Posture 1 — An-Niyyah (The Intention)

Standing calmly, facing the qiblah, the prayer is dedicated in the heart before a single word is spoken.

نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ رَكْعَتَيْ صَلَاةِ الْفَجْرِ فَرْضًا لِلّٰهِ تَعَالَىٰ

Example shown for the two rak’ah fard of Fajr.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Transliteration

Nawaytu an usalliya rak’atay salatil-Fajri fardan lillahi ta’ala

English Translation

I intend to pray the two rak’ah of the Fajr prayer, fard, for Allah the Most High.

Posture 2 — At-Takbir (The Opening Takbir)

The hands are raised and the prayer begins with the declaration of Allah’s greatness.

اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

Word-by-Word Meaning

Transliteration

Allahu Akbar

English Translation

Allah is the Greatest.

Posture 3 — Al-Qiyam (The Standing)

Standing before Allah with hands folded, the recitation of the prayer begins.

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ

Word-by-Word Meaning

Transliteration

Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabaraka-smuka, wa ta’ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk

English Translation

Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise belongs to You; blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god worthy of worship besides You.

Recitation in Qiyam — Surah Al-Fatihah

The recitation is made in the same standing posture, with hands folded and the gaze lowered.

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ۝ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ۝ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ۝ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ

صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

Word-by-Word Meaning

Word-by-Word Meaning — Surah Al-Ikhlas

Transliteration

Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil-‘alamin • Ar-Rahmanir-Rahim • Maliki yawmid-din • Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’in • Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim • Siratal-ladhina an’amta ‘alayhim • Ghayril-maghdubi ‘alayhim wa lad-dallin

English Translation

All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds • The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful • Master of the Day of Judgement • You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help • Guide us along the straight path • The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor • Not of those who have earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray.

Posture 4 — Ar-Ruku’ (The Bowing)

Bending at the waist with a level back, hands gripping the knees, glorifying the Magnificent.

اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ (while bending)

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

Word-by-Word Meaning

Transliteration

Allahu Akbar (moving into the bow), then: Subhana Rabbiyal-‘Azim (recited three times)

English Translation

Allah is the Greatest — then: Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.

Posture 5 — As-Sajdah (The Prostration)

The forehead touches the ground — the servant’s closest moment to the Lord.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَىٰ

Word-by-Word Meaning

Transliteration

Subhana Rabbiyal-A’la (recited three times)

English Translation

Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

Posture 6 — At-Tashahhud (The Sitting Testimony)

Sitting in stillness — greetings, salutations, and the renewal of the testimony of faith.

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ،

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِينَ،

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Word-by-Word Meaning

Transliteration

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 illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.

English Translation

All greetings, prayers, and pure words 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 except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.

Posture 7 — Ad-Durud (Salutations upon the Prophet)

In the final sitting, blessings are invoked upon Muhammad ﷺ and his family, as they were upon Ibrahim.

اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Word-by-Word Meaning

In the second half of the Durud, only two words change: بَارِكْ (bless) replaces صَلِّ, and بَارَكْتَ (You blessed) replaces صَلَّيْتَ.

Transliteration

Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid.

Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid.

English Translation

O Allah, exalt Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You exalted Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; indeed You are Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; indeed You are Most Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.

Posture 8 — As-Salam (The Closing Salutation)

The prayer ends as it began in the heart — now carrying peace outward, to the right and to the left.

اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ

Said turning the face to the right, then again to the left.

Word-by-Word Meaning

Transliteration

As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah (to the right, then to the left)

English Translation

Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.