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Making Salat. The Way of the Sunnah.

Takbeer to Tasleem. Making Salat. The

Way of the Sunnah. Takbeer to

Tasleem. Making Salat. The Way of the

Sunnah. Takbeer to Tasleem. Making

Salat. The Way of the Sunnah. Takbeer

to Tasleem. Making Salat. The Way of

the Sunnah. Takbeer to Tasleem.


Takbeer to Tasleem. Making Salat. The

Way of the Sunnah. Takbeer to

Tasleem. Making Salat. The Way of the

Sunnah. Takbeer to Tasleem. Making

Salat. The Way of the Sunnah. Takbeer

to Tasleem. Making Salat. The Way of

the Sunnah. Takbeer to Tasleem.


A Step-by-Step Guide

to Make Salat

“As Though You See It”

From: Takbeer to Tasleem

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Preface

The information included in this document is created to help perfect our salat. Although

lengthy, it’s about ihsan (perfection).

The primary info in this file is extracted from Shaikh Naasir-ud-Deen Al-Albaani's book "The

Prophet's (pbuh) Prayer Described" (Printed in 2007, ISBN # 0953301915). Any secondary info is

taken from Shaykh Muhammad’s Al-Munajjid online “Islam Q&A” (http://islamqa.info/en). I ask

Allah to make this information sincerely for Him, and to help respected and honored brothers

and sisters in faith to benefit from it. For Allah is the Hearer and Answerer.

Since the purpose of this is to convey the guidance of the Prophet (pbuh) regarding prayer it

was elementary that I would not limit myself to a particular madhab. “And We have sent down

to you the Message, that you may explain clearly to the people what is sent for them”1.

Therefore, I would give whatever is authentically proved from the Prophet (pbuh), as has

always been the way of the scholars of Hadith. Any good you get from this is from Allah. Any

shortcomings, please forgive the author.

Before Starting Your Salat

Face the Ka’bah / Qibla2

Be in State of Ritual Purity (Wudu / Ablution)

Cover Parts of the Body known as “Aura”3

Be Fully Attentive in Heart and Mind

Pray in Front of an Object (Sutrah4)

Make your intention quietly in Your Mind and Heart.5

1 Surat an-Nahl, 16:44 2 When you stand for prayer, perform ablution perfectly, then face the qiblah and say Takbeer (collected by Bukhari, Muslim & Siraaj. 3 Aura: The part of the body which is illegal to keep naked before others. 4 Lit., “screen, cover”; in the context of prayer, it refers to an object just beyond the place of prostration, within which nothing should pass, as is detailed in this section. 5 He (pbuh) use to say: All actions are by intention, and every man shall have what he intended. Bukhari, Muslim and others. It is given in Irwaa’ (no. 22)

http://islamqa.info/en

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Starting Your Salat

Takbeer

Begin your Salat by raising your hands [not spaced out, nor together]”,6 to your shoulders7 (or

to the top of your ears8) and say “Allah u Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest). 9

6 Abu Daud, Ibn Khuzaimah (1/62/2, 64/1), Tammaan & Haakim who declared it shaeeh and Dhahabi agreed. 7 Bukhari & Nasaa’i. 8 Bukhari & Abu Daud. 9 Muslim & Ibn Maajah. The Hadith contains an indication that he did not use the commence it with the words of some people: “I intent to pray…etc.” which is in fact agreed to be an innovation. But they differ as to whether it is a good or bad innovation, to which we say: “Indeed all innovation in worship are misguided, from the generality of his statement (‘alaihis salaatu was salaam), ‘…and all innovations are misleading, and every misleading thing is in the fire’.” But this is not the place for a detailed discussion of this.

