The English Translation of Salaah (Prayer)

[Hamza Asadullah]

The English Translation of Salaah (Prayer)




:sl:

It is most important for us as Muslims, particularly non Arabic speaking Muslims to be able to understand what we are reciting in our Salaah. Salaah is a sacred meeting with Allah 5 times a day. There is nothing between a servant and his lord during prayer as it is a direct meeting with no intermediary between. During this direct meeting we are reciting supplications to our lord, asking of him and praising him.

So in order for us to feel the full benefits of such an important and sacred meeting we should be able to know exactly what we are reciting as it will help us to be able to concentrate much better in prayer and enable us to picture and imagine what we are reciting directly to Allah whilst he is watching us or we are watching him. Knowing what we are reciting will enable us to feel much more humble and face our creator in humility.

Therefore let us all make effort to learn what we are reciting in our Salaah in order to achieve the state of praying Salaah as though we see Allah in front of us or that he sees us standing in front of him.


Salaah (prayer) and its translations:


Make the intention of praying then raise hands to ears and say:


Allaahu akbar

Allah is the greatest!

Subhaana Kal-lah hum-ma wabi hamdika watha-baara kasmuka watha'aala jad-duka walaa ilaaha ghayruk.

Glory be to you, O Allah, and all praises are due unto you, and blessed is your name and high is your majesty and none is worthy of worship but you.

A'udhu bil-laahi minash Shaythaa-nir-rajeem

I seek Allah's protection from Satan who is accursed.

Bismillaah hir-Rahmaa nir-Raheem

In the name of Allah, the most Kind and the most Merciful.

Alhamdul lil-laahi rab-bil 'aalameen
Ar rahmaa nir-raheem
Maaliki yawmid-deen
Iyyaa-ka na'budu wa iyyaa-ka nasta'een
Ihdinas siraatal mustaqeem
Siraatal Ladheena an'amta 'alayhim
Ghay-ril maghdubi 'alayhim
Walad daal-leen. Ameen

Translation:

Praise is only for Allah, Lord of the Universe.
The most Kind, the most Merciful.
The master of the Day of Judgement.
You alone we worship and to you alone we pray for help.
Show us the straight way,
The way of those whom you have blessed.
Who have not deserved your anger,
Nor gone astray.

We can pray any Surah after reciting Surah Faatiha above, as long as it is a minimum of 3 verses or one long verse. The following is a short and popular Surah situated towards the end of the Qur'an called Surah Al Ikhlas:


Qul huwal laahu ahad.
Allaah hus-Samad.
Lam yalid walam yoolad.
Walam yakul-lahu Kufuwan ahad.

Say: He is Allah, the only one.
Allah helps and does not need help.
He does not produce a child, and He was not born of anyone.
There is no one equal to Him.

Subhaana Rabbi'al Azeem

"Glory to my Lord the Exalted".

Sami Allaahu Liman Hamidah

“Allah listens to him who praises Him"

Rabbanaa lakal Hamd

"Oh our Lord, all praise is to you".

Subhaana Rabbi yal A'alaa

"Oh Allah glory be to you, the most high."

AthahiyyaatuLillahi Was Salawaatu Wattayyibatu Assalamu Alaika Ayyuhannabi 'yu 'Warahmatullaahi Wabarka'tuhu Assalamu Alaina Wa'alaa'Ibaadillaahis Saa'liheen, Ash'had'u'Allahaa ilaha illallahu Wa Ash'hadu Anna Muhammadun Abd'uhu Wa Rasooluh

All compliments, all physical prayer and all monetary worship are for Allah.
Peace be upon you, Oh Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings.
Peace be on us and on all righteous slaves of Allah.
I bear witness that no one is worthy of worship except Allah
And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger

Allaahumma Salleh Alaa Muhammadin Wa'alaa' Aale Muhammadin Kama Sallaiyta Alaa Ibraheema Wa' Alaa Aale Ibraheema InnakaHameedum Majeed

Allaahumma Baarak Alaa Muhammadin Wa' Alaa Aale Muhammadin Kama Baarakta Alaa Ibraheem Wa' Alaa Aale Ibraheema Innaka Hameedum Majeed

Oh Allah, send grace and honour on Muhammad and
On the family and true followers of Muhammad
just as you sent Grace and Honour on Ibrahim
and on the family and true followers of Ibrahim
Surely, you are praiseworthy, the Great.

