Step On How To Perform Salat Like The Prophet

Salat is one of the five pillars of Islam; it is one of the essential and important of all after the shahadah (testifying to the oneness of Allah).

Salat needs to be performed accurately as it has been directed by Allah through our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Below are step by step on how to perform salat like the Prophet (peace be upon him) plus the etiquettes of praying:

1. PRAY AS YOU HAVE SEEN ME PRAYING

Narrated byAbu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "The Imam is to be followed. Say the Takbir when he says it; bow if he bows; if he says 'Sami a-l-lahu Liman hamida', say, ' Rabbana wa-laka-l-hamd', prostrate if he prostrates and pray sitting altogether if he prays sitting."

[Sahih Bukhari]

2. MAKING INTENTION

The person should make Niyah (intention), The intention is made within his mind, he should not utter the words of Niyah aloud.

Narrated 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intention and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended.

(Sahih Bukhari)

3. QIBLAH (DIRECTION)

Turn your face in the direction of Al-Masjid- al-Haram.

(Surah Baqarah 2:144)

Facing towards Qiblah (Kabah) is a very important condition of performance of Salat. However, if the person is in a place such as a desert, jungle, unknown strange city or a place where he does not know the direction of the Qiblah, he should try his best to find out the direction of Qiblah from others. However, if it is not possible then he should use his judgment and face in a direction which he thinks is that of Qiblah and Allah will accept his Solaat.

It is important to start the Solaat facing the direction of Qiblah and it does not matter if his direction changes while he is praying e.g. in a ship, a train or an airplane, e.t.c.

4. TAKBIR TAHRIMAH

The person should start his Solaat saying ''Allaahu Akbar'' (Allaah is the greatest), Rasing both of his hands to the level of his shoulders, till earlobes.

Narrated by Malik Ibn Huwairith (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) "raised his hands opposite the shoulders at the time of beginning the prayer"

[Sahih Bukhari]

5. WHERE TO PLACE HAND DURING PRAYER (SOLAAT)

Narrated By Tawus (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) "used to place his right hand on his left hand, then he folded them strictly on his chest in prayer".

[Abu-Dawood]

6. DON'T LOOK TOWARDS THE SKY

Throughout the Salat the eyes of the worshipper should point to the spot where the forehead rests in Sajdah.

Narrated by Anas bin Malik (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "What is wrong with those people who look towards the sky during the prayer?" His talk grew stern while delivering this speech and he said, "They should stop (looking towards the sky during the prayer); otherwise their eye-sight would be taken away."

(Sahih Bukhari)

7. RECITATION BEFORE FATIHAH

There are several Du'aa which the Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) used to recite before Fatihah. I will mention two of them:

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) "used to keep silent between the Takbir and the recitation of Qur'an and that interval of silence used to be a short one. I asked the Messenger of Allaah "What do you say in the pause between Takbir and recitation?" The Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) said, "I say, 'Allaahumma, ba'id baini wa baina khatayaya kama ba'adta baina-l-mashriqi wa-l-maghrib.

Allahumma, naqqim min khatayaya kama yunaqqa-ththawbu-l-abyadu mina-ddanas. Allaahumma, ighsil khatayaya bil-ma'i wa-th-thalji wal-barad

(O Allaah! Set me apart from my sins (faults) as the East and West are set apart from each other and clean me from sins as a white garment is cleaned of dirt (after thorough washing).

(O Allaah! Wash off my sins with water, snow and hail.)"

[Sahih Muslim]

8. TAAWUDH

So when you want to recite the Qur'ân, seek refuge with Allâah from Shaitân (Satan), the outcast (the cursed one).

[Qur'an 16:98]

''Audhu billahi mina shaitaan nir rajeem"

(I seek refuge in Allaah from the rejected Satan)

“A’oodhu Billaahi min al-Shaytaan il-rajeem, min hamzihi wa nafkhihi wa nafathihi

(I seek refuge with Allaah from the accursed Satan, from his madness, his arrogance and his poetry),”

“A’oodhu Billaah il-Samee’ il-A’leem min al-Shaytaan…

(I seek refuge with Allaah, the All-Hearing, All-Knowing, from the Shaytaan).”

This should only be said in the first raka'at.

9. TASMIYAH

''Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim''

(In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, and the Most Merciful)

(silently)

Narrated by Anas Ibn Malik (may Allaah be pleased with him) that "I observed prayer behind the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) and Abu Bakr and Umar and 'Uthman. They started (loud recitation) with: AI-hamdu lillahi Rabb al-'Alamin [All Praise is due to Allaah, the Lord of the worlds] and did not recite Bismillah ir- Rahman-ir-Rahim (loudly) at the beginning of the recitation or at the end of it.

[Sahih Muslim]

10. RECITATION OF SURAH FATIHAH BEHIND AN IMAM

Narrated by 'Ubada bin As-Samit (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Whoever does not recite Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid."

