Islamic Manual

The sunnahs of prayer and the recommended acts

The sunnah acts of prayer, from raising the hands at the opening takbir (Allahu Akbar) to the wording of the closing greeting (salam), and the further recommended (mustahabb) etiquette.

On top of the pillars and the wajib acts, prayer has sunnahs: things the Prophet ﷺ regularly did. Skipping a sunnah doesn't break your prayer or need an extra sajdah, but doing them is how the prayer is done in full, the way the Prophet ﷺ prayed.

Sunnahs of prayer

  1. Raising both hands up to your ears for the opening Takbir.
  2. Putting your hands below your belly button, right hand over left.
  3. Saying Thanaa quietly in the first rak'ah, right after the opening Takbir.
  4. Saying Ta'awwudh quietly in the first rak'ah.
  5. Saying Bismillah quietly before Al-Fatiha, every rak'ah.
  6. Saying "Ameen" quietly after Al-Fatiha.
  7. Saying "Allahu Akbar" quietly each time you move: into bowing, into sujood, and so on.
  8. Saying the tasbih in Ruku' three, five or seven times, and holding your knees with your fingers spread.
  9. Saying "Sami' Allahu liman hamidah" as you come up from bowing (the imam says this; followers say "Rabbana lakal hamd" instead; someone praying alone says both).
  10. Saying the tasbih in Sujood three times or more.
  11. Sitting with your left foot flat and your right foot standing up, in the middle sitting and the last sitting.
  12. Reciting Durood after the Tashahhud in the last sitting.
  13. Reciting a dua after the Durood in the last sitting.
  14. Saying the fuller Salam, "Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah", with the extra words.
  15. Turning your head right, then left, as you say each Salam.
The Prophet’s practice (Sunnah)the Prophet’s way

These are the sunnahs of prayer, the things the Prophet ﷺ always did: raising the hands to the ears for the opening Takbir, folding the hands below the navel, quietly saying the Thanaa, Ta'awwudh, Bismillah and Ameen, saying Allahu Akbar at each movement, the tasbihs of Ruku and Sujood, sitting with the left foot flat and the right foot up, and ending with the Durood and 'Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah' to the right and left. Leaving one does not break the prayer, but it should not become a habit.

There are also good habits (recommended acts) on top of the sunnahs; they're not sins to skip, but they make your prayer better.

Good habits in prayer

  1. Leave a small gap, about four fingers wide, between your feet while standing.
  2. While standing, look at the spot where you'll put your forehead down; in Ruku, look at your feet; in Sujood, look toward your nose.
  3. In Ruku, spread your fingers on your knees; in Sujood, keep your fingers together; while sitting, rest your hands naturally on your thighs.
  4. In Ruku, keep your head, back and waist level, like a table-top.
  5. Going into sujood, put your knees down first, then your hands, then your nose and forehead. Coming up, do it in reverse.
  6. In Sujood, point your fingers towards the Qibla.
  7. Say the tasbih of Ruku' and Sujood three times, or a higher odd number.
  8. If you need to yawn, keep your mouth closed; try hard not to cough.
Recommended (Mustaḥabb)good to do

It is recommended to keep a four-finger gap between the feet, to look at the place of sujood while standing, to keep the back level in Ruku, to go down to sujood knees first and then hands, to say the tasbih three times or an odd number more, and to keep the mouth closed when yawning. These are not sins to leave, but they make the prayer better.

Recommended (Mustaḥabb)good to do

Read the longer surahs in Fajr and Zuhr, medium ones in Asr and Isha, and short ones in Maghrib, with the first rak'ah of Fajr a little longer than the second. Do not look around while praying, do not close your eyes, stand still, and read every letter clearly.

Beyond the fard pillars and the wajib acts, the sunnahs of prayer are the Prophet's ﷺ regular practice. Leaving a sunnah does not invalidate the prayer and does not require Sajdah Sahw, but habitually neglecting one is blameworthy.

