What to Recite During Salah
One of the most common questions beginners ask is: "What do I actually say during Salah?" You are not alone. Many new Muslims and even born Muslims struggle to remember all the recitations. This guide will walk you through everything you need to recite — from the opening takbir to the final tasleem.
Quick Overview
Recitations include: Takbir (Allahu Akbar), Al-Fatihah (obligatory), short surah, Ruku recitation (Subhana Rabbiyal Adhim), Sujood recitation (Subhana Rabbiyal A'la), Tashahhud, Salawat, and Tasleem.
Opening Supplication (Dua Al-Istiftah)
After saying "Allahu Akbar" to start your prayer, you can recite this beautiful opening dua. It is sunnah (recommended) but not obligatory.
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
Transliteration: Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghayruk
Translation: "Glory and praise be to You, O Allah. Blessed is Your name and exalted is Your majesty. There is no god but You."
Surah Al-Fatihah (The Opening)
This is the most important recitation in Salah. You must recite Al-Fatihah in every single rakat. Without it, your prayer is incomplete.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
1. Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim — "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful."
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
2. Alhamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin — "All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds."
الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
3. Ar-Rahmanir Rahim — "The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful."
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
4. Maliki yawmid din — "Master of the Day of Judgment."
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
5. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in — "You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help."
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
6. Ihdinas siratal mustaqim — "Guide us to the straight path."
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
7. Siratal ladhina an'amta 'alayhim ghayril maghdubi 'alayhim wa lad dallin — "The path of those You have blessed, not of those who have earned Your anger, nor of those who have gone astray."
Short Surah After Al-Fatihah
After reciting Al-Fatihah in the first two rakats of Fajr, Maghrib, and Isha (and first two rakats of Dhuhr and Asr), you should recite another surah. Here is the shortest and easiest one:
Surah Al-Ikhlas (The Sincerity)
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
1. Qul huwallahu ahad — "Say: He is Allah, the One."
اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
2. Allahus samad — "Allah, the Eternal Refuge."
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
3. Lam yalid wa lam yulad — "He neither begets nor is born."
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
4. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad — "Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
Recitations in Ruku (Bowing)
When you bow down, say "Allahu Akbar" and then recite this three times:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Transliteration: Subhana Rabbiyal Adhim
Translation: "Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty."
Recitations in Sujood (Prostration)
When you prostrate, say "Allahu Akbar" and then recite this three times:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Transliteration: Subhana Rabbiyal A'la
Translation: "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High."
Recitations in Sitting Position (Tashahhud)
After completing two rakats (or at the end of your prayer), you sit and recite the Tashahhud:
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Transliteration: At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-salihin. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.
Translation: "All greetings, prayers, and good things are for Allah. 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 but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His messenger."
Salawat on the Prophet
After the Tashahhud in the final sitting, recite this Salawat (blessings on the Prophet):
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Transliteration: Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala ali Muhammad kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahim wa 'ala ali Ibrahim innaka hamidun majid.
Translation: "O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed Praiseworthy and Glorious."
Tasleem (Ending the Prayer)
To end your prayer, turn your head to the right and left, saying:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
Transliteration: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah
Translation: "Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah."
Beginner Tip: You do not need to memorize everything at once. Start with Al-Fatihah. Once you have that memorized, add the Tashahhud. Then add the short surah. Then add the Salawat. Take it one step at a time. Allah sees your effort.
How NoorConnect Helps with Recitations
Memorizing all these recitations can feel like a big mountain to climb. But here is the good news — you do not have to do it alone. The NoorConnect app plays each recitation out loud while you pray. You can listen, repeat, and learn at your own pace. The app also shows you the Arabic text, transliteration, and translation on your phone screen.
Over time, you will find that the recitations become natural. You will no longer need to look at your phone. But while you are learning, NoorConnect is there to support you every step of the way.
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