Oh Allah, send your blessing on Muhammad and
the true followers of Muhammad, just
as you sent blessings on Ibrahim
and his true followers
Surely, you are praiseworthy, the Great.

Dua after durood

Rabbij'alnee muqeemas salaati wa mindhur
-riy yatee rab-banaa watha qab-bal du'a,
rab-ba nagh-firlee wali waaliday-ya
wa lil mu-mineena yawma yaqumul hisaab.

Oh Lord, make me and my children keep up prayers,
Our Lord, accept our prayer,
Our Lord, forgive me and my parents
and all the Believers on the Day of Judgement.

Rabbana Aatina Fid Duniya Hasanataw Wafil Aakhirati Hasanataw Wa Qina Adhaaban Naar

"Our Lord, grant us the good of this world and that of the Hereafter and save us from the torture of hell.”

Another dua one can make after durood is:

Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathiran wa la ya'ghfirudh dhunuuba illa anta fa'ghfir li ma'ghfiratan min ‘indika warhamni innaka antal ‘ghafurur rahim.

Translation : "O Allah, I have greatly wronged myself and You alone can forgive sins, so grant me forgiveness from you and have mercy on me. You are the forgiving and Merciful One.

Assalamu Alai'kumWarah'matullaah

“Peace and mercy of Allah be on you".

Dua Qunoot (to be recited in the last rakat of the Witr Prayer)

Allah humma inna nast'eenuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nu'minu bika wa nathawak-kalu 'alayka wa nuthne 'alayk-al khayr. Wa nashkuruka wa laaa nakfuruka wa nakhla'u wa nathruku mayy yafjuruka. Allah humma iyyaka na'budu wa laka nusal-lee wa nasjudu wa ilayka nas'aa wa nahfidu wa narju rahmataka wa nakhsha 'adhaabaka inna 'adhaabaka bil kuf-faari mulhiq.

Translation:

Oh Allah, we ask you for help and seek your forgiveness, and we believe in You and have trust in You, and we praise you in the best way and we thank You and we are not ungrateful to you, and we forsake and turn away from the one who disobeys you. O Allah, we worship You only and pray to You and prostrate ourselves before You, and we run towards You and serve You, and we hope to receive your mercy, and we fear your punishment. Surely, the disbelievers will receive your punishment.


The following is the audio version of the arabic pronounciation in Salaah along with english translation:

[Mikayeel]

:sl:

Thread approved

Thanks for the reminder brother

[PersianPrince]

It's very nice of you to do this! Thank you!

[Hamza Asadullah]

How to concentrate in Salaah (Prayer)

http://www.islamicboard.com/manners-...my-salaah.html

Hey there! Looks like you're enjoying the discussion, but you're not signed up for an account.

When you create an account, you can participate in the discussions and share your thoughts. You also get notifications, here and via email, whenever new posts are made. And you can like posts and make new friends.
Sign Up

[~Zaria~]

Assalamu-alaikum,

JazakAllah khair for this beneficial thread.


Please advise me with regards to the following:

Is the above duaa after durood the most recommended (for a particular reason), or can any duaa be read?
I read the following:

Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathiran wa la ya'ghfirudh dhunuuba illa anta fa'ghfir li ma'ghfiratan min ‘indika warhamni innaka antal ‘ghafurur rahim.

O Allah, I have been very unjust to myself and no one grants pardon against sin but You, therefore forgive me with Your forgiveness and have mercy on me. Surely, You are the forgiver, the Merciful.


Also, is the duaa after durood compulsory or optional?
(For one who has reverted and wishes to learn the fard requirements of salaah first in arabic, before concentrating on the rest.)


May Allah (subhanawataála) reward you immensely Akhee.
Ameen.

:wa:

[Hamza Asadullah]

Assalamu-alaikum,

JazakAllah khair for this beneficial thread.


Please advise me with regards to the following:

Is the above duaa after durood the most recommended (for a particular reason), or can any duaa be read?
I read the following:

Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathiran wa la ya'ghfirudh dhunuuba illa anta fa'ghfir li ma'ghfiratan min ‘indika warhamni innaka antal ‘ghafurur rahim.

