A silent intention in the heart to pray this specific prayer — not spoken aloud, and nothing is memorized for it. Salah begins the moment this intention is formed.
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🙌🏿Takbiratul Ihram — Opening Declaration
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the Greatest
Said standing, hands raised to shoulder or ear level, then folded. This single phrase formally opens the prayer — everyday speech, eating, and unrelated movement are now off-limits until it ends.
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🧍🏿Qiyam — Standing & Recitation
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy
Standing with hands folded, Surah Al-Fatiha is recited — required in every raka'ah — usually followed by a short second surah in the first two raka'at of a prayer.
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🙇🏿Ruku — Bowing
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem
Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent
Bowing from the hips with a flat back, hands resting on the knees, said three times at minimum — a posture of humility before standing back up.
Allah hears whoever praises Him; our Lord, to You belongs all praise
Standing back up fully upright before moving into prostration — a brief pause of gratitude, not a rushed transition.
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🕌Sujud — Prostration
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal A'la
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High
Forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes all touching the ground — the physically lowest, and spiritually closest, position in the whole prayer, done twice per raka'ah.
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🧎🏿Julus — Sitting Between the Two Prostrations
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbighfirli
My Lord, forgive me
A brief sitting pause between the first and second prostration of each raka'ah — short, but not skipped, keeping every position distinct rather than blurred together.
At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat, as-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, as-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-salihin, ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh
All greetings, prayers, and good deeds are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
Recited sitting, after the second and fourth raka'ah (or the second and last, in a 3-raka'ah prayer) — the declaration of faith (Shahadah) sits at its heart, with the index finger raised while saying it.
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💫As-Salawat al-Ibrahimiyyah — Blessings on the Prophet
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala aali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majeed
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim — You are truly Praiseworthy and Glorious.
Recited right after Tashahhud, only in the FINAL sitting of a prayer — not the middle one. It links the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to the earlier blessing given to Ibrahim ﷺ and his family.
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👋🏿Taslim — Closing Salutation
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah
Peace and the mercy of Allah be upon you
Said once turning the head to the right, then again turning to the left — greeting the angels and everyone present, and formally closing the prayer.
