Step-by-Step Method of Prophet Muhammad’s Prayer ﷺ

Jurisprudential Rulings and Issues of Prayer
In the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith
Rulings and Issues of Salah: Volume 01 – Page 118

The Method of Prayer of the Noble Prophet ﷺ (Step-by-Step Explanation)​

◈ The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

"صَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي"

Translation:
Offer prayer in the same manner as you have seen me offering prayer.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Kitāb al-Adhān, Bāb al-Adhān lil-Musāfirīn idhā kānū jamā‘ah wal-Iqāmah, Ḥadīth: 361

① Takbīr al-Taḥrīmah and Qiyām​

The Noble Prophet ﷺ would stand for prayer, face the Qiblah, raise both hands to the level of the shoulders or ears, and say:

"اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ"

Translation:
Allah is the Greatest.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb Istihbāb Raf‘ al-Yadayn, Ḥadīth: 390, 391

② Du‘ā’ al-Istiftāḥ​

"سُبْحَانَكَ اللهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، تَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ"

Translation:
O Allah! You are pure along with Your praise; blessed is Your Name, exalted is Your Majesty, and there is no deity besides You.

Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Bāb man ra’ā al-Istiftāḥ, Ḥadīth: 775, 776

③ Ta‘awwudh and Tasmiyah​

"أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ"

Translation:
I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan.

Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Ḥadīth: 764

"بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ"

Translation:
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth: 399

④ Sūrah al-Fātiḥah and Āmīn​

After completing Sūrah al-Fātiḥah, the Prophet ﷺ would say:

"آمِينَ"

Translation:
O Allah! Accept it.

Reference: Sunan al-Nasā’ī, Ḥadīth: 880

⑤ Rukū‘​

"سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ"

Translation:
My Lord, the Most Great, is Pure.

Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Ḥadīth: 871

⑥ Rising from Rukū‘​

"سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ"

Translation:
Allah hears the one who praises Him.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth: 795

"رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ"

Translation:
Our Lord! All praise belongs to You.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth: 796

⑦ Sujūd​

"سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى"

Translation:
My Lord, the Most High, is Pure.

Reference: Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Ḥadīth: 871

⑧ Supplication Between the Two Prostrations​

"اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَارْحَمْنِي، وَاهْدِنِي، وَعَافِنِي، وَارْزُقْنِي"

Translation:
O Allah! Forgive me, have mercy upon me, guide me, grant me well-being, and provide for me.

Reference: Jāmi‘ al-Tirmidhī, Ḥadīth: 284; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth: 2679

⑨ Tashahhud​

"التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ…"

Translation:
All verbal, physical, and financial acts of worship belong to Allah alone. 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 deity except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and Messenger.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, Ḥadīth: 831; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth: 402

⑩ Durūd Ibrāhīmī​

"اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ، وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ…"

Translation:
O Allah! Send mercy upon Muhammad ﷺ and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent mercy upon Ibrāhīm and the family of Ibrāhīm. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth: 406

⑪ Final Supplication​

"اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ…"

Translation:
O Allah! I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell, from the punishment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the trial of the False Messiah (Dajjāl).

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth: 588

⑫ Salām​

"السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ"

Translation:
Peace and the mercy of Allah be upon you.

Reference: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Ḥadīth: 582

Qur’anic Evidence​

﴿لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ﴾

Translation:
Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah ﷺ you have an excellent example.

Reference: Al-Aḥzāb: 33:21