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Place the Right Arm on Top of Left Arm on Your Chest

“He (pbuh) used to place his right arm on his left arm”10

“He (pbuh) used to place them (hands) on his chest.”11

10 Muslim & Abu Daud, It is also given in Irwaa’ (352) 11 Abu Daud, Ibn Khuzaimah in his saheeh (1/54/2), Ahmad & Abu Shaikh in Taareekh Isbahaan (p125); Tirmidhi declared one of its isnaads hasan, and its meaning is found in Al-Muwatta’ and saheeh al Bukhari if considered carefully. The following book as been fully quoted the isnaads of this Hadith in Ahkaam al-Janaa’iz (p.118)

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Fix Your Sight At the Place of Prostration (Sujood / Sajdah)

“He (pbuh) used to incline his head during prayer and fix his sight towards the ground”12

“He used to forbid looking up at the sky”13

12 Baihaqi and Haakim, who declared it saheeh and it is as he said. It also has a strengthening Hadith reported by ten of his companions: transmitted by Ibn ‘Asaakir (17/202/2). See Irwaa (354). 13 Bukhari & Abu Daud.

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Opening Supplications (Dua Al-Istiftaah)

After saying “Allah u Akbar”, the prophet (pbuh) would commence his recitation with many

kinds of supplications in which he would praise Allah the Exalted, and glorify Him.

The most well known is number 1. (The rest are listed in Appendix 1 – Various Opening

Supplications).

1.

Transliteration

Subhaanak-Allahumma, wa biham-dika, wa tabaarakasmuka, wa ta'aalaa

jadduka, wa laa ilaaha ghayruka

Translation

I declare You free and far removed from all imperfections, O Allah, and all praise is for You.

Blessed is Your Name. Great and Exalted is Your Kingdom. None has the right to be worshipped

besides You.14

Seeking Refuge

Next, after a opening dua, he (pbuh), would begin by seeking refuge with Allah the Exalted, by saying: Transliteration

A’udu billahi minashaitanir rajim, Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Translation

I seek refuge in Allah from the outcast Satan, In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the

Most Merciful

14 Page 16 of Imam & Muhaddith Muhammad Naasirud-Deen Al Albaanee’s ‘The abridgement of the Prophet’s Prayer Described.

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Recitation of Surah Fatiah

Next, he (pbuh) would begin by reciting Surah al-Fatiah (Chapter # 1 in the Holy Quran) and would pause after each ayat (verse) until the end of the surah (chapter).15

Saying Ameen Quietly or Aloud?

When he (pbuh) finished reciting al- Fatiah, he would say: ("ameen") loudly, prolonging his voice.16

What to Recite After Surah al-Fatiah

Next, he (pbuh) would recite another surah (in Arabic) after al-Fatiah (from the Holy Quran) 17 18 19 20 21 22.

15 Abu Daud & Sahmi (64-65); Haakim declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreed. It is given in Irwaa’ (343). Abu ‘Amr ad-Daani transmitted it al-Muktafaa (5/2) and said: “This Hadith has many routes, and it is what is depended upon in this regard, and several of the past imams and reciters preferred to stop at every verse, even if some were connected (in meaning) to the one after.” I say: This is a sunnah which has been neglected by the majority of the reciters of this age, let alone others. 16 Bukhari in Juz’ al-Qiraa’ah & Abu Daud with a saheeh isnaad.

17 Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "He (pbuh) made it [i.e. the recitation] short one day in the dawn prayer." (In another hadith: he prayed the morning prayer and recited the two shortest soorahs in the Qur'aan.) So it was said: "O Messenger of Allah, why did you make it short?" He said: I heard the crying of a child, and I supposed that his mother was praying with us, so I wanted to free his mother for him. (Ahmad with a saheeh isnaad; the other Hadith was transmitted by Ibn Abi Dawood in al-Masaahif (4/12/2). This and other similar hadihs contain permission for infants to enter the mosque. As for the Hadith on many lips: “Keep you small children away from your mosques..”, it is da’eef, weak, and cannot be used for proof at all; among those who have declared it da’eef are Ibn al-Jawzi, Mundhiri, Haitami, Ibn Hajar al-Asqalaani and Boosayri. Abdul Haqq al-Ishbeeli said, “it is baseless”.

