بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Essential Guide
The prayers and duas every Muslim needs to know — Salah, Janazah, Grave visiting & Eid
Minor practices (raising hands, saying Ameen aloud, placement of hands) vary slightly between schools of thought (Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali) — follow what you were taught by your local scholars. The core structure below is agreed upon by all.
Rak'ah Count for Each Prayer
| Prayer | Sunnah (before) | Fard (obligatory) | Sunnah (after) | Witr / Nafl |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| Dhuhr | 4 | 4 | 2 | — |
| Asr | 4 (optional) | 4 | — | — |
| Maghrib | — | 3 | 2 | — |
| Isha | 4 (optional) | 4 | 2 | 3 (Witr) |
Step-by-Step Format of a Rak'ah
1. Niyyah (Intention)
Silently intend in your heart which prayer you are performing. No specific wording is required — intention is a decision of the heart.
2. Takbeer al-Ihram (Opening) — raise hands and say:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar
"Allah is the Greatest." This begins the prayer; place right hand over left on the chest.
3. Opening Dua (Thana / Istiftah)
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghairuk
"Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your Name, exalted is Your Majesty, and none has the right to be worshipped but You."
4. Al-Fatihah (recited in every rak'ah)
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
Followed (in the 1st and 2nd rak'ah of every prayer) by another surah or a few verses from the Qur'an, e.g. Surah Al-Ikhlas.
5. Ruku' (Bowing) — say Takbeer, bow, then recite 3× (or more):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal 'Adheem
"Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great."
6. Rising from Ruku' (Qawmah)
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ — رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Sami'Allahu liman hamidah — Rabbana wa lakal hamd
"Allah hears whoever praises Him. Our Lord, all praise is for You."
7. Sujud (Prostration) — say Takbeer, prostrate, recite 3× (or more):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal A'la
"Glory be to my Lord, the Most High." Then rise saying Takbeer, sit briefly (Jalsa) saying "Rabbighfirli" (My Lord, forgive me), then prostrate a second time repeating the same dua — completing one rak'ah.
8. Tashahhud (At-Tahiyyat) — sat after every 2 rak'ahs
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
"All greetings, prayers, and good deeds are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger."
9. Durood Ibrahim (in the final Tashahhud, before Salam)
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ. اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
"O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious."
10. Dua before Salam (recommended)
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ، وَمِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ
"O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell, the punishment of the grave, the trials of life and death, and the evil of the trial of the False Messiah (Dajjal)."
11. Salam (ending the prayer) — turn head right then left:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullah
"Peace and the mercy of Allah be upon you." This ends the prayer.
Janazah (funeral) prayer — known in Malayalam as "Mayyith Niskaram" — is a communal obligation (Fard Kifayah): if some Muslims perform it, the rest are absolved. It has no ruku' or sujud — only 4 Takbirs said while standing.
Formation
The body is placed in front, with the Imam standing level with the chest of the deceased. Worshippers form rows behind the Imam, facing the Qibla, with hands raised for the opening Takbir only (like the start of normal prayer). No adhan or iqamah is given.
1st Takbir — say "Allahu Akbar", then recite Surah Al-Fatihah silently
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Followed by Al-Fatihah (as in normal prayer).
2nd Takbir — then recite Durood Ibrahim (Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ)
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Same Durood as recited in daily Salah.
3rd Takbir — Dua for the deceased
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِحَيِّنَا وَمَيِّتِنَا، وَشَاهِدِنَا وَغَائِبِنَا، وَصَغِيرِنَا وَكَبِيرِنَا، وَذَكَرِنَا وَأُنْثَانَا، اللَّهُمَّ مَنْ أَحْيَيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَأَحْيِهِ عَلَى الْإِسْلَامِ، وَمَنْ تَوَفَّيْتَهُ مِنَّا فَتَوَفَّهُ عَلَى الْإِيمَانِ
Allahummaghfir li hayyina wa mayyitina, wa shahidina wa gha'ibina, wa sagheerina wa kabeerina, wa dhakarina wa unthana...
"O Allah, forgive our living and our dead, those present and those absent, our young and our old, our males and our females. O Allah, whoever You keep alive among us, let him live upon Islam, and whoever You take from us, let him die upon faith."