[Sahih Muslim]

11. AMEEN SHOULD BE SAID LOUDLY

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him).said, "When the Imam says: 'Ghair-il-Maghdubi 'Alaihim Walad-Dallin (i.e. not the path of those who earn Your Anger, nor the path of those who went astray Surah Faitha ch.1.v.7) then you must say, 'Ameen', for if one's utterance of 'Ameen' coincides with that of the angels, then his past sins will be forgiven."

[Sahih Muslim]

12. RAISING OF HAND IN PRAYER

Narrated by Ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) "used to raise his hands when he began to pray, when he wanted to bow, when he raised his head from bowing, and when he stood up after the first two rak'ahs, he would raise his hands likewise, level with his shoulders.

[Sunan Nassai]

13. DUA IN RUKOO

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When one of you bows, he should say three time,:('Subhana Rabiyy al-'Adheem) "glory be to my mighty lord,"

[Abu Dawood]

14. OTHER DUA IN RUKOO

Narrated by 'AIsha (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) "used to say In hIs bowIng and prostratIons, "Subhanaka-Allahumma Rabbana wa-bIhamdIka Allahumma-IghfIrlI.'

I honor Allaah from all what (unsuItable thIngs) Is ascrIbed to HIm. O Allaah Our Lord! And all the praises are for You. O Allaah! ForgIve me).

[Sahih Bukhari]

15. IT IS NOT PERMISSIBLE TO RECITE QURAN IN RUKOO

Narrated by Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) "forbade me to recite (the Qur'an) in a state of bowing and prostration"

[Sahih Muslim]

16. QAWMAH (STANDING AFTER RUKU'U)

After the perfect Ruku'u, the person praying should raise his head from Ruku'u saying "Sami'a-l-lahu Liman hamida."

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (Allaah be pleased with him) that When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Sami' a-l-lahu Liman hamida," (Allah heard those who sent praises to him)

[Sahih Bukhari]

17. DU'A QAWMAH

Narrated by Rifa'a bin Rafi AzZuraqi (may Allaah be pleased witg him) that One day we were praying behind the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) When he raised his head from bowing, he said, "Sami'a-l-lahu Liman hamida." A man behind him said, "Rabbana walaka-l hamd hamdan Kathiran taiyiban mubarakan fihi"

(O our Lord! All the praises are for You, many good and blessed praises). When the Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) completed the prayer, he asked, "Who has said these words?" The man replied, "I." The Messenger of Allaah said, "I saw over thirty angels competing to write it first."

[Sahih Bukhari]

18. HANDS FIRST OR KNEES FIRST IN SUJOOD (PROSTRATION)

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be uoon him) said: 'When one of you prostrates, let him put his hands down before his knees, and not kneel like a camel.'"

[Sunan Nassai]

19. FIRST SAJDAH (PROSTRATION)

After the perfect Qawmah the person praying should move to perform Sajdah saying: "Allaahu akbar" putting palms downwards on the ground below the ears. The knees should be brought downwards on the ground. His fingers and toes should be pointing towards Qiblah without spreading the fingers of the hands.

Narrated by Anas bin Malik (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "Be straight in the prostrations and none of you should put his forearms on the ground (in the prostration) like a dog."

[Sahih Bukhari]

During prostration seven parts of the body should touch the ground.

(1) The forehead along with the tip of the nose

(2) (3) both hands

(4) (5) both knees

(6) (7) the bottom surface of the toes of both feet.

(Sahih Bukhari)

In this position, he should say

''Subhana rabbil Allaah"

("Oh, Allaah, glory be to You, the Most High.")

There are some other Du'aa which can be read in the Sajdah position.

Naarrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state).

[Sahih Muslim]

Narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say while prostrating himself: O Lord, forgive me all my sins, small and great, first and last, open and secret.

[Sahih Muslim]

20. JALSAH (SITTING BETWEEN TWO SAJDAH)

After performing one Sajdah perfectly and calmly, the person praying should raise his head form Sajdah saying "Allahu Akbar" bending the left foot and sitting on it while keeping the right foot propped up with its toes pointing towards the Qiblah, the palms of his hands should rest on his thighs and knees, the back should be straight so that the joints go back in place.

Narrated by Abu Mas'ud (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'The prayer is not valid if a man does not bring his backbone to rest while bowing and prostrating.'"

[Sunan Nassai]

It is sunnah to say the following Du'aa while sitting in between the two Sajdah:

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allaah be pleased with him that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and and blessings be upon him) used to say between the two prostrations: "(Allaahumma ighfir li warhamni wajburni wahdini warzuqni )

O Allaah, forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, heal me, and provide for me."

[Abu Dawood]

21. SECOND SAJDAH

Then the person should perform the second Sajdah saying "Allah Akbar" and repeat what he did in the first Sajdah.

22. JALSAH-E-ISTARAHAT (SITTING FOR REST)

Then he should raise his head up saying "Allaahu Akbar" and sit for a short while as he did in Jalsah. He does this before standing up for the second Rakat.