The sunnahs of prayer

  1. Raising both hands to the earlobes when saying Takbir al-Tahreemah.
  2. Placing both hands below the navel, the right hand resting on the left.
  3. Reciting Thanaa in the first rak'ah after Takbir al-Tahreemah.
  4. Reciting Ta'awwudh in the first rak'ah.
  5. Reciting Bismillah before Al-Fatiha in every rak'ah.
  6. Saying "Ameen" after reciting Al-Fatiha.
  7. Reciting Thanaa, Ta'awwudh, Bismillah and Ameen quietly.
  8. Saying the Takbir for each transition: into Ruku, into Sujood, and so on.
  9. Reciting the tasbih in Ruku, "Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem", three, five or seven times, holding the knees with the fingers spread.
  10. Saying Tasmee' and Tahmeed on rising from Ruku: the Imam says only "Sami' Allahu liman hamidah"; the followers say only "Rabbana lakal hamd"; someone praying alone (Munfarid) says both.
  11. Reciting the tasbih in Sujood, "Subhana Rabbiyal A'la", three times or more.
  12. In the Jalsa and the final Qa'dah, keeping the left foot flat on the ground and the right foot standing.
  13. Reciting Durood after the Tashahhud in the final sitting.
  14. Reciting the prescribed dua after the Durood.
  15. Saying Salaam with the fuller wording, "Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah".
  16. Turning the head to the right and then the left while saying each Salaam.
The Prophet’s practice (Sunnah)the Prophet’s way

The sunnahs of prayer are the Prophet's ﷺ regular practice: raising the hands to the earlobes at Takbir al-Tahreemah, placing the right hand over the left below the navel, reciting the Thanaa, Ta'awwudh, Bismillah and Ameen quietly, the Takbir at each transition, the tasbih of Ruku and Sujood three times or more with the fingers spread on the knees, Tasmee' and Tahmeed on rising from Ruku, sitting with the left foot flat and the right upright, the Durood and dua after the Tashahhud, and the Salam with 'wa rahmatullah' to both sides. Leaving a sunnah does not invalidate the prayer or require Sajdah Sahw, but habitually neglecting one is blameworthy.

The further recommended (mustahabb) acts of prayer include:

Recommended acts in prayer

  1. In Qiyam, leaving a four-finger gap between the feet.
  2. Keeping the eyes on the place of prostration in Qiyam, on the feet in Ruku, and toward the nose in Sujood; turning the head right for the first Salaam and left for the second.
  3. Spreading the fingers on the knees in Ruku, keeping them together with palms flat in Sujood, and resting the hands naturally on the thighs in Qa'dah.
  4. Keeping the head, back and waist level in Ruku.
  5. Going into Sujood in the order: knees, then hands, then nose and forehead, and rising in the reverse order.
  6. In Sujood, placing both hands facing the Qibla with the fingers pointing that way.
  7. Reciting the tasbih of Ruku and Sujood three times, or a higher odd number.
  8. Placing both hands on the thighs in Qa'dah.
  9. Keeping the mouth closed when yawning, and suppressing coughing as much as possible.
Recommended (Mustaḥabb)good to do

The recommended (mustahabb) acts of prayer include a four-finger gap between the feet, keeping the eyes on the place of prostration in Qiyam, the feet in Ruku and the nose in Sujood, keeping the head, back and waist level in Ruku, going into Sujood knees first, then hands, then nose and forehead and rising in reverse, pointing the fingers to the Qibla in Sujood, reciting the tasbih three times or a higher odd number, and keeping the mouth closed when yawning. There is no sin in leaving them, but they perfect the prayer.

Recommended (Mustaḥabb)good to do

It is recommended to recite the longer surahs in Fajr and Zuhr, the medium-length surahs in Asr and Isha and the shorter surahs in Maghrib, keeping the Mus'haf's order, with the first rak'ah of Fajr somewhat longer than the second. Do not look around during prayer, which the Prophet ﷺ called a snatching by the devil; keep the eyes on their places without closing them, stand still with the weight on both feet, and recite each letter clearly and with attention.

Beneath the arkān and the wajibāt sit the sunan of prayer (the Prophet's ﷺ regular, though not invariable, practice). Their omission neither invalidates the prayer nor obliges sajdat as-sahw, but their habitual neglect (as opposed to an occasional lapse) is karāhah.

