How to Pray the 5 Daily Prayers: Rakats and What to Read in Each Salah

How to Pray the 5 Daily Prayers Rakats and What to Read in Each Salah

Here is a quick overview of how to offer each of the 5 Prescribed Prayers (Salah). Listed here are the units of prayer, in the order and sequence they must be offered. 

FAJR – DAWN PRAYER 

Fajr Rakats consists of 2 Rakats of 2 Types of Prayer 

  • 2 Rakats of Sunnah Prayer 
  • 2 Rakats of Fard Prayer 

ZUHR – POST MIDDAY PRAYER 

Zuhr Rakats consist of 2 Rakats of 3 Types of Prayer 

  • 4 Rakats of Sunnah Prayer 
  • 4 Rakats of Fard Prayer 
  • 2 Rakats of Sunnah Prayer 
  • 2 Rakats of Nafal Prayer 

ASR – AFTERNOON PRAYER 

Asr Rakats consist of 2 Rakats of 2 Types of Prayer 

  • 4 Rakats of Sunnah Prayer 
  • 4 Rakats of Fard Prayer 

MAGHRIB – SUNSET PRAYER 

Maghrib Rakats consist of 2 Rakats of 3 Types of Prayer 

  • 3 Rakats of Witr Prayer 
  • 2 Rakats of Sunnah Prayer 
  • 2 Rakats of Nafal Prayer 

ISHA – EVENING PRAYER 

Isha Rakats consist of 2 Rakats of 3 Types of Prayer 

  • 4 Rakats of Sunnah Prayer 
  • 4 Rakats of Fard Prayer 
  • 2 Rakats of Sunnah Prayer 
  • 2 Rakats of Nafal Prayer 
  • 3 Rakats of Witr Prayer 
  • 2 Rakats of Nafal Prayer 

What to Read 

NIYYAH – Intention 

I intend to offer prayer to Allah Almighty of ADD NUMBER Rakats, for the Prescribed Salah ADD NAME 

TAKBEER – Declaration of Divine Greatness 

Allahu Akbar 

Allah Almighty is the Greatest  

QIRAAT IN QIYAAM – Standing in Quranic Recitation  

Surah Al Fatihah 

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

Bismillah Al Rahman Al Raheem 

I begin in the name of Allah (Almighty), the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful 

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ 

Alhamdu lillahi rabbil aalameen 

All praise (with gratitude) is for Allah (Almighty) Who is the Sustainer of the trans-universal existence 

ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

Ar Rahmanir Raheem 

The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful 

مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ 

Maliki yawmiddeen 

Lord of the Day of Reckoning (Judgment) 

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ 

Iyyaka naʿbudu wa iyyaka nastaeen 

It is only You (Allah Almighty) that we worship, and it is only from You (Allah Almighty) that we seek for assistance 

ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ 

Ihdinas siraatal mustaqeem 

Guide us onto the path of (intellectual) steadfastness 

صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ 

Siraatal ladheena anʿamta ʿalayhim ghayril maghdoobi ʿalayhim wa lad daalleen 

The path of those upon whom You (Allah Almighty) have shown favour (with intellectual illumination); and not those that have earnt Your (Allah Almighty) displeasure upon themselves and nor of those that have been led (intellectually) astray 

آمين 

Ameen 

O Allah Almighty, please (accept this supplication) 

Any other Surah (Example: Surah Al Ikhlaas) 

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

Bismillah Al Rahman Al Raheem 

I begin in the name of Allah (Almighty), the Most Beneficent and the Most Merciful 

قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ 

Qul huwallahu ahad 

Say (Prophet Muhammad ﷺ): ‘He Allah (Almighty) is One and Only (Unique without any parallel). 

ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ 

Allahus samad 

Allah (Almighty) is Autonomous (Absolutely Eternal); 

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ 

Lam yalid wa lam yulad 

He does not have any children, and neither was He created by anyone; 

وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ 

Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad 

And there is no one (that can ever be) equal to Him.’ 