For a deceased child, a shorter dua is recited asking Allah to make the child a means of intercession, reward, and forerunner for the parents.
4th Takbir — then Salam
Say "Allahu Akbar" a fourth time, pause briefly (optionally in silent dua), then say Salam once or twice by turning the head, exactly as at the end of ordinary prayer.
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
Visiting graves is Sunnah for men (to remember death and the Hereafter) and reminds us to make dua for the deceased. Walk in with the right foot, greet the dead, and make dua — do not sit on or step over graves, and do not ask the dead for anything (dua is directed to Allah alone).
Dua Upon Entering the Graveyard
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ أَهْلَ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ، وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لَاحِقُونَ، أَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ لَنَا وَلَكُمُ الْعَافِيَةَ، يَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنَّا وَالْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ
As-salamu 'alaikum ahlad-diyari minal-mu'minina wal-muslimin, wa inna in sha'Allahu bikum lahiqun. As'alullaha lana wa lakumul 'afiyah. Yarhamullahul mustaqdimina minna wal musta'khirin
"Peace be upon you, O believers and Muslims dwelling here. We shall, if Allah wills, join you soon. I ask Allah for well-being for us and for you. May Allah have mercy on those of us who have gone ahead and those who remain."
Shorter Alternative Dua
السَّلَامُ عَلَى أَهْلِ الدِّيَارِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُسْلِمِينَ وَيَرْحَمُ اللَّهُ الْمُسْتَقْدِمِينَ مِنَّا وَالْمُسْتَأْخِرِينَ وَإِنَّا إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ لَلَاحِقُونَ
Same meaning as above, a slightly shorter narration.
While Standing at a Specific Grave
Recite Surah Al-Fatihah, Surah Al-Ikhlas (3x), and make personal dua asking Allah to forgive the deceased, elevate their status, and grant them Jannah — e.g. "Allahummaghfir lahu warhamhu wa 'afihi wa'fu 'anhu" (O Allah, forgive him, have mercy on him, grant him well-being and pardon him).
Eid prayer (Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha) is 2 rak'ahs, performed in congregation shortly after sunrise, with no adhan or iqamah, followed by a khutbah (sermon). Its distinguishing feature is the extra Takbirs.
First Rak'ah
1. Make intention and say the opening Takbir (Takbeer al-Ihram), then recite the opening dua (Thana) silently.
2. Raise both hands and say "Allahu Akbar" 7 times (pausing briefly between each, glorifying Allah silently in between).
3. Recite Surah Al-Fatihah, followed by another surah (commonly Surah Al-A'la).
4. Continue with Ruku', Sujud, exactly as in normal prayer.
2. Raise both hands and say "Allahu Akbar" 7 times (pausing briefly between each, glorifying Allah silently in between).
3. Recite Surah Al-Fatihah, followed by another surah (commonly Surah Al-A'la).
4. Continue with Ruku', Sujud, exactly as in normal prayer.
Second Rak'ah
1. Stand up and recite Al-Fatihah followed by another surah (commonly Surah Al-Ghashiyah).
2. Before bowing into Ruku', say "Allahu Akbar" 5 times.
3. Then bow for Ruku' with the Takbir for Ruku' itself (a 6th, which is the normal transitional Takbir), and continue as usual through Sujud, Tashahhud, Durood, and Salam.
2. Before bowing into Ruku', say "Allahu Akbar" 5 times.
3. Then bow for Ruku' with the Takbir for Ruku' itself (a 6th, which is the normal transitional Takbir), and continue as usual through Sujud, Tashahhud, Durood, and Salam.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلِلَّهِ الْحَمْدُ
Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar, la ilaha illallah, wallahu akbar, Allahu akbar wa lillahil hamd
The Takbir of Eid, recommended to be recited repeatedly on the way to the prayer ground and until the Imam begins: "Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, none has the right to be worshipped but Allah. Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest, and to Allah belongs all praise."
After the Prayer
The Imam delivers two khutbahs (sermons) which the congregation is encouraged to sit and listen to, unlike Jumu'ah, attendance at the khutbah is not obligatory but highly recommended. It is Sunnah to say Takbir aloud from the night before Eid (or from the Day of Arafah for Eid al-Adha) until the Imam begins the khutbah.