Importance of Salah in Muslim Life
A person drowning in water needs a lifebuoy; this is exactly what Salah represents. Muslim prayer is the rope that binds the Creator to His creation, reminding the servant that His Lord is Generous and the Responder to all supplications. He is with him at every step, hearing his calls and his worries.
Prayer is the pillar of religion. It is the second of the five pillars of Islam and the key to Paradise. Allah the Almighty said: “Surely, prayer is a prescribed duty that should be performed at its appointed times.” (Surah an-Nisa, Ch.4: V.104), meaning that it is an obligation upon us to perform Salah at its appointed times.
Why It is Important to Learn Arabic Phrases for Salah
Prayer acts as an eraser of sins. The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, “The five daily Salat (prayers) are like a great river running by your door in which you take a bath five times a day.” Just as water cleanses the body, the five daily prayers wipe away sins and transgressions until no trace of them remains. To truly experience this spiritual cleansing, one must achieve Khushu’ (devotion).
The essence of prayer is Khushu’. Through it, the heart finds peace and relief from worldly worries. To achieve it, one must have a present heart and an awareness of standing before one’s Creator.
This requires avoiding distractions and reflecting on the meanings of the Arabic words used in prayer, making learning Arabic for prayer essential. Understanding the Arabic words used in prayer becomes easier when learners are familiar with common vocabulary, such as those found in 50 Arabic Words Used in Daily Life.
Your Arabic Takeaway
6 Key Arabic Phrases in Every Salah
English Meaning
When it is said
Transliteration
Arabic Phrase
Allah is the greatest
At the beginning of the prayer and when moving between prayer positions
Allahu Akbar
الله أكبر
Glory be to my Lord, the Greatest
While bowing (Rukūʿ)
Subḥāna Rabbiyal-ʿAẓīm
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيم
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High
While prostrating (Sujūd)
Subḥāna Rabbiyal-Aʿlā
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Allah hears whoever praises Him
When rising from bowing (Rukūʿ)
Samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه
Our Lord, to You belongs all praise
Said after standing upright from bowing
Rabbanā laka al-ḥamd
رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْد
Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you
At the end of the prayer (Tasleem)
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله
Short Surahs Every Muslim Recites in Salah
Reciting the Quran is an act of worship for Muslims, performed both during and outside of prayer. Whether the Surahs are long or short, each one has its own unique beauty. Many people prefer to recite shorter Surahs because they are easier to memorize. For those who want to improve their Quran recitation and pronunciation in order to recite longer Surahs, Learn Arabic with Noorani Qaida Practice in AlifBee is an excellent step.
As part of this step-by-step guide, we will highlight some of the Surahs that people commonly recite.
Surah Al-Fatihah (سورة الفاتحة)
Surah Al-Fatiha is the greatest Surah of the Qur’an and the foundation of Salah. It is recited in every prayer and in every rakʿah, and Salah is not valid without it.
Surah in Arabic
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ )١( ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ )٢( ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ )٣( مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ )٤( إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ )٥( ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ )٦( صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ )٧)
Transliteration
1. Bismi Allahi arrahmani arraheem 2.Alhamdu lillahi rabbi alAAalameen 3. Arrahmani Arraheem 4. Maliki yawmi addeen 5.Iyyaka naAAbudu wa-iyyaka nastaAAeen 6.Ihdina assirata almustaqeem 7.Sirata allatheena anAAamta AAalayhim ghayri almaghdoobi AAalayhim wala addalleen
English Translation
1. In the name of Allāh, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful 2.[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord of the worlds - 3.The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, 4. Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. 5.It is You we worship and You we ask for help. 6. Guide us to the straight path - 7.The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
English Translation: Saheeh International
Source: Surah Al-Fatihah – 1-7 – Quran.com
Surah Al-Ikhlas ( سورة الإخلاص)
Surah Al-Ikhlas is a great Surah; the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) informed us that it is equivalent to one-third of the Qur’an.
Surah in Arabic
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ )١ (ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ (٢( لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ )٣) وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ) ٤)
Transliteration
1.Qul huwa Allahu ahad 2.Allahu assamad 3. Lam yalid walam yoolad 4. Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad
English Translation
Say, "He is Allāh, [who is] One, 2. Allāh, the Eternal Refuge. 3. He neither begets nor is born, 4. Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
English Translation: Saheeh International
Source: https://quran.com/112
Surah Al-Falaq (سورة الفلق)
Surah Al-Falaq is a beloved and powerful Surah. It is one of the best ways to seek refuge in Allah, protecting the believer from all forms of evil, envy, and harm.
