How to Perform Salat (Contact Prayer)

This page provides complete, practical instructions for performing Salat correctly — individually, in congregation, and in Friday congregational prayer.

ABLUTION (WUDU)

Before starting the Contact Prayer, a person is required to perform ablution (wudu).

Ablution consists of four steps only:

  1. Wash the face
  2. Wash the arms to the elbows
  3. Wipe the head
  4. Wash the feet to the ankles

    Any additional steps are man-made additions and are not authorized.


Certain circumstances, such as sexual orgasm, require bathing.
If water is not available or cannot be used, dry ablution (tayammum) may be performed by touching clean, dry soil and rubbing the face and hands.

INTENTION

  • Intention is made in the heart

  • Intention is not spoken aloud

  • The worshipper intends which Contact Prayer is being observed:

    • Dawn

    • Noon

    • Afternoon

    • Sunset

    • Night

THE CALL TO PRAYER (AZAN)

The Calling to the Prayer (Azan) is not part of Salat and is not required.
It is used for congregational prayer to notify others that it is time to observe Salat.

The Azan must be dedicated to God alone and must not include the name of anyone else.

The Azan is spoken as follows:

Arabic
الله أكبر
الله أكبر
الله أكبر
الله أكبر

لا إله إلا الله

Transliteration
Allāhu Akbar
Allāhu Akbar
Allāhu Akbar
Allāhu Akbar

Lā ilāha illā llāh

Meaning
God is the Greatest
God is the Greatest
God is the Greatest
God is the Greatest

There is no god except God

PRAYER LEADER (IMAM)

There is no hierarchical authority or clergy.
One person from the congregation is chosen to lead the Contact Prayer and is designated as the Imam for that prayer only.
Members of the congregation usually share this responsibility

HOW TO PERFORM SALAT (INDIVIDUAL)

First — Direction

Face the direction of the Sacred Masjid in Mecca.

Second — Hands

Raise the hands to the sides of the head, thumbs near the ears, palms facing forward.

Opening gesture raising hands in Salat

Third — Opening Statement

Say:

Arabic
الله أكبر

Transliteration
Allāhu Akbar

Meaning
God is the Greatest

Lower the hands to the sides or crossed over the stomach.

Fourth — Recitation (Standing)

Recite Al-Fātiḥah (The Key) in Arabic.

Arabic
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ
غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

Transliteration
Bismillāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbi l-ʿālamīn
Ar-raḥmāni r-raḥīm
Māliki yawmi d-dīn
Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn
Ihdinā ṣ-ṣirāṭa l-mustaqīm
Ṣirāṭa lladhīna anʿamta ʿalayhim
Ghayri l-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa lā ḍ-ḍāllīn

Meaning
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to God, Lord of the universe.
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Master of the Day of Judgment.
You alone we worship; You alone we ask for help.
Guide us in the right path.
The path of those whom You blessed;
not of those who incurred wrath, nor of those who went astray.

Standing position (Qiyam) in Salat

Fifth — Bowing (Rukūʿ)

Bow from the waist.

Say:

Arabic
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

Transliteration
Subḥāna Rabbiyal ʿAẓīm

Meaning
Glory be to my Lord, the Great

Bowing position (Ruku) in Salat

Sixth — Return to Standing

Say:

Arabic
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

Transliteration
Samiʿa llāhu liman ḥamidah

Meaning
God hears those who praise Him

Seventh — Prostration (Sujūd)

Move into full prostration.

Say:

Arabic
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Transliteration
Subḥāna Rabbiyal Aʿlā

Meaning
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High

Prostration position (Sujud) in Salat

Eighth — Rise to Sitting

Say:

Arabic
الله أكبر

Transliteration
Allāhu Akbar

Ninth — Second Prostration

Return to prostration and repeat:

Subḥāna Rabbiyal Aʿlā

This completes one unit (rakʿah).

Tenth — Sitting and Completion

At the end of every two units and at the end of the final unit, remain seated and say:

Arabic
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ

Transliteration
Ashhadu an lā ilāha illā llāh
Waḥdahu lā sharīka lah

Meaning
I bear witness that there is no god except God.
He has no partner.

To complete the prayer, look to the right and say As-Salāmu ʿAlaykum,
then look to the left and say As-Salāmu ʿAlaykum.

Sitting position in Salat

Tone (Individual Salat)

Recitation should be in a moderate voice, neither loud nor silent.

CONGREGATIONAL SALAT

  • One person leads the prayer

  • The leader recites Al-Fātiḥah aloud

  • Other utterances, except Allāhu Akbar, are said silently

  • Anyone may join the congregation at any point

  • Missed portions are completed after the congregation finishes

FRIDAY CONGREGATIONAL PRAYER

  • Held during the noon period

  • Two sermons precede the prayer

  • Each sermon begins with:

    • Al-Ḥamdu li-llāh

    • Lā ilāha illā llāh

  • Each sermon lasts approximately 15 minutes

  • Sermons are delivered in the language of the congregation

  • After the first sermon, the Imam says Tūbū ilā llāh

  • The Imam sits briefly, then delivers the second sermon

  • A member of the congregation calls the Azan

  • The Imam then leads the remaining two units of prayer