Obligatory Prayer (Solat)

For Solat with 4 Raka’at {Solat Zuhur, Asar, Isyak}

1st Raka’at

1. Niat (Intention) – *Rukun

· Made in the heart, not verbal & can be in any language

2. Qiyam (Stand) – *Rukun

· Feet slightly apart, not very wide apart, equal weight on both feet. Eyes focused on the place of sujud.

· Body upright, not slouching.

3. Say Takbiratul Ihram (Opening Takbir – Entry to solat) – *Rukun

· Verbal, not in the heart.

· Hands raised to ear level (for men) or to shoulder level (for women).

· Fingers not apart or tightly closed, palms facing kiblat.

4. Position right hand/arm on left hand/arm, placed on chest/above the navel.

5. Recite do’a iftihtah (opening do’a) – *Sunnah

6. Recite Al-Fatihah – *Rukun

· Verbal, not in the heart. To be recited accurately.

· Begin with ta’awudz’ – *Sunnah

· To say ‘amin’ together with imam is sunnah muakadah.

Note: Improper to say ‘amin’ before imam.

7. Recite a surah from Al Quran (For 1st and 2nd raka’at) – *Sunnah

8. Say Takbir – *Sunnah

· Hands raised as in the opening takbir.

9. Ruku’ (Bowing down) – *Rukun

· Correct position, no ‘stealing’: Back and head straight, parallel to the ground. Hand on knees (not below or above knees). Elbow away from body (for men) or close to body (for women).

· With tuma’ninah (pause for the duration of 1 tasbih at least).

· Say tasbih for ruku’ 3 times – *Sunnah

Common mistakes: Elbow bent hence back is stooped too low and position is not firm.

10. Straightening up from ruku’ and raise your hands as in the opening takbir.

· Say ‘Sami ‘allahu liman hamidah’ (Allah hears who praises Him) – *Sunnah

11. I’tidal (Upright posture after ruku’) – *Rukun

· Hands by the side

· With tuma’ninah

· Say ‘Rabbana lakalhamd’ (O our lord, to You the praise is due)

Common mistakes: Hunched body. Swinging of arms 3 times or more. No pause at all. Raised hands facing upwards.

12. Say Takbir – *Sunnah

13. Sujud (Prostration) – *Rukun

· 7 parts of the body must touch the ground: the forehead (& nose), 2 palms of the hands, 2 knees and the toes of the 2 feet.

· For men: Elbows raised and away from body and abdomen lifted from thighs OR

· For women: Elbows close to body and trunks close to thighs.

· With tuma’ninah

· Say tasbih for sujud 3 times – *Sunnah

Common mistakes: Elbows close to body, arms flat on the floor, toes pointing backwards, feet lifted off the floor.

14. Say Takbir – *Sunnah

15. Sit between sujud – *Rukun

· Sitting iftirasy: The buttock is sitting on the left feet which is flat on the ground, right feet upright with toes pointing towards kiblat.

· Hands on thighs with fingertips aligned with the tips of knees.

· Body straight.

· With tuma’ninah

· Say ‘Rabbighfir li warhamni wajburni warfa’ni warzuqni wahdini wa ‘afini wa fu’anni (O my lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, fulfill my needs, raise me, provide for me, guide me, and protect me from sickness, pardon my sins) – *Sunnah

Common mistakes: Feet cross over each other with buttock sitting on them. Body bent.

16. Say Takbir – *Sunnah

17. Sujud (Prostration) – *Rukun

18. Say Takbir – *Sunnah

2nd Raka’at

1. Qiyam (as in no. 2) – *Rukun

2. Repeat no.6 to 17

3. Sit for 1st Tashahud – *Sunnah

· Sitting iftirasy: The buttock is sitting on the left feet which flat on the ground, right feet upright with toes pointing towards kiblat.

· Left hand on left thigh with fingertips aligned with tips of knees. Clench right hand and place on right thigh.

· Body straight.

Recite 1st Tashahud – *Sunnah

· Point the index finger of the right hand towards the qiblah at the recitation of ‘ilallah’.

· Eyes fixed on the index finger – eyes as the witness to your finger pointing and declaring that there is no other god other than Allah.

· Recite Salaawah Prophet Muhammad

This is a few words of prayer for the Prophet (PBUH – peace be upon him). The simplest salaawah is by saying:

Allaahumma salli ‘alla Muhammad

4. Say Takbir – *Sunnah

· Hands raised to ear level same as in the opening takbir.

3rd Raka’at

5. Qiyam (as in no.2) – *Rukun

6. Repeat no.6 to 18

4th Raka’at

7. Qiyam (as in no.2) – *Rukun

8. Repeat no.6 to 17

9. Sitting for final tashahud – *Rukun

· Sitting tawaruq: The buttock is sitting on the ground, the left feet is underneath the right leg with the right feet upright, its toes pointing towards kiblat.

· Left hand on left thigh with fingertips aligned with tips of knee. Clench right hand and place on right thigh.

· Body straight.

Recite Final Tashahud

· Point the index finger of the right hand towards the qiblah at the recitation of ‘ilallah’.

· Eyes fixed on the index finger.

· Recite Salaawah Prophet Muhammad and Ibrahim.

10. Salaam/Taslim – Exit from solat – *Rukun

· This is to announce the end of Solat:

As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum warahmatullaah

Meaning: Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.

As you say the taslim, turn your head to the right (endpoint of solat) and then left.

Common mistakes: Dropping head down before turning right and left.

:: For a more detailed version, check out the link under Prayer (Solat); Obligatory Prayer (Solat Fardhu) ::