Adhaan
Q. What is Adhaan (call for prayer)?
When the time for salaah comes, a man stands up before the prayer and calls aloud these words:
These words are called adhaan. In the adhaan of Fajr after Hay-ya 'alal-falaah, say 2 times:
Q. What is iqaamah or takbeer (magnification of the Lord)?
When people stand up for salaah, a person repeats the words of adhaan, this is called iqaamah or takbeer. The words of adhaan are repeated exactly the same in iqaamah but, after hay-ya 'alal-falaah, one says 2 times:
Q. What name is given to the person who recites adhaan or takbeer?
The person who recites adhaan is called mu-adh-dhin, and the one who recites takbeer is called mukab-bir.
Q. When many people assemble and say salaah together, what do we call it?
Salaah which is offered not individually but along with other people is called salaah bil-jamaa'ah (namaaz ba jamaa'at or "prayer in congregation"). The person who leads the jamaa'ah is called the imaam. A person who says salaah behind the imaam is known as a muqtadi.
Q. What is the person called who says salaah alone?
He is called munfarid ("solitary" or "isolated").
Q. What is the house called that is specially built for salaah?
Such a place is called a masjid (mosque).
Q. What should one do in a masjid?
One should offer salaah, read the Holy Qur'aan or wazeefa, or sit silently and respectfully. It is very bad to play, jump, make noise, or talk of worldly affairs in a masjid.
Q. What are the benefits of salaah?
There are many benefits. Here are some of them:
- The body and clothes of a namaazi (musalli or one who prays salaah) are always neat and clean.
- Allah, the Almighty, is pleased with one who says salaah.
- Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is pleased with a musalli.
- Allah, the Almighty, favors those who pray salaah.
- Good men hold a musalli in high esteem.
- A musalli is saved from many evil deeds.
- Allah, the Almighty, keeps a musalli in peace and comfort after his death.
Q. What are the names of the expressions or phrases said in salaah?
Q. What are the wordings of the above-mentioned expressions? Please recite a few surahs as well.
A. The wordings of the expressions are:
Takbeer:
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allaahu Akbar
Allah is the Greatest
Thana
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subhaanakal-laahum-ma wa bi hamdika wa tabaarakas-muka wa ta'aalaa jad-duka wa laa ilaaha ghayruk
O Allah! Glory and Praise are for You, and blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty; and there is no god except You.
Ta-'awwudh
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
A'oodhu bil-laahi minash-shaitaanir-rajeem
I seek refuge with Allah from the condemned Shaitaan.
Tasmiyah
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillaahir-rahmaanir-raheem
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Qiraa'at - Suratil-Faatihah
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿١﴾ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٢﴾ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴿٣﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٤﴾ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٥﴾ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٦﴾
Al-hamdu lil-laahi rabbil-'aalameen. Ar-rahmaanir-raheem. Maaliki yawmid-deen. Iyyaaka na'budu wa iyyaaka nasta'een. Ihdinas-siraatal-mustaqeem. Siraatal-ladheena an'amta 'alaihim ghairil-maghdoobi 'alaihim wa lad-daal-leen.
All praise is for Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds; Most Gracious, Most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee do we worship and Thee alone do we ask for help. Guide us to the straight way – the way of those upon whom Thou has bestowed Thy blessing; not those who earn Thy anger nor those who go astray.
Qiraa'at - Suratul-Kauthar
إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ ﴿١﴾ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ ﴿٢﴾ إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ ﴿٣﴾
Innaa a'tainaakal-kauthar. Fasalli li-rabbika wanhar. Inna shaani'aka huwal-abtar.
Lo! We have given you Abundance. So pray unto your Lord and sacrifice. Lo! It is your insulter who is without posterity.
Qiraa'at - Suratul-Ikhlaas
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴿١﴾ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ﴿٢﴾ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ ﴿٤﴾
Qul huwal-laahu ahad. Allaahus-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yoolad. Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan ahad.
Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah, the eternally Besought of all! He begets not nor was He begotten. And there is none comparable to Him.
Qiraa'at - Suratul-Falaq
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ ﴿١﴾ مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ ﴿٢﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ ﴿٣﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ النَّفَّاثَاتِ فِي الْعُقَدِ ﴿٤﴾ وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ ﴿٥﴾
Qul a'oodhu bi-rabbil-falaq. Min sharri maa khalaq. Wa min sharri ghaasiqin idhaa waqab. Wa min sharrin-naffaathaati fil-'uqad. Wa min sharri haasidin idhaa hasad.
Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the Daybreak. From the evil of that which He created; From the evil of the darkness when it is intense, and from the evil of malignant witchcraft, and from the evil of the envier when he envies.
Qiraa'at - Suratum-Naas
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ ﴿١﴾ مَلِكِ النَّاسِ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ ﴿٣﴾ مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ ﴿٤﴾ الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ ﴿٥﴾ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ ﴿٦﴾
Qul a'oodhu bi-rabbin-naas. Malikin-naas. Ilaahin-naas. Min sharril-waswaasil-khannaas. Alladhee yuwaswisu fee sudoorin-naas. Minal-jinnati wan-naas.
Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the sneaking whisperer, who whispers in the hearts of mankind – of the jinn and mankind.
Tasbeeh of ruku'
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّىَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
Subhaana rab-biyal-'azeem
Glory be to my Lord, the Great.
Tasmee'a of ruku'
سَمِعَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Sami'al-laahu li man hamidah
Allah hears the one who praises Him.
Tahmeed of ruku'
رَبَّنَا لَكَ ٱلْحَمْدُ
Rab-banaa lakal-hamd
Our Lord, praise be to You.
Tasbeeh of sajdah
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّىَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subhaana rab-biyal-a'laa
Glory be to my Lord, the Highest.
Tashahhud
ٱلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّـهِ وَٱلصَّلَوَاتُ وَٱلطَّيِّبَاتُ ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّـهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ ٱللَّـهِ ٱلصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّـهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
At-tahiyyaatu lil-laahi was-salawaatu wat-tayyibaatu. As-salaamu 'alaika ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatul-laahi wa barakaatuh. As-salaamu 'alainaa wa 'alaa 'ibaadil-laahis-saaliheen. Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha il-lal-laahu wa ash-hadu an-na Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasooluh.
All prayer is for Allah and worship and goodness. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
Darood Shareef
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Allaahum-ma salli 'alaa Muhammadi(n)w-wa 'alaa aali Muhammadin kamaa sal-lay-ta 'alaa Ibraaheema wa 'alaa aali Ibraaheema in-naka hameedum-majeed. Allaahum-ma baarik 'alaa Muhammadi(n)w-wa 'alaa aali Muhammadin kamaa baarakta 'alaa Ibraaheema wa 'alaa aali Ibraaheema in-naka hameedum-majeed.
O Allah, let Your blessing come upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.
Du'a after Darood
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا وَلاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ وَارْحَمْنِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Allaahum-ma in-ni zalamtu nafsi zulman katheera(n)w-wa laa yaghfirudh-dhunooba il-laa an-ta faghfir-lee maghfiratan-min 'indika war-ham-niy in-naka antal-ghafooru-raheem.
O Allah! I have been unjust to myself and no one grants pardon for sins except You. Therefore, forgive me with Your forgiveness and have mercy on me. Surely, You are the Forgiver, the Merciful.
Du'a for Parents
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
Rabbij-'alniy muqeemaṣ-ṣalaati wa min dhurriyyatiy rabbanaa wa taqabbal Du'aa'. Rabbanaa ighfir-lee wa li-waalidayya wa lil-mu'mineena yawma yaqoomul-hisaab.
O Lord! Make me and my children steadfast in salah. Our Lord! Accept the prayer. Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day of Judgement.
Salaam
ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّهِ
As-salaamu 'alaikum wa rahmatul-laah
Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you.
Du'a after prayers
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلامُ تَبَارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلالِ وَالإِكْرَامِ
Allaahum-ma an-tas-salaamu wa min-kas-salaamu, tabarak-ta yaa dhal-jalaali wal-ikraam
O Allah! We ask Thy help and ask for Thy pardon and believe in Thee and rely upon Thee. And we praise Thee in the best way and we thank Thee and we are not ungrateful to Thee. And we cast off and leave one who disobeys Thee. O Allah! Thee alone we worship and to Thee do we pray and prostrate. And to Thee to we turn in haste. And we hope for Thy blessings and fear Thy punishment. Truly Thy punishment is for the disbelievers unavoidable.
Du'a Qunoot
ٱللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَعِينُكَ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَنَتَوَكَّلُ عَلَيْكَ وَنُثْنِي عَلَيْكَ ٱلْخَيْرَ وَنَشْكُرُكَ وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ وَنَخْلَعُ وَنَتْرُكُ مَن يَفْجُرُكَ ٱللَّهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَلَكَ نُصَلِّي وَنَسْجُدُ وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعَىٰ وَنَحْفِدُ وَنَرْجُو رَحْمَتَكَ وَنَخْشَىٰ عَذَابَكَ إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِٱلْكُفَّارِ مُلْحِقٌ
Allaahum-ma in-naa nasta'eenuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu'minu bika wa natawak-kalu 'alaika wa nuthni 'alaikal-khair wa nashkuruka wa laa nakfuruka wa nakhla'u wa nat-ruku ma(n)-yafjuruk. Allaahum-ma iy-yaaka na'budu wa laka nusall-i wa nasjudu wa ilaika nas'aa wa nahfidu wa narju rahmataka wa nakhshaa 'adhaabaka, in-na 'adhaabaka bil-kuffaari mul-hiq.
O Allah! We ask Your assistance and seek Your forgiveness and believe in Thee and rely upon Thee. And we praise Thee in the best way and we thank Thee and we are not ungrateful to Thee. And we cast off and leave one who disobeys Thee. O Allah! Thee alone we worship and to Thee do we pray and prostrate ourselves. To Thee do we turn in haste and hope for Thy mercy, and we fear Thy chastisement. Surely, Thy chastisement overtakes the unbelievers.