RUKU – Bowing 

Subhaana Rabbiyal Azeem 

Glory be to my Sustainer (Allah Almighty Who is) the Magnificent 

Sami Allahu liman hamidah 

Allah Almighty hears all those who praise Him 

SAJDAH (SUJOOD) – Prostration 

Subhaana Rabbiyal Aa’la 

Glory be to my Sustainer (Allah Almighty Who is) Above and Beyond Everything 

TASHAHHUD – Testament / Bearing witness 

At tahiyyaatu lillaahi was salawaatu wat-tayyibaat 
All salutations, prayers, and goodness (in pure deeds) are for Allah Almighty 

As salaamu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakatuh 
Peace be upon you, O Prophet (Muhammad ), and the mercy of Allah and His  blessings 

As salaamu ʿalaynaa wa ʿalaa ʿibaadillaahis-saaliheen 
Peace be upon all of us (believers) and upon the righteous servants of Allah Almighty 

Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah 
I bear witness that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah Almighty 

Wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ʿabduhu wa rasuluh 
And I bear witness that holy Muhammad  is His servant and last and final Messenger 

DUROOD SHAREEF – Prophetic praise 

Allahumma salli ʿalaa Muhammad 

O Allah Almighty, send blessings upon (Prophet) Muhammad ﷺ 

Wa ʿala aali Muhammad 

And upon the family of (Prophet) Muhammad ﷺ 

Kama sallayta ʿalaa Ibraheem 

As You sent blessings upon (Prophet) Ibraheem 

Wa ʿala aali Ibraheem 

And upon the family of (Prophet) Ibraheem 

Innaka hameedun majeed 

Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious 

SALAAMS – Greetings of farewell 

As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullah 

Peace be upon you through the Mercy Allah Almighty 

What to read when praying Witr for Isha Prayer (on the 3rd Rakat) 

Whilst standing in the third Rakat, after praying Surah Al Fatiha and an optional verse from the noble Quran, the Imam (or when praying alone) will recite Takbeer (Allahu Akbar), raise hands to the ears, and then continue standing in Qiyaam and make the following supplication: 

Dua Qunoot: 

اَللَّهُمَّ إنا نَسْتَعِينُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ وَنُثْنِئْ عَلَيْكَ الخَيْرَ وَنَشْكُرُكَ وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَنْ ئَّفْجُرُكَ اَللَّهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَلَكَ نُصَلِّئ وَنَسْجُدُ وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعأئ وَنَحْفِدُ وَنَرْجُو رَحْمَتَكَ وَنَخْشآئ عَذَابَكَ إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالكُفَّارِ مُلْحَقٌ 

Allahumma inna nasta-eenoka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu’minu bika wa natawakkalu alaika wa nusni alaikal khair, wa nashkuruka wala nakfuruka wa nakhla-oo wa natruku mai yafjuruka, Allah humma iyyaka na’budu wa laka nusalli wa nasjud wa ilaika nas aaa wa nahfizu wa narju rahma taka wa nakhshaa azaabaka inna azaabaka bil kuffari mulhik 

O Allah Almighty! Indeed, we only seek (ultimate) help from You, and beg You for our forgiveness, and we (have absolute) belief in You and have (absolute) reliance upon You, and we praise You in the best way we can; and we are grateful to You and we are not extremists in disbelief (of all those matters that You have gifted upon us); and we forsake and turn away from anyone who disobeys You. O Allah Almighty! we only worship You, and send salutations upon You (so that You may be pleased with us), and we prostrate ourselves before you; and we hasten towards You and serve You, and we hope to receive Your mercy and we dread your torment. Indeed, the extremists in disbelief shall incur your torment.’ 

Maulana Hafiz Asim Awan
Shaykh Asim Awan
Author

LLB, BA Islamic Scholar, Solicitor & Senior Partner

Graduate of Hijaz College, Maulana Asim completed his LLB at the University of London while he was studying at Hijaz College, attaining an MA Islamic Law and Theology in 2009. He is a qualified solicitor working in Birmingham. He is a Hafiz of the Quran and has been teaching Islamic theology since his graduation. He is also the curriculum convener for the Hijaz Diploma course and a key member of the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal. He is happily married and a father of three beautiful children.