What to recite in salah: what to say in each position

What every school does

The four schools describe the same positions, in the same order. The takbir marks each move from one position to the next, and Al-Fatiha has its place in every rak‘ah.

The words of some dhikr vary slightly from one school to another: those on this page come from the app’s library, with their source.

The positions, one by one

For each position: what you do, then what you say. The text of a dhikr is given only with its source and grade; otherwise, its meaning is given.

1. The opening takbirtakbirat al-ihram

   Standing, you raise your hands and say the takbir: you enter the prayer, and from then on you speak only for it.

   What it means

   Declaring that Allah is greater than everything. The takbir then comes back at each change of position.

2. Standing: Al-Fatihaal-qiyam

   Standing calmly, you recite Al-Fatiha in every rak‘ah, then a surah or a few verses in the first two.

   

   1. بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

      bismi llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm

      In the name of Allāh, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

      Al-Fatiha 1:1

   2. ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ

      al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbi l-ʿālamīn

      [All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord of the worlds -

      Al-Fatiha 1:2

   3. ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

      ar-raḥmāni r-raḥīm

      The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,

      Al-Fatiha 1:3

   4. مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ

      māliki yawmi d-dīn

      Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.

      Al-Fatiha 1:4

   5. إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

      iyyāka naʿbudu wa'iyyāka nastaʿīn

      It is You we worship and You we ask for help.

      Al-Fatiha 1:5

   6. ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ

      ihdina ṣ-ṣirāṭa l-mustaqīm

      Guide us to the straight path -

      Al-Fatiha 1:6

   7. صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

      ṣirāṭa lladhīna 'anʿamta ʿalayhim ghayri l-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wala ḍ-ḍāllīn

      The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned [Your] anger or of those who are astray.

      Al-Fatiha 1:7

3. Bowingar-ruku‘

   You say the takbir and bow, back straight, hands on the knees, long enough to be at rest.

   

   What it means

   You glorify Allah, calling Him the Most Great: this is the tasbih of bowing, said at least once, often three times.

4. Rising from bowingat-tasmi‘

   You rise from bowing until you are fully upright.

   What it means

   You say that Allah hears whoever praises Him. The imam, and whoever prays without an imam, say it while rising.

5. Standing: the praiseat-tahmid

   Once fully upright, you praise Allah, then go down into prostration.

   

   What is said

   رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ، حَمْداً كَثيراً طَيِّباً مُبارَكاً فِيهِ

   Rabbanâ wa laka l-hamd, hamdan kathîran tayyiban mubârakan fîh

   Our Lord, to You belongs all praise: an abundant, good and blessed praise.

6. Prostrationas-sujud

   You say the takbir and prostrate: forehead and nose, both hands, the knees and the toes touch the ground.

   

   What it means

   You glorify Allah, calling Him the Most High: this is the tasbih of prostration, said at least once, often three times.

7. Sitting between the two prostrationsal-julus

   You rise saying the takbir, sit for a calm moment, then prostrate a second time in the same way.

   

   What is said

   رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

   Rabbi-ghfir lî, Rabbi-ghfir lî

   My Lord, forgive me. My Lord, forgive me.

8. The tashahhudat-tashahhud

   After the second rak‘ah, and at the end of the prayer, you sit for the tashahhud. In a prayer of 3 or 4 rak‘ahs, you then stand up for the rest.

   

   What is said

   التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ، وَالصَّلَواتُ، وَالطَّيِّباتُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسولُهُ

   At-tahiyyâtu lillâhi, wa s-salawâtu, wa t-tayyibât, as-salâmu 'alayka ayyuhâ n-nabiyyu wa rahmatu Llâhi wa barakâtuh, as-salâmu 'alaynâ wa 'alâ 'ibâdi Llâhi s-sâlihîn. Ash-hadu an lâ ilâha illâ Llâhu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasûluh

   All greetings, prayers and good deeds 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 worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.

9. Prayers upon the Prophet ﷺas-salat al-ibrahimiyya

   In the last sitting, after the tashahhud, you send prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ.

   What is said

   اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيتَ 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

   Allâhumma salli 'alâ Muhammadin, wa 'alâ âli Muhammadin, kamâ sallayta 'alâ Ibrâhîma, wa 'alâ âli Ibrâhîm, innaka hamîdun majîd, Allâhumma bârik 'alâ Muhammadin wa 'alâ âli Muhammadin, kamâ bârakta 'alâ Ibrâhîma wa 'alâ âli Ibrâhîm, innaka hamîdun majîd

   O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. You are worthy of praise and glory. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are worthy of praise and glory.

10. The final salamat-taslim

    You end the prayer by turning your head to the right, then, for most schools, to the left.

    

    What it means

    With each salam, you wish peace and the mercy of Allah.

The four schools, all valid

Which surah after Al-Fatiha?

In the first two rak‘ahs, you recite a surah or a few verses after Al-Fatiha. To begin with, a short surah is enough.

• Short surahs for salah, with their length
• Al-Fatiha: text, transliteration and audio