O Allah, I have been very unjust to myself and no one grants pardon against sin but You, therefore forgive me with Your forgiveness and have mercy on me. Surely, You are the forgiver, the Merciful.


Also, is the duaa after durood compulsory or optional?
(For one who has reverted and wishes to learn the fard requirements of salaah first in arabic, before concentrating on the rest.)


May Allah (subhanawataála) reward you immensely Akhee.
Ameen.

:wa:

:sl:

According to the Hanafi madhab the Durood as well as the dua after it is classed as Sunnah and not Fard or Waajib in Salaah. But it should still be read as one should try to fulfill all the Sunnah of Salaah. Read more about the Fard, Waajib and Sunnah's of Salaah in accordance with the Hanafi madhab:

Conditions and rules of Salaah according to the Hanafi Madhab:

http://www.inter-islam.org/Actions/Part8.html

With regards to the Dua's to be recited after Durood then any dua which has been mentioned in the Qur'an and hadith can be recited. The most popular ones are the dua's in the OP as well as the one you have mentioned which i have now added into the OP. Jazakallahu khayr.

And Allah knows best in all matters

[glo]

Alhamdul lil-laahi rab-bil 'aalameen
Ar rahmaa nir-raheem
Maaliki yawmid-deen
Iyyaa-ka na'budu wa iyyaa-ka nasta'een
Ihdinas siraatal mustaqeem
Siraatal Ladheena an'amta 'alayhim
Ghay-ril maghdubi 'alayhim
Walad daal-leen. Ameen

Translation:
Praise is only for Allah, Lord of the Universe.
The most Kind, the most Merciful.
The master of the Day of Judgement.
You alone we worship and to you alone we pray for help.
Show us the straight way,
The way of those whom you have blessed.
Who have not deserved your anger,
Nor gone astray

I love this part. :)

[~Zaria~]

I love this part. :)

Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to Allah).


This is Surah Fatihah (The Opening) - it opens the holy Quraan and by it, the prayer commences.


Abu Hurayrah (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allaah (SAW) said,

Allaah, the Glorious and Exalted said, “I have divided the prayer between Myself and my servant equally and My servant shall be granted what he asked for.”

Therefore when the servant says, ‘all praises and thanks are due to Allaah, the Lord of the universe’, Allaah says, ‘My servant has praised Me.’

When he says, ‘the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful,’ Allaah says, ‘My servant has extolled Me.’

When he says, ‘Master of the Day of Judgement,’ Allaah says, ‘My servant has glorified Me.’

When he says, ‘You Alone we worship and Your aid Alone do we seek,’ Allaah says, ‘this is between Me and My servant and My servant shall have what he requested.’

When he says, ‘guide us to the Straight Path, the Path of those whom You have favoured, not of those who have incurred [Your] wrath, neither of those who have gone astray,’ Allaah says, ‘this is for My servant and My servant shall have what he asked for.’ [Saheeh Muslim [Eng. Trans. 1/215 no. 775]]


Each line in this surah is filled with so much meaning, and when reciting it standing in the presence of your Creator - it is often over-whelming and brings those who are truly concentrating - to tears.

I love this entire surah.
And I love especially:

‘You Alone we worship and Your aid Alone do we seek,"


Because you know, that no matter what hardship/ trial you may be facing - there is none else to turn to, BUT our Creator.
Where else can we go?

And He dearly loves us to turn to Him.
SubhanAllah.

:wa:

[Hamza Asadullah]

Salaah (The Prayer) and its English translation:

[crimsontide06]

What do these words mean: durood,Qunoot,Witr..also explain them, I did not know of any dua prayer during the salat. Do you do them in all 5 prayers, when??? The videos I have watched for prayers did not include it..but my booklet does.

I can say the prayers in Arabic but have recently started including the English recitations too(after I have said them in Arabic I say them in English), prayer can't mean anything if you do not know what you are saying.


Also what do these words mean: Fard, Waajib

[crimsontide06]

bump for questions ^^^^

[tearose]

What do these words mean: durood,Qunoot,Witr..also explain them, I did not know of any dua prayer during the salat. Do you do them in all 5 prayers, when??? The videos I have watched for prayers did not include it..but my booklet does.

I can say the prayers in Arabic but have recently started including the English recitations too(after I have said them in Arabic I say them in English), prayer can't mean anything if you do not know what you are saying.


