01
Find Meaning in Your Prayer:
What to Say
in Salat
Transliterations and Translations
A comprehensive guide to the
meanings of the words we say
in the entire Salat
02
Before You Begin:
The Iqamah
Allahu Akbar (x2) God is greater
Ash-hadu alla ilaha illallah
I testify that there is no god but God
Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar-
rasulullah I testify that Muhammad is
the Messenger of God
Hayya ‘alas-salat, Hayya ‘alal-falah
Come to prayer, come to success
Qad qamatis-salat (x2)
The time for prayer has come
Allahu Akbar (x2) God is greater
La ilaha illallah
There is no god but God
03
Takbiratul Ihram
Allahu Akbar God is greater
What is the Takbiratul-Ihram?
The opening, sacred proclamation
of God’s greatness
Say, ‘Praise belongs to God, who has
no child nor partner in His rule. He is
not so weak as to need a protector.
Proclaim His limitless greatness!’
[Chapter 17, The Night Journey,
Verse 111]
04
Let Your Heart Tremble
True believers are those whose
hearts tremble with awe when God
is mentioned, whose faith increases
when His revelations are recited to
them, who put their trust in their
Lord, who keep up the
prayer and give to others out of
what We provide for them. Those
are the ones who truly believe. They
have high standing with their Lord,
forgiveness and generous provision.
[Chapter 8, Battle Gains, Verses 2-4]
05
Opening Invocation
Du’a al-istiftah (opening invocation)
or Thana (statement of praise)
Subhanak-Allahumma
God, how perfect You are
Wa bi hamdika
And Yours is the praise
Wa tabarak-asmuka
How blessed is Your name
Wa ta’ala jadduka
How lofty is Your status
Wa la ilaha gharuk(a)
There is no god other than You
06
A’udhu billahi
I take refuge in God
minash-Shaytanir-rajim
from Satan, the rejected one
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim
In the name of God, the Lord of
mercy, the Giver of mercy
Surah al-Fatihah
Alhamdulillahi Rabbil-‘alamin
All praise belongs to God, Lord of all
that exists
Ar-Rahmanir-Rahim
The Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy
Maliki yawmid-din
Master of the Day of Judgement
07
Surah al-Fatihah
(continued)
Iyyaka na’budu
It is You we serve
wa iyyaka nasta’in
and it is You we ask for help
Ihdinas-siratal mustaqim
Guide us on the straight path
Sirat alladhina an’amta ‘alayhim
the path of those whom You have
favoured
ghairil maghdubi ‘alayhim
not of those who have incurred Your
anger
wa lad-dallin
nor of those who have gone astray
08
Sealing It Off
Amin!
May it be so!
Abu Hurayrah reported: The Prophet
(may God grant him blessings and
peace) said, “When the Imam says
Amin, then say Amin as the angels
say Amin. Whoever says Amin when
the angels do, their previous sins will
be forgiven.” [al-Bukhari]
09
Ruku' (bowing)
Subhana Rabbiyal-’Adhim
How perfect is My Lord, the Majestic
Standing up from Ruku’
Sami’Allahu liman hamidah: God
hears (or may God hear) the one
who praises Him
10
Standing and Praising
Rabbana wa lakal-hamd
Our Lord! To You belongs all praise!
Hamdan kathiran, tayyiban,
mubarakan fih Praise that is
abundant, beautiful and blessed
11
Sujud (Prostration)
Subhana Rabbiyal-A’la
How perfect is My Lord, the Most
High
Sitting between
Prostrations
Rabbighfir-li. Rabbighfir-li My Lord,
forgive me. My Lord, forgive me.
Allahumma-ghfir-li, warham-ni,
wajbur-ni, wahdi-ni, warzuq-ni
O God, forgive me, have mercy on
me, console (or restore) me, guide
me and provide for me.
12
Sitting
At-tahiyyatu lillahi
All compliments are for God
was-salawatu
and all prayers
wat-tayyibat
and all pure deeds
As-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-
nabiyyu
Peace be upon you Prophet
wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
and the Mercy of God and His
blessings
13
As-salamu ‘alayna
Peace be upon us
wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-salihin
and upon the righteous servants of
God
Ash-hadu al-la ilaha ill-Allah
I bear witness that there is no god
but God
(wahdahu, la sharika lahu)
(He is one and has no partner)
wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan
‘abduhu wa rasuluh
and I bear witness that Muhammad
is His servant and messenger
14
Salawat
Allahumma salli / barik ‘ala
Muhammad
O God, send Your grace / blessings
upon Muhammad
Wa ‘ala ali Muhammad
and the family (or followers) of
Muhammad
Kama sallayta / barakta ‘ala
Ibrahim
Just as you sent your grace /
blessings upon Abraham
Wa ’ala ali Ibrahim
and the family (or followers) of
Abrahim
Innaka Hamidum-Majid
Indeed You are Praiseworthy,
Glorified
15
Du’a (supplication)
Allahumma inni a’udhu bika
O God, I take refuge in You
min ‘adhabi Jahannam
from the punishment of Hellfire
wa min ‘adhabil-qabr
from the punishment of the grave
wa min fitnatil-mahya wal-mamat
from the trials of living and dying
wa min sharri (fitnati)l-masihid-
Dajjal
and from the evil (trial) of the
Antichrist
16
Allahumma inni dhalamtu nafsi
dhulman kathira
O God, I have wronged myself so
much
wa la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa anta
and no one forgives sins except You
faghfirli maghfiratam-min ‘indika
warhamni
so forgive me completely from
Yourself and have mercy upon me
innaka antal-Ghafurur-Rahim
You are the Forgiving, the Giver of
Mercy
17
The Taslim (greeting of
peace)
As-salamu ‘alaykum
Peace be upon you
wa rahmatullah (x2)
and the mercy of God
18
What to say after the
prayer
Adhkar (statements of
remembrance) and Du’a
(supplication)
Astaghfirullah (x3)
I seek God’s forgiveness
Allahumma antas-salam, wa
minkas-salam
O God, You are the source of peace,
from you is peace
Tabarakta ya dhal-jalali wal-ikram
You are the source of blessing, O
possessor of might and honour
19
What to say after the
prayer
Ayat al-Kursi
Abu Umamah reported, “The
Messenger of God (may God grant
him blessings and peace) said,
“Whoever recites the verse of the
Throne (ayat al-kursi) after every
prescribed prayer, there will be
nothing standing between them
and their entering Paradise except
death.” [al-Mu’jam al-Kabir]
Surah al-Ikhlas – Chapter 112
Surah al-Falaq – Chapter 113
Surah an-Nas – Chapter 114
20
What to say after the
prayer
Subhanallah (x33)
God is perfect
Alhamdulillah (x33)
All praise belongs to God
Allahu Akbar (x33)
God is greater
La ilaha illalah, wahdahu la sharika
lahu There is no god but God, He is
one and has no partner
Lahul-mulk, walahul-hamd He has
all control and for Him is all praise
wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir
and He has power over all things
21
What to say after the
prayer
Mu’adh ibn Jabal reported, “The
Messenger of God (may God grant
him blessings and peace) took me
by the hand and he said, ‘O Mu’adh,
I swear by God that I love you. I
advise you not to forget
supplicating after every prayer by
saying, ‘O God, help me in
remembering you, and thanking
you, and worshipping you
excellently.'” [Abu Dawud]
Allahumma a’inni ‘ala dhikrika
O God, help me in remembering You
wa shukrika
and thanking You
wa husni ‘ibadatik
and worshipping you excellently
