineena yawma yaqumul hisab.
Translation:
Oh Lord, make me and my children keep up prayers,
Our Lord, accept our prayer,
Our Lord, forgive me and my parents
and all the Believers on the Day of Judgement.
Step 10: Salam
In the final step of your Salah, it’s time to say the Salam. Look towards your right shoulder and say it once then look towards your left shoulder and say it again.
Arabic:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ
Transliteration:
As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rah-matul lah
Translation:
Peace be on you and the mercy of Allah.
Du’a-e-Qunoot
Dua e Qanoot is the dua recited in the third and final rakat of the Witr, in the Isha prayer. This is recited after the completion of Surah Fathia. Once you have recited Surah Fatiha you must put your hands to your ears again as you during Takbeer in the beginning of your prayers. After saying the Takbeer, you can recite Dua e Qanoot.
Arabic:
اللّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَعِيْنُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ وَنُثْنِي عَلَيْكَ الْخَيْرَ وَنَشْكُرُكَ وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَنْ يَفْجُرُكَ اللّهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَلَكَ نُصَلِّي وَنَسْجُدُ وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعى وَنَحْفِدُ وَنَرْجُوْ رَحْمَتَكَ وَنَخْشُى عَذَابَكَ إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالْكُفَّارِ مُلْحِق .
Transliteration:
Allah humma inna nast’eenuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu’minu bika wa natawak-kalu ‘alayka wa nuthne ‘alayk-al khayr. Wa nashkuruka wa laaa nakfuruka wa nakhla’u wa natruku man-y yafjuruka. Allah humma iyyaka na’budu wa laka nusal-lee wa nasjudu wa ilayka nas’a wa nahfidu wa narju rahmataka wa nakhsha ‘azabaka inna ‘azabaka bil kuf-fari mulhiq.
Dua al-Qunoot Translation:
Oh Allah, we ask you for help and seek your forgiveness, and we believe in You and have trust in You, and we praise you in the best way and we thank You and we are not ungrateful to you, and we forsake and turn away from the one who disobeys you. O Allah, we worship You only and pray to You and prostrate ourselves before You, and we run towards You and serve You, and we hope to receive your mercy, and we fear your punishment. Surely, the disbelievers will receive your punishment.
Conclusion
Being the second pillar of Islam, Salah has great importance in the lives of Muslims of all ages, all over the world. During this historic ritual, Muslims are talking to their Maker, Allah. Good deeds that are done without offering daily prayers are rendered useless, therefore, all Muslims must offer their five daily prayers.
Prayer helps to purify the Muslim’s soul and understand that Allah has placed us on Earth as a test, additionally, it helps to fight against Shaitaan and our nafs and submit to Allah!
“If a person had a stream outside his door and he bathed in it five times a day, do you think he would have any filth left on him?” The people said, “No filth would remain on him whatsoever.” The Prophet ﷺ then said, “That is like the five daily prayers: Allah wipes away the sins by them.” (Bukhari, Muslim)
