WALAM YAKUL-LAHU KUFU-WAN AHAD

and there is nothing which can be compared to Him.

Now bow down saying:
ALLAHU AKBAR

Allah is the greatest.

Place your hands on your knees and in this inclined position (Ruku` as shown in figure 19) recite these words thrice:

SUBHANA RAB-BI-YAL ATHIM

Glory to my Lord the great.

Postrure for ladies in Ruku` is slighty different to that of a man

SUBHANA RAB-BI-YAL ATHIM

Glory to my Lord the great.

SUBHANA RAB-BI-YAL ATHIM

Glory to my Lord the great.

Then come to the standing position (figure 21 & 22) saying:

SAMI `ALLAHU LIMAN HAMIDAH

Allah has heard all who praise Him.

RAB-BANA LAKAL HAMD

Our Lord: Praise be to Thee

Now saying "Allahu Akbar" prostrate on the ground with your forehead, the knees the nose and palms of both hands touching the ground. In this position ajdah - as in figure 23, 24 & 25) repeat these words three times at least:

SUBHANA RAB-BI-YAL A`ALA

Glory to my Lord the most high

SUBHANA RAB-BI-YAL A`ALA

Glory to my Lord the most high

NOTE: Your nose & forehead in with carpet

Sit upright with knees still on the ground after a moments rest perform the second Sajdah saying:

ALLAHU AKBAR

Allah is the Greatest

In the second Sajdah as before recite the following words thrice:

SUBHANA RAB-BI-YAL A'ALA

Glory to my Lord the most high.

This completes one raka'at of Salah. The second raka'at is. said in the same way except that after the second Sajdah you sit back, with the left foot bent towards the right, which should be placed vertical to the mat with the toes touching the mat. The palms should be lifted from the mat and placed on the knees.

In this position (Q'adahas shown in figures 26 and 27 silently say these words (Tashahhud):

AT-TAHI-YATU LIL-LAHI WAS-SALAWATU WAT-TAY-YIBATU

All prayers and worship through words, action and sanctity are for Allah only.

AS-SALAMU `ALAIKA AY-YUHAN-NABIY-YU

Peace be on you, O Prophet

WARAHMATUL-LAHI WABARAKATUH

and Mercy of Allah and His blessings.

AS-SALAMU `ALAINA WA`ALA `IBADIL-LAHIS-SALIHIN

Peace be on us and on those who are righteous servants of Allah.

ASH-HADU AL-LA ILAHA IL-LAL-LAHU

I bear witness to the fact that there is no deity but Allah.

WA-ASH-HADU AN-NA MUHAMMADAN `ABDUHU WARASULUH

I bear witness taht Muhammad is His slave and messenger.

In a three raka`at (i.e. Maghrib) or four raka`at (like Zuhr, `Asr and `Isha) Salah you stand up for the remaining raka`at after Tashahhud. On the other had if it is a two raka`at (Fajr) Salah, keep sitting and after this recite Darud (blessing for the Prophet) in these words:

AL-LAHUM-MA SAL-LI`ALA MUHAMMAD-IN WA `ALA ALI MUHAMMADIN

O Allah, exalt Muhammad and the followers of Muhammad

AL-LAHUM-MA SALAITA `ALA IBRAHIMA WA`ALA ALI IBRAHIMA

As Though did exalt Ibrahim and his followers.

IN-NAKA HAMIDUM MAJEED

Thou art the praised, the Glorious.

AL-LAHUM-MA BARIK MUHAMMAD-IN

O Allah, exalt Muhammad

WA 'ALA ALI MUHAMMADIN

and his followers

KAMABARAKTA 'ALA IBRAHIMA WA 'ALA ALI IBRAHIMA

as Thou has blest Ibrahim and his followers.

IN-NAKA HAMIDUM-MAJEED

Thou art the Praised, the Glorious.

Then say silently:

RAB-BIJ-'ALNI MUQIMAS-SALATI WAMIN DHUR-RIY-YATI

O Lord! Make me and my children steadfast in Prayer;

RAB-BANA WATAQAB-BAL DU'A' RAB-BIGH FIRLI

Lord! Accept the prayer. Our Lord! forgive me.

WA LIWALIDAY-YA WALIL-MU'MININA YAUMA YAQUM-UL HISAB

and my parents and believers on the Day of Judgement.