Surah in Arabic
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْفَلَقِ )١ (مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ) ٢( وَمِن شَرِّ غَاسِقٍ إِذَا وَقَبَ )٣) وَمِن شَرِّ ٱلنَّفَّـٰثَـٰتِ فِى ٱلْعُقَدِ)٤( وَمِن شَرِّ حَاسِدٍ إِذَا حَسَدَ )٥(
Transliteration
1. Qul aAAoothu birabbi alfalaq 2.Min sharri ma khalaq 3.Wamin sharri ghasiqin ithawaqab 4. Wamin sharri annaffathatifee alAAuqad 5.Wamin sharri hasidin itha hasad
English Translation
1. Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak 2.From the evil of that which He created 3.And from the evil of darkness when it settles 4.And from the evil of the blowers in knots 5.And from the evil of an envier when he envies."
English Translation: Saheeh International
Source: https://quran.com/113
Surah An-Nas (سورة الناس )
Surah An-Nas is a fortress against evil and whispers, providing the believer with safety and inner peace.
Surah in Arabic
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ ٱلنَّاسِ )١) مَلِكِ ٱلنَّاسِ(٢) إِلَـٰهِ ٱلنَّاسِ(٣) مِن شَرِّ ٱلْوَسْوَاسِ ٱلْخَنَّاسِ )٤) ٱلَّذِى يُوَسْوِسُ فِى صُدُورِ ٱلنَّاسِ (٥( مِنَ ٱلْجِنَّةِ وَٱلنَّاسِ (٦)
Transliteration
1.Qul aAAoothu birabbi annas 2.Maliki annas 3.Ilahi annas 4.Min sharri alwaswasi alkhannas 5.Allathee yuwaswisu fee sudoori annas 6.Mina aljinnati wannas
English Translation
In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful 1.Say, "I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, 2.The Sovereign of mankind, 3.The God of mankind, 4.From the evil of the retreating whisperer - 5.Who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind - 6.From among the jinn and mankind."
English Translation: Saheeh International
Source: https://quran.com/114
Other Arabic Supplications and Duaa in Every Salah
1- Opening Supplication (Dua Al-Istiftah)
Dua in Arabic
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
Transliteration
Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk
English Translation
‘Glorious You are O Allah, and with Your praise, and blessed is Your Name, and exalted is Your majesty, and none has the right to be worshipped but You.
2- Duaa when sitting between two sujoods
Dua in Arabic
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَارْحَمْنِي، وَاهْدِنِي، وَاجْبُرْنِي، وَعَافِنِي، وَارْزُقْنِي، وَارْفَعْنِي
Transliteration
Allaahum-maghfir lee, warhamnee, wahdinee, wajburnee, wa 'aafinee, warzuqnee, warfa'nee
English Translation
O Allah forgive me, have mercy on me, guide me, support me, protect me, provide for me and elevate me.
Ibn Majah: 3845, 1517 At-Tirmidhi: 284
Source: https://www.islamicfinder.org/duas/masnoon/when-sitting-between-two-sujood-prostrations/#2
3- Al-Tashaahod:
Al-Tashaahod is recited while sitting in Salah, after the second rakʿah and in the final sitting of the prayer, while raising the index finger, as a declaration of faith.
Al-Tashaahod in Arabic
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Transliteration
At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat, as-salamu ‘alaika ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatAllahi wa baraktuhu. As-salamu ‘alaina wa ‘ala ‘ibad illahis-salihin, ashahdu an la illaha ill-Allah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu
English Translation
All the compliments are for Allah and all the prayers and all the good things (are for Allah). Peace be on you, O Prophet, and Allah’s mercy and blessings (are on you). And peace be on us and on the good (pious) worshipers of Allah. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Apostle.
Final word
After learning the Arabic phrases for Salah and its actions, it is important to remember that Salah is the presence of both body and heart before Allah (SWT). It is not merely a daily task, but a meaningful journey and a direct connection to the Creator, where the soul finds peace.
If you are just starting your journey, you can begin with Learn Arabic for Beginners to build a strong foundation before focusing on Salah Arabic words. Take your first step today and download the AlifBee App.