Also what do these words mean: Fard, Waajib

As-salamu 3laikum,
Brother, I don't think you should read English translations in your Salaat as this may invalidate the salaat. You shouldn't say any words out loud that are not part of the prayer. I think you should try to think of the meaning when you read in Arabic, over time you will get used to it in sha Allah and you won't need to even think about the translation. You can make this easier by memorizing more short surahs and getting used to the structure of the Arabic words, in sha Allah.

About your questions, 'fard' and 'wajib' both have a meaning of 'compulsory' or a duty/obligation, technically there may be some difference in meaning but I'm not sure.
'qunoot' is a dua that may be recited in salaat and is prescribed in the witr prayer. Witr is a prayer that may be performed between the time of isha' and fajr and it is important to pray it regularly. The madhahib have differing views on the correct way to perform this prayer, as I found out when I moved country, so I think the best thing would be to ask at your masjid, in sha Allah.

[greenhill]

Crimsontide06, the Qunut dua is also recited in the subuh prayer after 'sami Allah huliman hamidah' before going down for the sujud on the second raka'.


On another note, the 'prayer' that is said when we sit down in between the two sujud's is not stated above.
Robbighfirli - Oh Lord, forgive me
Warhamnii - Have mercy on me
Wajburnii - protect(?) me
Warfa'nii - raise my status
Warzuqnii - give me 'wealth'
Wahdinii - give me guidance
Wa'Aafinii - make me healthy
Wafuanii - Forgive me

(translation may not be exact...) For me this is a very important part of our salat as we directly ask from Allah these things of great value for here and hereafter.

[~Zaria~]

:salam:


There are many other duaas that can be recited at the different stages of salaah (these can be found in books such as Fortress of a Muslim).

The outline provided in the OP encompasses the fard and sunnah aspects of salaah, that are recommended for those who are initially learning to perform salaah.

On another note, the 'prayer' that is said when we sit down in between the two sujud's is not stated above.
Robbighfirli - Oh Lord, forgive me
Warhamnii - Have mercy on me
Wajburnii - protect(?) me
Warfa'nii - raise my status
Warzuqnii - give me 'wealth'
Wahdinii - give me guidance
Wa'Aafinii - make me healthy
Wafuanii - Forgive me


(translation may not be exact...) For me this is a very important part of our salat as we directly ask from Allah these things of great value for here and hereafter.

Allahu-maghfir lee: O Allah forgive me
Warhamnee: Have mercy on me
Wahdinee: Guide me
Wajburnee: Support me
Wa áafinee: Protect me
Warzuqnee: Provide for me
Warfa'nee: Elevate me
(Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah 1/148, Tirmidhi 1/90)

You may notice that when reading in congregation, there is not enough time to read these duaas between the 2 prostrations.

So, a shorter duaa that can be read in this case (and in addition to the above):

Rabbighfir lee, Rabbighfir lee: My Lord forgive me, My Lord, forgive me.
(Abu Dawud 1/231, Al Albani)


:jz:

[greenhill]

Thank you Zaria for the corrections in my translation :embarrass. I just included this part (in between the sujuds) as it was not mentioned above and it is very useful to know this. I see many people fast forward this part when doing prayers on their own, such a pity.

[Hamza Asadullah]

3 ways of attaining focus in our Salaah (prayer) - You will be amazed!



How many of us pray our Salaah day in and day out yet we feel nothing. We pray like robots and we gain nothing from our Salaah except wanting it to end as quickly as possible. We still continue to sin like as if we never prayed Salaah in the first place. Many of us who pray even go days without even thinking of Allah during the prayer. This is because our Salaah has been stolen from us by our own negligence and a heedless heart and mind.

Therefore we must put a stop to this at once. How can we continue to pray in such a way when we are missing out on experiencing the true sweetness of Salaah. We are missing out on such great things which can only be experienced by being able to fully concentrate in Salaah with a focused mind.

So we must make a firm intention and internalise in our minds that we will strive to do our very best to concentrate and focus in our Salaah so that we may connect with Allah in our Salaah. Once we have connected with Allah in our Salaah then our lives will change for the better and will never be the same again!