The sunan of prayer

  1. Raf' al-yadayn to the earlobes at the takbīrat al-taḥrīmah.
  2. Placing the hands below the navel, right over left.
  3. The thanāʾ, recited in the first rakʿah after the taḥrīmah.
  4. The taʿawwudh, in the first rakʿah.
  5. The basmalah before al-Fātiḥah in every rakʿah.
  6. "Āmīn" after al-Fātiḥah.
  7. The thanāʾ, taʿawwudh, basmalah and āmīn all recited sirran.
  8. The takbīrāt of intiqāl (transition) into rukūʿ, sujūd and so on.
  9. The tasbīḥ of rukūʿ, "Subḥāna Rabbiya'l-ʿAẓīm", three, five or seven times, the fingers spread over the knees.
  10. Tasmīʿ and taḥmīd on rising from rukūʿ: the imam says only "Samiʿa'llāhu liman ḥamidah"; the muqtadī says only "Rabbanā laka'l-ḥamd"; a munfarid combines both.
  11. The tasbīḥ of sujūd, "Subḥāna Rabbiya'l-Aʿlā", three times or more.
  12. In the jalsah and the final qaʿdah, the left foot laid flat and the right kept upright.
  13. The durūd after the tashahhud in the final qaʿdah.
  14. The transmitted duʿāʾ after the durūd.
  15. The fuller wording of the salām: "as-Salāmu ʿAlaykum wa Raḥmatullāh".
  16. Turning the head right, then left, with each salām.
The Prophet’s practice (Sunnah)the Prophet’s way

The sunan of prayer are raf' al-yadayn to the earlobes at the tahrimah; the right hand over the left below the navel; the thana', ta'awwudh, basmalah and amin recited sirran; the takbirat al-intiqal; the tasbih of ruku' and sujud three times or more, the fingers spread over the knees; tasmi' and tahmid on rising, the imam saying the first, the muqtadi the second and the munfarid both; the left foot laid flat and the right upright in the jalsah and qa'dah; the durud and du'a' after the tashahhud; and the salam with wa rahmatullah to each side. Their omission neither invalidates the prayer nor obliges sajdat as-sahw, but their habitual neglect is makruh.

Beyond the sunan proper, the mustaḥabbāt (preferred acts) of prayer include:

The mustaḥabbāt of prayer

  1. A four-finger gap between the feet in qiyām.
  2. The gaze fixed on the place of sujūd in qiyām, on the feet in rukūʿ, and toward the nose in sujūd; the head turned right for the first salām, left for the second.
  3. Fingers spread over the knees in rukūʿ; fingers held together, palms flat, in sujūd; the hands resting in their natural position on the thighs in qaʿdah.
  4. Head, back and waist held level in rukūʿ.
  5. Descending into sujūd knees first, then hands, then nose and forehead, and rising in the reverse sequence.
  6. In sujūd, the palms and fingers oriented toward the qiblah.
  7. The tasbīḥāt of rukūʿ and sujūd repeated three times, or a higher odd number.
  8. The hands resting on the thighs in qaʿdah.
  9. Keeping the mouth closed against a yawn, and suppressing a cough so far as possible.
Recommended (Mustaḥabb)good to do

The mustahabbat of prayer include a four-finger gap between the feet in qiyam; the gaze on the place of sujud in qiyam, the feet in ruku' and the nose in sujud; the head, back and waist held level in ruku', so that water poured on it would stay; descending into sujud knees first, then hands, then nose and forehead, and rising in the reverse sequence; the palms and fingers toward the qiblah in sujud; the tasbihat three times or a higher odd number; and suppressing a yawn or cough as far as possible. No sin attaches to their omission; they complete the prayer.

Recommended (Mustaḥabb)good to do

In choosing the damm surah, the longer surahs (al-Hujurat to al-Buruj) are recited in Fajr and Zuhr, the middling (al-Buruj to al-Layl) in Asr and Isha and the shorter (al-Layl to the end) in Maghrib, keeping the mushaf's order, with the first rak'ah of Fajr somewhat longer than the second; on a journey or in need any surah may be recited. Among the adab: the gaze does not wander, since turning about is a snatching by Shaytan from the prayer; the eyes are not closed; the body is held still with the weight on both feet; and recitation is measured and precise, with attention to meaning where grasped.

This is the English translation of Nisab Ahle Khidmaat Sharia, exactly as the book has it, for the passages this page was written from. About 685 words. Switch back to Guide for the rewritten version.

Rulings of Prayer (Salah) Note

The explanation of the obligatory aspects of prayer has been completed, and now the Sunnah (voluntary) and recommended actions of prayer will be discussed.