18 He also used to say: I enter into prayer intending to lengthen it, but I hear the crying of a child so I shorten my prayer because I know how deeply his mother feels about his crying. (Bukhari & Muslim)

19 He used to start from the beginnning of a soorah, completing it most of the time. (There are many ahadith mentioned further on which prove this.)

20 He used to say: Give every soorah its share of rukoo' and sujood. (Ibn Abi Shaibah (1/100/1), Ahmad & Abdul Ghani al-Maqdisi in his Sunan (9/2) with a saheeh isnaad. In another narration: Every soorah should have a rak'ah. (Ibn Nasr & Tahaawi with a saheeh isnaad; I take the meaning of the Hadith as: Make every rak’ah have a complete soorah. The order is one of preference, not compulsion, from the evidence which follows.)

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Rukoo (Bowing)

After completing two surahs (fatiah always being the first supplemented by another surah), he

(pbuh) would pause for a moment23, then raise his hands24 in the way described earlier under

the " Takbeer", say “Allah u Akbar”25, and make rukoo'.26 (See next section for “What is

Rukoo?”)

21 Sometimes the he (pbuh) would make the second surat long, sometimes shorter because of travel, cough, illness or the crying of infants. Sometimes he would divide the surah into two rak'ahs Ahmad & Abu Ya’laa from two routes. Also see “Reciation in Fajr Prayer” 22 And sometimes he would repeat the whole surah in the second rak'ah As he did in Fajr, as will follow. 23 Abu Daud & Haakim, who declared it saheeh & Dhahabi agreed. 24 Bukhari & Muslim. This raising of the hands is reported as mutawaatir from him (pbuh), as is the raising of the hands on straightening up after rukoo’. It is the madhab of the three Imams Maalik, Shaafi’I and Ahmad, and of the majority of scholars of Hadith and fiqh. Imam Maalik (ra) practiced it right up to his death, as reported by Ibn ‘Asaakir (15/78/2). Some of the Hanafis chose to do it, among them ‘Isaam bin Yusuf Abu ‘Asamah al-Balkhi (d. 210), a student of Imam Abu Yusuf (ra), as has been explained in the Introduction. ‘Abdullaah bin Ahmad reported from his faterh in his masaa’il (p.60), “it is related from ‘Uqbah bin ‘Aamir that he said about a man raising his hands during prayer, ‘He earns ten good deeds for each such movement’.” This is supported by the Hadith qudsi, “…he who intends a good deed and then does it, Allah writes it down with Himself as from ten to seven hundred good deeds”, transmitted by Bukhari & Muslim. See Saheeh at-Targheeb, no. 16. 25 Ibid. 26 Ibid.

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What is Rukoo?

When you make rukoo', place your palms on your knees, then space your fingers out.27

"When he made rukoo', he would spread his back and make it level"28, "such that if water were poured on it, it (the water) would stay there (i.e., not run off)."29

"He would neither let his head droop nor raise it (i.e. higher than his back)"30, but it would be in between.31

27 Ibn Khuzaimah & Ibn Hibbaan in their Saheehs. 28 Bukhari, and Baihaqi with a saheeh isnaad 29 Tabaraani in Mu’jam al-Kabeer and Mu’jam al-Sagheer, ‘Abdullaah b. Ahmad in Zawaa’id al-Musnad & Ibn Maajah. 30 Abu Daud & Bukhari in Juz’ al-Quraa’ah with a saheeh isnaad.

31 Muslim & Abu ‘Awaanah. The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) also used to say, The worst thief among men is the one who steals from his prayer. They said, "O Messenger of Allah, how does he steal from his prayer?" He said, He does not complete its rukoo' and sujood.31

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Rukoo Described

He would say different types of remembrance of Allah and supplication. The most common is

the first option. The rest are listed in Appendix 2 (Various Supplication / Duas During Rukoo).

1.

Transliteration (Say Three Times)

Subhana Rabbiyal 'atheem

Translation

How Perfect is my Lord, the Supreme!, three times.32

32 Ahmad, Abu Daud, Ibn Maajah, Daaraqutni, Tahaawi, Bazzaar, & Tabaraani in Mu`jam al-Kabeer, on the authority of seven Companions. Hence this refutes those who did not accept the specification of the glorifications to three times, such as Ibn al-Qayyim and others.