The following are just three steps for us to be able to attain proper focus in Salaah!:


1. Do not overeat:

By overeating our mind cannot remain focused as we feel discomfort from a bloated stomach. We can hardly stand still in our prayer as we ate so much. Therefore we must not overeat before our Salaah but eat until we are satisfied and NOT until we are so full that we cannot even move!


2. Prepare for the Salaah:

When we are prepare to go to an interview then many of us will shower, make sure we smell good, put on our best clothes etc. But why is it when we prepare to meet with Allah in our prayers then we go to our prayer in our pyjamas? We pray in clothing that we would not even imagine wearing outside of the house. This is a pathetic state of affairs we are in. We dress so smartly and look our best when we go to an interview to see a creation of Allah yet when we go to see our creator we dress in our worst clothes!

Who is higher than our creator? Who deserves from us that we be in our cleanest state and very best clothing than our Master the lord of the worlds?

Therefore whenever we approach our prayer then we must ensure that we are in the very cleanest state preferably making fresh Wudu before each Salaah and in our best clothes so that our minds are prepared for the meeting with Allah as the Salaah is a meeting with our creator.


3. Focus on Allah:

Before commencing our Salaah we may have all kinds of thoughts in our minds like work, family, finances, food, our past and future events in our lives and even sinful thoughts. So we must not go into the prayer like this otherwise we will be thinking about all of these things during our Salaah and our mind will be distracted and occupied with all kinds of thoughts. Therefore we must take out a little time even a minute or two to try to focus our minds towards Allah. If it helps to close the eyes briefly then do it. Do the following exercise:

Just before your Salaah:

- Imagine your mind is wiped clean like a sheet of paper. There is nothing in your mind for it is wiped clean. Now focus and Imagine that you are laying on the death bed and you see around your that your family are mourning you. But you cannot respond to them for your are dead. No one else can help you except Allah. Focus on Allah. Only Allah can help you.

- Now imagine that you are being lowered into the grave and when you are put onto the dirt then people start dropping the dirt onto you until your grave is filled. Now who can help you except Allah. Focus on Allah.

- Now imagine that you have been raised up on the day of resurrection onto the plains of Arafat. You are running to the central area for Judgement. People around you are also running and they are screaming and panicking like you have never seen before. No one can help you now. Even your Mother does not look at you because she is in fear. Who will come to your aide except Allah. Only Allah. Focus on Allah

- Now imagine that you are in front of Allah on the day of Judgement and he asks you to show him your prayer. What will you show him as you never even focused properly in your Salaah. You always thought of other things when you should have focused on your creator. So you feel utterly ashamed of showing your worthless prayers to Allah. Therefore you beg Allah for one more chance to perfect your prayer. You ask Allah to return you to the Earth so that you may do your prayer properly. Almighty Allah grants you just one chance to go back to the Earth to show him that you can do your prayer properly.

- Now start your prayer and focus on Allah as you are in the present. Do not think of your past and do not think of your future. Keep imagining to yourself:

"I have no past, I have no future, I am in the present and Allah is watching me".

When you recite Surah Fathiha and any other Surah then imagine you are reciting it to Allah. When you go down to Ruku (bent position) then focus on Allah. When you go to Sajda (prostration) then focus on Allah, When you come up to Tashahud then focus on Allah. Each and everything you recite and every position you go into in Salaah then focus on Allah as he is watching you and the Angel of Death is behind you waiting for you to finish your prayer so that he may take your soul! This is how we should concentrate in every Salaah because each and every Salaah may be our last.

So keep repeating this concentration and focus exercise before each Salaah until your focus becomes 100%. It may begin to be less at first but it will improve gradually. Even if we trip and fall then keep gong until you achieve 100% focus every time. Spend however long it takes before each Salaah so that you can focus before you begin. It will not necessarily be an over night change but gradually you will be able to focus more and more in your Salaah and this focus will also help you to focus in other aspects of your life inshaAllah. Ask of Allah to help you focus in each Salaah to give you the true sweetness of the Salaah.

May Allah enable us to pray each Salaah with full focus and concentration so that we may attain the true sweetness of Salaah!

[Hamza Asadullah]

What to say in Salaah:

http://islamcan.com/salat/duas/index.shtml

[Hamza Asadullah]

The Salaah with its meaning - Step by Step prayer demonstration in Arabic & English