Rulings of Prayer (Salah) 6. Sunnahs of Prayer

  1. Raising both hands to the earlobes when Saying Takbeer al-Tahreemah (the opening Takbeer of the prayer).
  2. Placing both hands below the navel, with the right hand resting on the left hand.
  3. Reciting Thanaa (سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالٰى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ) in the first rak'ah after Takbeer al-Tahreemah.
  4. Reciting Ta'awwudh (أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيمِ) in the first rak'ah.
  5. Reciting Bismillah (بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ) before Al-Fatiha in every rak'ah.
  6. Saying اٰمِیْن after reciting Al-Fatiha.
  7. Reciting Thanaa, Ta'awwudh, Bismillah, and Ameen quietly.
  8. Saying the Takbeer for transitions, such as moving into Rukoo or Sujood, i.e., اَللّٰہُ اَکْبَرْ.
  9. Reciting Tasbeeh in Rukoo, Saying سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ three, five, or seven times.
  10. Holding the knees with the spread fingers during Rukoo.
  11. Saying Tasmee’ and Tahmeed after rising from Rukoo, i.e., سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهٗ (for the Imam) and رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ (for the followers). The Imam says only Tasmee’, the followers say only Tahmeed, and the Munfarid (individual) should say both.
  12. Reciting Tasbeeh in Sujood, Saying سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى three times or more.
  13. Sitting in the Jalsa (sitting between two prostrations) and the final sitting (Qa'dah), keeping the left foot flat on the ground and the right foot standing.
  14. Reciting Durud (Salat) after Tashahhud in the final sitting (Qa'dah).
  15. Reciting the prescribed Dua (Madhurah) after Durud in the final sitting.
  16. Saying Salaam with the words اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ when ending the prayer.
  17. Turning the head to the right and left while Saying Salaam.

Rulings of Prayer (Salah) 7. The recommended acts in prayer (Sunan of Salah) include the following

(1) In the standing position (Qiyam), leave a four-finger gap between both feet.

(2) In Qiyam, keep the eyes focused on the place of prostration, and during Ruku, place the hands on the knees with fingers spread apart, in Sujud, keep the forehead, nose, and palms on the ground. For the first Salam, turn the head to the right, and for the second Salam, turn to the left.

(3) In Ruku, keep the fingers of the hands spread wide, and in Sujud, keep the fingers together, with your palms placed flat, and in Qaid (sitting), place your hands on your thighs in their natural position.

(4) In Ruku, keep the head, back, and waist level.

(5) When going into Sujud, first place the knees on the ground, followed by the hands, then the nose and the forehead. When rising, do so in the reverse order.

(6) In Sujud, place both hands facing the Qibla, and ensure your fingers are pointing in that direction.

(7) During Ruku and Sujud, it is preferable to recite the Tasbih three times, or a higher odd number.

(8) In Qaid, place both hands on both thighs.

(9) During yawning, keep the mouth closed.

(10) Try to suppress coughing as much as possible.

Rulings of Prayer (Salah) Note 2

In the first two Rak'ahs of a Fard prayer, if one is traveling or in some need, any Surah may be recited after Surah Al-Fatiha. If there is peace of mind, in Fajr and Zuhr prayers, recite the longer Surahs (from Surah Al-Hujurat to Surah Al-Buruj), and in Asr and Isha, recite the medium-length Surahs (from Surah Al-Buruj to Surah Al-Layl). In Maghrib, recite the shorter Surahs (from Surah Al-Layl to the end of the Qur'an). In Fajr, the first Rak'ah should have a longer Surah compared to the second Rak'ah (as it is Sunnah). The Surahs in the other prayers should be of equal length in both Rak'ahs, with no regard for a slight difference in the number of verses. Always maintain the order of the Surahs and do not leave just one short Surah between the two Rak'ahs.

Rulings of Prayer (Salah) Note 3

During prayer, do not look around; keep your eyes focused on the designated places. Do not close your eyes. While standing in Qiyam, keep your body still and stand upright. Distribute your weight evenly on both feet and leave a four-finger gap between them. When reciting, read each letter clearly and slowly, with full attention. If you understand the meaning, concentrate on it, otherwise, focus on avoiding mistakes in pronunciation.

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