SALAH · TOPIC 5 OF 12
Step-by-Step
Hanafi reference · This page does not change with the studio’s school selector.
- Stand, with your feet slightly apart, and utter the opening invocation. This is obligatory. It is mandatory (wājib) to say “Allāhu Akbar” (Allāh is the greatest). This invocation (“Allāhu Akbar”) is repeated, without raising the hands, with each movement of the prayer except when rising from the bowing (rukū’) position. The one leading others utters it aloud. It is recommended to keep one’s gaze lowered through the prayer, in order to avoid distraction. When standing this entails looking at your place of prostration.
- Raise your hands (until level with the ears for men and to the shoulders for women) just before uttering the opening invocation (takbīr taḥrīmah), keeping the head upright throughout, and lower the hands as one pronounces the invocation. It is recommended to keep one’s hands normally open, with the palms facing the qiblah.
- Place your right hand over your left hand (under the navel for men and on the chest for women, below the breasts).
- In the first rak’ah only, quietly recite the opening supplication (thanā’).
- Seek refuge from the devil (ta’awwudh) quietly, in the first rak’ah alone, if reciting the Qur’ān in prayer. The one leading others and the one praying alone do so, as they must recite. When praying in congregation do not recite this, as one does not recite Qur’ān behind the imām, unless one has missed one or more rak’āt, in which case one recites this when one gets up to make up the missed rak’āt.
- Recite at least one verse of the Qur’ān when leading others or praying alone. This is obligatory. When praying behind an imām, one does not recite any Qur’ān [not even the Fātiḥah] in both loud and silent prayers.
It is mandatory (wājib) for the one reciting to recite the Fātiḥah, in two rak’āt of obligatory prayers and in all rak’āt of other prayers; to recite at least the equivalent of three short verses of the Qur’ān, in two rak’āt of obligatory prayers, and in all rak’āt of other prayers; and to make the above recitation (of the Fātiḥah and verses of the Qur’ān) in the first two rak’āt of obligatory prayers. - When leading others, recite quietly in the Ẓuhr and ‘Aṣr prayers, the last rak’ah of the Maghrib prayer, the last two rak’āt of the ‘Īsha’ prayer, and loudly in the first two rak’āt of these obligatory prayers.
- Recite “Bismillaah hir-Rahmaan nir-Raheem” [In the name of Allāh, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate] quietly before the Fātiḥah and say “Amīn” quietly after the Fātiḥah.
- This is obligatory. The minimum bowing is that one’s outstretched hands reach one’s knees. It is mandatory (wājib) to remain motionless therein, at least for a moment. It is sunnah for men to grip their knees with fingers spread out and pointing down, keeping legs ad back straight and then head level with the lower back. It is recommended to keep one’s gaze on the top of one’s feet.
- Recite the invocation of bowing three times. This is to say “Subhaana Rabbiyal adheem” (“Glory be to my Tremendous Lord”).
- Stand after the bowing. This is mandatory (wājib), as is remaining motionless for a moment. It is sunnah to say “Sami Allāh huleeman hameedah” (“Allāh hears those who praise Him”) as so begin to rising from bowing, if leading others or praying alone – followers do not say this. This is followed by saying “Rabbana wa lakal hamd” (“Our Lord, all praise is due to You”), which is said silently by the one following or praying alone – the imām may choose to say it silently as well.
- This is obligatory. It is mandatory that one make sure to place most of one’s forehead on the ground and also the nose, both hands, knees, and at least one toe of each foot. It is also mandatory to remain motionless therein for at least a moment. It is sunnah to say “Allāhu Akbar” (God is the greatest) as one begins to descend into prostration; to place one’s knees on the ground first, then hands, and then the face and nose. It is recommended for men to have their hands at head level in prostration, and for women to have them at shoulder level. It is sunnah for men to separate their abdomen from their thighs, elbows from the sides, and forearms from the ground. Women do the opposite, by keeping their abdomen close to their thighs, elbows close to their sides, and forearms on the ground, while keeping as low as comfortably possible. It is recommended to gaze toward the top of the nose.
- Recite the invocation of prostration three times, saying “Subhaana Rabbiyal a’laa” (“Glory be to my Exalted Lord”). This is a highly emphasized sunnah.
- After prostrating, sit up. It is minimally obligatory to raise the head from the prostration and mandatory to sit up such that you are closer to sitting than to prostration, while remaining motionless for at least a moment. The Sunnah is for men to sit on their left foot with the right foot propped up on the toes which face the direction of prayer. Women sit on their left buttock with right thigh on the left thigh and both feet coming out from the right side. It is sunnah to place the hands on the thighs, with the tops of the fingers ending at the beginning of the knee without bending. It is recommended to keep your gaze on your thighs.
- Prostrate a second time (as before). This is also obligatory for each rak’ah.
- Stand from prostration, for the next rak’ah. This is obligatory. It is sunnah to raise one’s face first, then hands, and then knees. Rise on the tops of your toes without sitting after the prostration and without support of one’s hands (unless out of physical need).
- The subsequent rak’āt are the same as the first, except that one does not raise one’s hands; one does not recite the opening supplications; nor does one seek refuge from the devil.
- After the two prostration of the second rak’ah, sit for the first sitting, as described above. This is mandatory (wājib). It is also mandatory to recite the testification of faith (tashahhud). It is sunnah to clasp one’s fingers when reciting “Ashhadu al laa ilaaha,” with the thumb on the side of one’s middle finger, and to raise the index finger; then lower the index finger when saying “illallah.”
- Stand (as explained above) for the third and fourth rak’āt in the Ẓuhr, ‘Aṣr, and ‘Īsha’ prayers, and only the third rak’ah in the Maghrib prayer. It is mandatory (wājib) to stand up without undue delay after reciting the testification of faith (tashahhud).
- All actions in the third and fourth rak’āt are the same as the first two rak’āt. It is sunnah to recite the Fātiḥah or to say “SubhanAllāh” three times in obligatory prayers when standing. In other prayers, it is mandatory (wājib) to recite both the Fātiḥah and at least the equivalent of three short verses.
- After the prostrations in one’s final rak’ah, it is obligatory to sit for the final sitting to the extent of reciting the testification of faith (tashahhud) normally. It is mandatory to actually recite the testification of faith completely. It is sunnah to raise the finger (as noted in the previous steps).
- After this send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ by reciting the Ṣalātul Ibrahīmiyya.
- Before giving the final salāms, it is sunnah to supplicate. Any short supplication fulfills the sunnah, though it is best to choose a supplication from the Qur’ān or Sunnah.
- End the prayer by giving salāms twice. This is mandatory (wājib). The sunnah is to say “Assalamu Alaykum waRahmatullah” (“May the Peace and Mercy of Allāh be upon you”) twice, while turning the head (only) to the right for the first and to the left for the second, intending to greet those in prayer with one (even when alone), while specifying the imām in one’s salāms in the direction he is in. It is recommended to turn such that either cheek is point back, and to look at the shoulders each time.