How to pray namaz
One rak‘ah, in order, and what is said in each position
-
Step 1
Stand facing the qiblah and say the opening takbir
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
How to say it
Allahu akbar
What it means
Allah is the greatest.
Raise both hands to the ears, then fold them.
-
Step 2
Read the thana
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
How to say it
Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta‘ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk.
What it means
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.
-
Step 3
Read Surah al-Fatihah, then another surah
A second surah is read in the first two rak‘ahs of the fard prayer, and in every rak‘ah of sunnah and nafl.
-
Step 4
Bow in ruku and say it three times
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
How to say it
Subhana Rabbiyal ‘azeem
What it means
Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.
-
Step 5
Stand up straight again
سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ ، رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ
How to say it
Sami‘ Allahu liman hamidah — Rabbana lakal hamd
What it means
Allah hears the one who praises Him. Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.
-
Step 6
Go into sajdah and say it three times
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
How to say it
Subhana Rabbiyal a‘la
What it means
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Sit up briefly, then make the second sajdah the same way.
-
Step 7
In the sitting, read the tashahhud
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِينَ ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
How to say it
At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-salihin. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.
What it means
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 bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
-
Step 8
Then read the darood sharif
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
How to say it
Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahima innaka Hamidum Majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahima innaka Hamidum Majid.
What it means
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. Truly You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Truly You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
Read in the last sitting of every namaz, straight after the tashahhud. In three and four rak‘ah prayers the first sitting has the tashahhud only — stand up for the next rak‘ah after it.
-
Step 9
Make a short du‘a before the salam
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
How to say it
Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina ‘adhaban-nar.
What it means
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Any du‘a from the Qur’an or the sunnah may be read here. This one is the most commonly taught.
-
Step 10
Finish with the salam to both sides
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ
How to say it
As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah
What it means
Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.
Fard rak‘ahs: Fajr 2, Zuhr 4, Asr 4, Maghrib 3, Isha 4. In three and four rak‘ah prayers, stand again after the first sitting.
Prepared for the people of this masjid. Where practice differs, follow what your Maulana teaches.