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Straightening Up From Rukoo & What to Say

Next, "he (pbuh) would straighten up his back out of rukoo', saying,

Transliteration

Sami'allahu liman hamidah

Translation

Allah listens to the one who praises Him.33

33 Bukhari & Muslim.

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Sujood / Sajdah (Prostration)

Next, "he (pbuh) would say “Allah u Akbar” and go down into Sajdah"34,

34 Bukhari & Muslim.

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What is Sujood / Sajdah?

"He used to place his hands on the ground before his knees."35 "He would support himself on

his palms [and spread them]"36, "put his fingers together"37, and "point them towards the

qiblah."38

"He used to put his knees and toes down firmly"39, "point with the front of the toes towards the qiblah"40, "put his heels together"41, "keep his feet upright"42, and "ordered likewise."43

35 Ibn Khuzaimah (1/76/1), Daaraqutni & Haakim, who declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreed. All the ahaadeeth which contradict this are inauthentic. This way has been endorsed by Maalik, and similar is reported from Ahmad in Ibn al-Jawzi's al-Tahqeeq (108/2). Also, al-Marwazi quoted with a saheeh isnaad, Imam al-Awzaa`i in his Masaa'il (1/147/1) as saying, "I found the people placing their hands before their knees." 36 Abu Daud & Haakim, who declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreed. 37 Ibn Khuzaimah, Baihaqi & Haakim, who declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreed. 38 Baihaqi with a saheeh isnaad. Ibn Abi Shaibah (1/82/2) & Siraaj have related the pointing of the toes in a different narration. 39 Baihaqi with a saheeh isnaad. Ibn Abi Shaibah (1/82/2) & Siraaj have related the pointing of the toes in a different narration. 40 Bukhari & Abu Daud. Ibn Sa`d (4/157) related from Ibn `Umar that he liked to point whatever of his body he could towards the qiblah when praying, even his thumbs. 41 Tahaawi, Ibn Khuzaimah (no. 654) & Haakim, who declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreed. 42 Baihaqi with a saheeh isnaad. 43 Tirmidhi & Siraaj; Haakim declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreed.

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"He would not rest his fore-arms on the ground"44, but "would raise them above the ground, and keep them away from his sides such that the whiteness of his armpits could be seen from behind"45, and also "such that if a small lamb or kid wanted to pass under his arms, it would have been able to do so."46

He also used to say, Do not spread your arms [the way a beast of prey does], rest on your palms and keep your upper arms apart, for when you do all that, every one of your limbs prostrates with you.47

44 Bukhari & Abu Daud. 45 Bukhari & Muslim. It is given in Irwaa' (359). 46 Muslim, Abu `Awaanah & Ibn Hibbaan. 47 Ibn Khuzaimah (1/80/2), al-Maqdisi in al-Mukhtaarah & Haakim, who declared it saheeh and Dhahabi agreed.

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What to say in Sujood / Sajdah?

(In the prostration position), He (pbuh) would say any one of the following remembrances of

Allah and supplications in this posture. The most common is the number 1. The rest are listed

in Appendix 4 (Various Saying During Sujood / Sajdah).

1.

Transliteration (Say Three Times)

Subhana Rabbiyal A'ala

Translation

How Perfect is my Lord, the Most High.48

48 Ahmad, Abu Daud, Ibn Maajah, Daaraqutni, Tahaawi, Bazzaar, & Tabaraani in Mu`jam al-Kabeer on the authority of seven different Companions. See also the note on thisdhikr under "Rukoo`".