Now turn your face to the right (as in figure 30) saying;

AS-SALAMU 'ALAIKUM WA-RAHMATUL-LAH

Peace be on you and Allah's blessings.

Then turn your face to the left (as in figure 31) and repeat the above words (aloud).

This completes your two raka'at Salah. The four raka'at of Zuhr, 'Asr and 'Isha are said in an identical manner with the only difference that in the first two Raka'at of Zuhr and 'Asr, Al-Fatihah is said silently while in 'Isha prayer it is recited aloud.

If you are performing a three raka'at (like Maghrib) or four raka'at (like Zuhr, 'Asr and 'Isha) Salah stand up after Tashahhud saying ALLAHU AKBAR and recite Al-Fatihah. You must remember that Al-Fatihah is always recited silently in the third and fourth raka'at of every Salah. When you are offering Fard Salah do not recite any additional passage from the Holy Qur'an after Al-Fatihah in the last two raka'at. After the second Sajdah in the fourth raka'at say the Tashahhud, Darud and end with "AS-SALAMU 'ALAIKUM WA-RAHMATUL-LAH" to each side (first right, then left as shown in the above pictures). This marks the end of Salah.

CHAPTER V

SUNNAH AND NAFILAH OR ADDITIONAL PRAYER

As you can see in the chart below, each Salah is composed of (a) Fard, the prescribed prayers, (b) Sunnah and (c) Nafilah or additional prayers. The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) said these additional prayers before or after the prescribed (Fard) prayers. These are therefore recommended. The sequence of these additional prayers in each Salah is given below:

Name of Salah

Number of Sunnah before Fard

Number of Fard

Number of Sunnah after Fard

Number of Nafilah

Fajr

2

2

-

-

Zuhr

4

4

2

2

`Asr

4

4

-

-

Maghrib

-

3

2

2

`Isha

4

4

2

2+3+2

SALAT-UL-WITR

The three raka'at prayers said after the Fard and Sunnah of the 'Isha is called Salat-ul-Witr. It is strongly recommended in the practice of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and is Wajib (necessary) according to one section of Muslims. Others regard it a mere Sunnah Salah.

The first two raka'at of this Salat-ul-Witr are said like the first two raka'at of the Maghrib prayers. In the third raka'at after Al-Fatihah, recite some additional Surah or verses of the Qursan.

Then, saying ALLAHU AKBAR raise your hands above your shoulders, fold your hands, and recite the following or any other similar Du'a silently. This is called Dua-al-Qunut or the prayer of submission:

ALLAHUM-MA IN-NA NASTA'INUKA

O Allah, we seek Thy help,

WANASTAGHFIRUKA

and ask Thy forgiveness,

WANU'MINU BIKA WANATAWAK-KALU 'ALAIKA

and believe in Thee and trust in Thee,

WANUTHNI 'ALAIKAL-KHAIRA WA NASHKURUKA

and we praise Thee in the best manner and we thank Thee,

WALANAKFURUKA WANAKHLA'U WANATRUKU

and we are not unqrateful and we cast off and forsake him

MAY-YAF JURUK ALLAHUM-MA IY-YAKA N'ABUDU

also disobeys Thee. O Allah, Thee alone do we worship,

WALAKA NUSAI -LI WA-NASJUDU WA-ILAIKA NAS'A

and to Thee we pray, and beforo Thee do we prostrate, to Thee do we turn to

WANAHFIDU WANARJU RAHMATAKA WANAKHSHA ADHABAKA

in haste, and hope for Thy mercy, and we fear Thy punishment.

IN-NA 'ADHABAKA BIL KUF-FARI MULHIQ

Thy punishment surely overtakes the unbelievers.

After this saying ALLAHU AKBAR bow down in Ruku' and then complete the rest of the prayers like the Maghrib prayers.
The table below gives details of raka'at in each Salah:

Name of Salah

Period

Number of Fard Raka`at

1st two Raka'at, aloud or silent

Before Fard

After Fard

Sunnah or Nafilah

Fajr

Between Dawn until Sunrise

2

Aloud

2

None

Zuhr

Between just past noon and mid-afternoon

4

Silent

4

2+2

`Asr

Between mid afternoon until before sunset

4

Silent

4

None

Maghrib

Between just after sunset until dark

3

Aloud

None

2+2

`Isha

Between dark and shortly before dawn

4

Aloud

4

2+2+3+2