Salah Recitations — Al-Fatihah, Tashahhud & Surahs (Arabic + Meaning)

Last updated: August 2026

This is the companion reference to our step-by-step guide on how to pray namaz. Here you’ll find everything recited during the prayer — in Arabic, transliteration, and English meaning — so you can learn each part and check your pronunciation.

Everything on this page is Qur’an or established Sunnah wording. Learn the meaning alongside the Arabic; understanding what you say transforms the prayer.

Surah Al-Fatihah (Recited in Every Rak’ah)

Arabic: بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ مٰلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّيْنِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِيْنُ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيْمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِيْنَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوْبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّيْنَ

Transliteration: Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim. Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil-‘alamin. Ar-Rahmanir-Rahim. Maliki yawmid-din. Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’in. Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim. Siratalladhina an’amta ‘alayhim, ghayril-maghdubi ‘alayhim wa lad-dallin.

Meaning: “In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. All praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path — the path of those You have blessed, not of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray.”

Say “Ameen” after completing it.

The Tasbih of Ruku (Bowing)

Arabic: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيم Transliteration: Subhana Rabbiyal-‘Adheem (×3) Meaning: “Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.”

Rising from Ruku

Transliteration: Sami’Allahu liman hamidah — “Allah hears the one who praises Him.” Then, standing: Rabbana wa lakal-hamd — “Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.”

The Tasbih of Sujud (Prostration)

Arabic: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى Transliteration: Subhana Rabbiyal-A’la (×3) Meaning: “Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.”

Between the Two Prostrations

Transliteration: Rabbighfir li — “O my Lord, forgive me.”

The Tashahhud (Sitting Testification)

Recited in the sitting after every two rak’ahs and in the final sitting.

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.

Meaning: “All greetings, prayers, and pure words 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 Messenger.”

(When reciting “Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah,” it is Sunnah to raise the right index finger.)

The Salawat (Sending Blessings — Final Sitting)

Recited in the final sitting, after the Tashahhud.

Transliteration: Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammad, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammad, kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid.

Meaning: “O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; indeed You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; indeed You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.”

The Tasleem (Ending the Prayer)

Turn the head right, then left, each time saying: Transliteration: Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah — “Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.”

Short Surahs to Recite After Al-Fatihah

In the first two rak’ahs, recite a short surah after Al-Fatihah. Here are four of the most common.

Surah Al-Ikhlas (112)

Arabic: قُلْ هُوَ اللّٰهُ أَحَدٌ ۚ اللّٰهُ الصَّمَدُ ۚ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُوْلَدْ ۙ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهٗ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ Transliteration: Qul huwallahu ahad. Allahus-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad. Meaning: “Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to Him any equivalent.”

Surah Al-Falaq (113)

Transliteration: Qul a’udhu bi Rabbil-falaq. Min sharri ma khalaq. Wa min sharri ghasiqin idha waqab. Wa min sharrin-naffathati fil-‘uqad. Wa min sharri hasidin idha hasad. Meaning: “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of daybreak, from the evil of what He created, from the evil of darkness as it settles, from the evil of those who blow on knots, and from the evil of the envier when he envies.”

Surah An-Nas (114)

Transliteration: Qul a’udhu bi Rabbin-nas. Malikin-nas. Ilahin-nas. Min sharril-waswasil-khannas. Alladhi yuwaswisu fi sudurin-nas. Minal-jinnati wan-nas. Meaning: “Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the King of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the whisperer who withdraws, who whispers in the breasts of mankind, from among the jinn and mankind.”

Surah Al-Kawthar (108)

Transliteration: Inna a’taynakal-kawthar. Fasalli li Rabbika wanhar. Inna shani’aka huwal-abtar. Meaning: “Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar. So pray to your Lord and sacrifice. Indeed, your enemy is the one cut off.”

Dhikr After the Prayer

After the Tasleem, it is recommended to recite:

Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah) — 33 times
Alhamdulillah (All praise is for Allah) — 33 times
Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) — 34 times

Then make personal dua. Ayatul Kursi after each obligatory prayer is also strongly recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

What surah do you recite in every rak’ah? Surah Al-Fatihah — it is recited in every rak’ah of every prayer. A short additional surah is added in the first two rak’ahs.

What is the Tashahhud? The testification recited while sitting after every two rak’ahs and at the end of the prayer, affirming the greetings due to Allah and bearing witness to the faith.

What short surahs can I recite in prayer? Common choices include Al-Ikhlas, Al-Falaq, An-Nas, and Al-Kawthar — short, easy to memorise, and recited after Al-Fatihah in the first two rak’ahs.

Do I raise my finger during Tashahhud? It is Sunnah to raise the right index finger when testifying to the oneness of Allah during the Tashahhud.

May Allah make our tongues heavy with His remembrance and our prayers a means of nearness to Him. Ameen. 🤲