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Rising from (First) Sujood / Sajdah

Next, Rise from the bowing position while saying “Allah u Akbar”49

49 "he (pbuh) would raise his head from prostration while saying takbeer"49, and he ordered "the one who prayed badly" to do that, saying, The prayer of any person is not complete until ... he prostrates until his limbs are at rest, then he says, 'Allah is the Greatest' and raises his head until he is sitting straight.49 Also, "he would raise his hands with this takbeer" sometimes.49

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Before Proceeding to Next Sujood / Sajdah

In this sitting, he (pbuh) would say:

1.

Transliteration

Rabbighfir lee, Rabbighfir lee

Translation

O my Lord! Forgive me, forgive me.50

50 Ibn Maajah with a hasan sanad. Imam Ahmad chose to supplicate with this one; Ishaaq bin Raahawaih said, "If he wishes, he can say this three times, or he can say O Allah! Forgive me ..., because both of them have been reported from the Prophet (pbuh) between the two sajdahs." (Masaa'il of Imam Ahmad & Ishaaq bin Raahawaih as related by Ishaaq al-Marwazi, p. 19).

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After First Sujood / Sajdah, Rise with Support of Hands for the Next Rakah

Next, "he (pbuh) would get up for the second rak'ah, supporting himself on the ground."51 Also,

"he would clench his fists52 during prayer: supporting himself with his hands when getting

up."53

The Second Rakaah

Next, When he (pbuh) got up for the second rak'ah, would begin with “Bismillahir Rahmanir

Rahim” and proceed to Surah al-Fatiah (Surah #1 in the Holy Quran).54

He would perform this rak'ah exactly as he performed the first, except that he would make it shorter than the first, as before (by reciting shorter surah’s).

51 Bukhari & Shaafiì . 52 Literally, "as one who kneads dough". 53 Abu Ishaaq al-Harbi with a faultless sanad, and its meaning is found in Baihaqi with a saheeh sanad. As for the hadith, "He used to get up like an arrow, not supporting himself with his hands", it is mawdoo` (fabricated), and all narrations of similar meaning are weak, not authentic, and I have explained this inSilsilah al-Ahaadeeth ad-Daèefah (562, 929, 968). 54 Muslim & Abu Àwaanah. The pause negated in this hadith could be a pause for reciting an opening supplication, and not include a pause for reciting the istiàadhah, or it could be wider in meaning than that; I find the former possibility more convincing. There are two views among the scholars regarding the istiàadhah, and we regard the correct one as being that it is to be said in every rakàh; the details of all this are given in al-Asl.

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How Many Rakah’s are Performed?

See Appendix 8 (Farrd /Obligatory Prayers), list how many Rakah’s are performed for each Farrd

(Obligatory) salat (prayer).

How Many Rakahs?

Appendix 8 states how many Rakah’s are required for each salat.

For a Two Rakah salat, perform the prayer as described above, then proceed to First & Second

Duas of Tashahhud (See below).

For a Three Rakah salat, perform the prayer as described above, then proceed to First Part of

Tashahhud. Rise to perform one additional rakah, then sit down to recite the First & Second

Part of Tashahhud.

For a Four Rakah salat, perform the prayer as described above, then proceed to First Part of

Tashahhud. Rise to perform two additional rakah, then sit down for the Second Part of

Tashahhud.

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First Part of Tashahhud

The following are several ways the Prophet (pbuh) taught us tashahhud. The most common is

number 1. The rest are listed in Appendix 5 (Various Supplication / Duas to Say During

Tashahhud).

1.

Transliteration

Attahiyatu lillahi wassalawatu wattaiyibat, assalamu 'alaika ayyuhannabiyyu

warahmatullahi wabarakatuhu. Assalamu 'alaina wa 'ala 'ibadiIlahissalihin. Ashhadu alla

ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu warasuluhu

Translation

All compliments55, prayers56 and pure words57 are due to Allah. Peace58 be on you, O Prophet,

and also the mercy of Allah and His blessings59. Peace be on us, and on the righteous slaves of

Allah. [For when one says that, it includes every righteous slave in the heaven and the earth.] I

bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I bear witness that

Muhammad is His slave and messenger.