Narrated by Malik bin Huwairith Al-Laithi (may Allaah be pleased with him) that "I saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) praying and in the odd Rakat, he used to sit for a moment before getting up''

(Sahih Bukhari)

23. SECOND RAKAT

After standing up for the second Rakaat, he should fold his hands over his chest as he did in the first Rakaat and start his recitation by reading "Bismillah..and Surah Fatihah followed by any passage or a chapter of the holy Quran." Then he should complete his second Rakaat in the manner of the first one.

24. FIRST TASHAHUD

Narrated by Abu Humaid As-Saidi (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) On sitting in the second Rak'a he sat on his left foot and propped up the right one; and in the last Rak'a he pushed his left foot forward and kept the other foot propped up and sat over the buttocks."

[Sahih Bukhari]

25. RECITATION IN TASHAHUD

Narrated by 'Abdullah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that When we prayed with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) we used to say: As-Salam be on Allaah from His worshipers, As-Salam be on Gabriel, As-Salam be on Michael, As-Salam be on so-and-so. When the Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) ger finished his prayer, he faced us and said, "Allaah Himself is As-Salam (Peace), so when one sits in the prayer, one should say, 'At-Tahiyatu-lillahi Was-Salawatu, Wat-Taiyibatu, As-Salamu 'Alaika aiyuhan-Nabiyyu wa Rah-matul-lahi wa Barakatuhu, As-Salamu 'Alaina wa 'ala 'Ibadillahi assalihin, for if he says so, then it will be for all the pious slave of Allaah in the Heavens and the Earth. (Then he should say), 'Ash-hadu an la ilaha illalllahu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'Abduhu wa rasulu-hu,' and then he can choose whatever speech (i.e. invocation) he wishes"

[Sahih Bukhari]

26. MOVING THE FOREFINGER DURING TASHAHUD

Narrated by Ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) that:

When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) sat during the prayer, he put his hands on his knees and raised the finger that is next to the thumb, and supplicates with it, and his left hand was on his knee laid on it. (Sahih)

[Sunan Nassai]

27. IT IS SUNNAH TO LOOK AT YOUR FINGER WHILE MOVING

Narrated by 'Abdullah bin 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) that he saw a man moving pebbles with his hand while praying. When he finished, 'Abdullaah said to him: "Do not move the pebbles while you are praying, for that is from Shaitan. Rather do what the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do." He said: "What did he used to do?" He said: "He would put his right hand on his right thigh, and point with the finger that is next to the thumb toward the Qiblah, and he would look at it, or thereabouts." Then he said: "This is what I saw the Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) doing."

[Sunan Nassai]

28. AT THE END OF THE LAST RAKAT, ADD THE FOLLOWING TO THE END OF TASHAHUD

Narrated by Abdur-Rahman bin Abi Laila (may Allaah be pleased with him) that Ka'b bin Ujrah met me and said, "Shall I not give you a present I got from the Messenger of Allaah?" 'Abdur-Rahman said, "Yes, give it to me." I said, "We asked the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him): 'O Messenger of Allaah! How should one (ask Allaah to) send blessings on you, the members of the family, for Allaah has taught us how to salute you (in the prayer)?' He said, (“Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama salayta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem, innaka hameedun majeed.

Allaahumma baarik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem, innaka hameedun majeed

O Allaah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibraaheem and upon the family of Ibraaheem)

'Say: O Allaah! Send Your Mercy on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your Mercy on Abraham and on the family of Abraham, for You are the Most Praise-worthy, the Most Glorious.

O Allaah! Send Your blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent your blessings on Abraham and on the family of Abraham, for You are the Most Praise-worthy, the Most Glorious.' "

[Sahih Bukhari]

29. AFTER THE TASHAHUD AND BEFORE THE SALAAM READ THIS DUA

Narrated 'by Aisha (may Allaah be pleased with her) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to invoke Allaah in the prayer saying "Allaahumma inni a'udhu bika min adhabil-qabri, wa a'udhu bika min fitnatil-masihid-dajjal, wa a'udhu bika min fitnatil-mahya wa fitnatil-mamati.

Allaahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-ma thami wal-maghrami.

(O Allaah, I seek refuge with You from the punishment of the grave and from the afflictions of Masi,h Ad-dajjal and from the afflictions of life and death.

O Allaah, I seek refuge with You from the sins and from being in debt)." Somebody said to him, "Why do you so frequently seek refuge with Allaah from being in debt?" The Messenger of Allaah (pbuh) replied, "A person in debt tells lies whenever he speaks, and breaks promises whenever he makes (them)." 'Aisha also narrated: I heard Allah's Apostle in his prayer seeking refuge with Allah from the afflictions of Ad-dajjal.

[Sahih Bukhari]

30. TASLIM AT THE COMPLETION OF THE PRAYER

Narrated by Amir b. Sa'd (may Allaah be pleased with him) that I saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings be upon him) pronouncing taslim on his right and on his left till I saw the whiteness of his cheek.

[Sahih Muslim]

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