V2 draft — Awaiting Scholar Review. This is a reusable learning resource that supports Lesson 17. The Arabic, transliteration, sequence and fiqh notes should be reviewed with the Salah lesson before final release.
Use this page while you practise and memorize the words of Salah. You do not need to memorize everything at once.
A good order for a beginner: learn the movement sequence first, then the short phrases, work steadily on Al-Fatihah, learn the tashahhud phrase by phrase, and finally add the concluding recitations and after-prayer adhkar.
1 — Opening the prayer
When: to begin Salah
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Say: Allāhu Akbar
Meaning: Allah is greater.
2 — Al-Fatihah
Al-Fatihah is the central Qur'anic recitation in Salah. Learn it carefully and steadily.
Al-Fatihah — Surah 1
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
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
Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm.
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi Rabbil-ʿālamīn.
Ar-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm.
Māliki yawmid-dīn.
Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn.
Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm.
Ṣirāṭalladhīna anʿamta ʿalayhim ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn.
In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help. Guide us along the Straight Path, the path of those You have blessed — not those You are displeased with, or those who are astray.
If you cannot recite Al-Fatihah yet
If you have only just become Muslim and genuinely cannot yet recite Qur'an, do not delay beginning your prayers while you learn. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught remembrance to a man who could not memorize Qur'an.
Temporary beginner guidance while actively learning Al-Fatihah
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَلَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللَّهِ
Say: Subḥān Allāh, wal-ḥamdu lillāh, wa lā ilāha illā Allāh, wallāhu Akbar, wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.
Meaning: Glory be to Allah; all praise belongs to Allah; there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah; Allah is greater; and there is no power and no strength except through Allah.
From the Sunnah
The Prophet ﷺ taught these words to a man who said that he could not memorize anything from the Qur'an.
Sunan Abi Dawud 832
Scholar-review priority: The Prophetic basis for temporary remembrance when a person cannot recite Qur'an is established. The exact beginner procedure — including repetition and application in each rak'ah — should be confirmed during scholar review.
3 — Bowing and rising
When: while in ruku' — bowing
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Say: Subḥāna Rabbiyal-ʿAẓīm
Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.
When: rising from ruku'
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Say: Samiʿ Allāhu liman ḥamidah
Meaning: Allah hears the one who praises Him.
Then, while standing upright
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Say: Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd
Meaning: Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise.
When following an Imam: this transition has an important distinction from the other movement cues. Lesson 17 explains how the Imam and people following him use these words.
4 — Prostration and the sitting between prostrations
When: in sujood — prostration
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Say: Subḥāna Rabbiyal-Aʿlā
Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
When: sitting between the two prostrations
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Say: Rabbighfir lī
Meaning: My Lord, forgive me.
5 — Tashahhud
In a three- or four-rak'ah obligatory prayer, the tashahhud is recited after the second rak'ah before standing again. It is also recited in the final sitting of every prayer.
When: sitting after rak'ah 2 when applicable, and again in the final sitting
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 وَرَسُولُهُ
Say: At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu an lā ilāha illā Allāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh.
Meaning: All greetings, prayers and good things belong to 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 testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
6 — Salat Ibrahimiyyah
In the final sitting, after the tashahhud, send blessings upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
When: final sitting, after Tashahhud
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 إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Say: Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā 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, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed Praiseworthy, Glorious.
7 — Supplication before Taslim
When: in the final sitting, before Taslim
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ، وَمِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ
Say: Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika min ʿadhābi Jahannam, wa min ʿadhābil-qabr, wa min fitnatil-maḥyā wal-mamāt, wa min sharri fitnatil-Masīḥid-Dajjāl.
Meaning: O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell, from the punishment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the evil of the trial of the False Messiah.
From the Sunnah
The Prophet ﷺ instructed that after completing the final tashahhud, a person should seek refuge with Allah from these four things.
Sahih Muslim 588
8 — Taslim
When: to end Salah
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
Say: As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh
Meaning: Peace and the mercy of Allah be upon you.
Turn to the right and give the taslim, then to the left. The obligatory Salah has now ended.
9 — Adhkar after the obligatory Salah
These remembrances come after the obligatory prayer has ended. They are not additional rak'ahs and are not part of the obligatory Salah itself.
Astaghfirullah — three times
After Taslim — 3 times
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ
Say: Astaghfirullāh
Meaning: I seek Allah's forgiveness.
Then say:
After Astaghfirullah — once
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ تَبَارَكْتَ ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
Say: Allāhumma anta as-Salām, wa minka as-salām, tabārakta dhal-jalāli wal-ikrām.
Meaning: O Allah, You are Peace, and from You is peace. Blessed are You, Possessor of Majesty and Honour.
From the Sunnah
When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ finished his prayer, he sought Allah's forgiveness three times and then said this remembrance.
Sahih Muslim 591
Ayat al-Kursi
Al-Baqarah 2:255
اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ ۚ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ ۚ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ ۗ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ ۚ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ ۖ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ ۚ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ ۖ وَلَا يَئُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ
Allāhu lā ilāha illā Huwa, al-Ḥayyul-Qayyūm. Lā ta'khudhuhu sinatun wa lā nawm. Lahu mā fis-samāwāti wa mā fil-arḍ. Man dhal-ladhī yashfaʿu ʿindahu illā bi-idhnih. Yaʿlamu mā bayna aydīhim wa mā khalfahum, wa lā yuḥīṭūna bi-shay'in min ʿilmihi illā bimā shā'. Wasiʿa kursiyyuhus-samāwāti wal-arḍ, wa lā ya'ūduhu ḥifẓuhumā, wa Huwal-ʿAliyyul-ʿAẓīm.
Allah — there is no deity worthy of worship except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what is behind them, and they encompass nothing of His knowledge except what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and preserving them does not tire Him. He is the Most High, the Magnificent.
Scholar-review note: The report about reciting Ayat al-Kursi after every obligatory prayer is recorded by al-Nasa'i and was authenticated by Ibn Hibban; later hadith scholars have also authenticated it. Its grading and the wording used to describe its virtue should be confirmed in final scholar review.
Tasbih after Salah
33 times
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ
Say: Subḥānallāh
Meaning: Glory be to Allah.
33 times
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
Say: Alḥamdulillāh
Meaning: All praise belongs to Allah.
33 times
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Say: Allāhu Akbar
Meaning: Allah is greater.
That makes 99. Complete 100 by saying once:
Once — to complete 100
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Say: Lā ilāha illā Allāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamd, wa Huwa ʿalā kulli shay'in qadīr.
Meaning: There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty and all praise, and He has power over everything.
From the Sunnah
The Prophet ﷺ taught saying Subhanallah thirty-three times, Alhamdulillah thirty-three times and Allahu Akbar thirty-three times after every prayer, then completing one hundred with the declaration of Allah's oneness above.
Sahih Muslim 597
The protecting surahs
The Prophet ﷺ commanded recitation of the Mu'awwidhat after every prayer:
- Surah Al-Ikhlas — Surah 112
- Surah Al-Falaq — Surah 113
- Surah An-Nas — Surah 114
From the Sunnah
Uqbah ibn Amir رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded him to recite the Mu'awwidhat after every prayer.
Sunan Abi Dawud 1523 — graded Sahih
Do not try to memorize this entire resource in one sitting. Keep this page available on your phone and return to it. A small amount learned carefully and used consistently is better than becoming overwhelmed and giving up.
Use this with Lesson 17
This page helps you memorize the words. Lesson 17 teaches where the words fit into the physical prayer, how the rak'ahs differ, and how to follow an Imam.
Return to Lesson 17 — How to Pray — Step by Step
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