55 Ar. tahiyyaat, i.e. "all words which imply peace, sovereignty and eternity, are due to Allah." (Nihaayah) 56 Ar. salawaat, i.e. "all supplications which are used to glorigy the majesty of Allah, for He is fully entitled to them, and none but Him is worthy of them." (Nihaayah) 57 Ar. tayyibaat, i.e. "all good and pure words suitable for praising Allah, not those ones incompatible with his attributes with which kings were greeted." (Fath al-Baari) 58 meaning seeking of refuge with Allah and being strengthened by him, since as-Salaam (Peace) is actually a name of Allah. Hence, the greeting effectively means: Allah be a watcher and safeguard over you. Similarly, it is said, "Allah be with you", i.e. in His safeguarding, help and favour. 59 A term for all the good continuously emanating from Allah.

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Upon Completion of First Part of Tashahhud

After completing the first part of Tashahhud, raise your right index finger and say the Shadah:

Transliteration

Ash-shadu anna Laa elaha illa lah. Ash-shadu anna Muhammadar Rasoolulah.

Translation

I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and I bear witness that

Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

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Second Part of Tashahhud

The second part of tashahhud is recited after the first part.

The most common is number 1. The rest are listed in Appendix 6 (Various Supplications / Duas

During the Second Part of Sitting During Tashahhud).

1.

Transliteration

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin, wa 'ala aali Muhammadin, kama sallaita 'ala Ibraheem

wa aali Ibraheem, innaka hameedun majeed. wa baarik 'ala Muhammadin, wa 'ala aali

Muhammadin, kama baarakta 'ala Ibraheem wa aali Ibraheem, innaka hameedun majeed.

Translation

O Allah! send prayers on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent prayers on

Ibraaheem, [and the family of Ibraaheem]; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. And

send blessings on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent blessings on

[Ibraaheem, and] the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.60

60 Ahmad, Nasaa'i & Abu Ya`laa in his Musnad (44/2) with a saheeh sanad.

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Supplication Before Exiting the Salat

After the Second Part of Tashahhud, He (pbuh) used to use different supplications in his

prayer61, supplicating with different ones at different times; he also endorsed other

supplications, and "ordered the worshipper to select of them what he wishes."62 They’re listed

in Appendix 7 (Supplication / Dua Before Exiting the Salat).

61 We have not said, "... in his tashahhud" because the text is "... in his prayer", not specifying either tashahhud or anything else. Hence, it covers all positions suitable for supplication, e.g. prostration and tashahhud; the instruction to supplicate in these two postures has been mentioned. 62 Bukhari & Muslim. Athram said, "I asked Ahmad: 'With what (words) should I supplicate after tashahhud ?' He said, 'As has been narrated.' I said, 'Didn't the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) say, "Then he should select whichever supplication he likes" ?' He said, 'He should select out of what has been narrated.' I repeated the question: he said, 'From what has been narrated'." This was quoted by Ibn Taymiyyah (Majmoo` al-Fataawaa 69/218/1), who endorsed it, adding, "Hence, 'whichever supplication' refers to the supplications which Allah loves, not to any supplication ..."; later he said, "Hence, it is best to say: (one should supplicate) with the approved, established supplications, and these are what have ben narrated and those that are beneficial." This is so, but to recognise which supplications are indeed beneficial depends on authentic knowledge, and this is rarely found among the people, so it is best to stick to the supplications quoted, especially when they include what the worshipper wishes to request. Allah knows best.

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The Tasleem and Exiting the Prayer

Next, in the sitting position he (pbuh) would turn to his right, then left and say

Transliteration

Assalamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullah

Translation

Peace and Allah's Mercy be on you.

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Last Words

This is the last of what has been possible to compile regarding the description of the Prophet's

prayer (pbuh) from the takbeer to the tasleem: I hope that Allah will make it sincerely for His

Face, Full of Honor, and a guide to the Sunnah of His kind and merciful Prophet.

Glorified be Allah, and Praised. Glorified be You, O Allah, and Praised. I bear witness that there

is no true god except You. I seek forgiveness from You and repent to You.

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