Salat-Shi'a Asr

SALAT OF ASR

ASR (AFTER-noon)PRAYER

Salat of Asr consists of four Rak'as as follows:

After saying the Iqaama, with hands open you place your thumbs on the lower part of each earlobe. You announce your intention to perform Salat of Subh with your mind. This intention is as follows:

I do Asr Prayer for the sake of Allah most Exalted Usalli Salatul Asr Qurbatan Ila Llaahi Ta'aala	أُصلّي صلاة العصر قُربةً إلى الله تعالى
Then you lower your hands saying:
Allah is the Greatest (Allaahu Akbar)	الله أكبر

Then you leave your hands down by the side of your body. (All Shi'a and the Sunni Maaliki do not fold their arms during Salat. Three of the four Sunni schools of thought, the Hanafi, Shafi'i, and Hanbali fold their arms across their abdomen when they pray.)

II: The First Rak'a

1. Read Surah Al-Fatiha then another Surah as follows:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِِ

In Allah's Name, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Bismil Laah Al-Rahman Al-Rahim

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, Al-Hamdu Lil-Laahi Rabb Al-Aalameen	الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
the Gracious, the Merciful; Al-Rahman Al-Rahim	الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Master of the Day of Judgment Maaliki Yawm Al-Deen	مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
Verily, You do we worship, and Your help do we seek. Iyyaka Na'budu Wa Iyyaka Nasta'een	إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
Guide us along the straight path, Ihdina Al-Siraatal Mustaqeem	اهدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ
the path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your grace, Siraatal Ladheena An'amta Alayhim	صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ
with whom You are not angry, nor who go astray. Ghayril Magh'dhubi Alayhim Wa La Al-Dhaalleen	غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ

2. You may elect to say Surah Al-Kawthar after Surah Al-Fatiha:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِِ

In Allah's Name, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Bismil Laah Al-Rahman Al-Rahim

Verily We have provided you with abundance, Inna A'taynaka Al-Kawthar	إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ
so, pray to your Lord and sacrifice Fa'salli Li Rabbika Wunhur.	فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ
Surely he who defames you shall be condemned Inna Sha-ni'aka Huwa Al-Abtar.	إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الأَبْتَرُ

3. Having finished the above, you say:

Allah is the Greatest

Allaahu Akbar

الله أكبر

Then you bow in such a way that the palms of your hands come to rest on the corresponding knee. This is called Rukoo'. You say three times:

Glory be to my Lord most Great and His is the Praise

Subhaana Rabbiya Al-Adheemi wa Bi-Hamdih

سبحان ربِيَ العظـبمِ وبحَمْده

4. Then you stand up momentarily to say once:

Allah has already heard the one who Praised Him

Sami'a Allaahu Li'man Hamidah

سمع الله لمَنْ حَمِده

Having said that, you say:

Allah is the Greatest

Allaahu Akbar

الله أكبر

5. After this, you do Sujood. This means you go to your knees and prostrate in such a way that you place the palms of your hands on the floor in front of you and place your forehead on the floor in between your hands (on a clean natural spot). Your knees and the tips of your toes should also touch the floor.

During Sujood you say three times:

Glory be to my Lord the Most High and His is the Praise

Subhaana Rabbiya Al-A'la wa Bi-Hamdih

سبحان ربِّيَ ألأعلى وبحَمْده

6. You sit up momentarily and place your hands on your thighs with your feet under you. Now you say:

Having said that, you say:

Allah is the Greatest Allaahu Akbar	الله أكبر
I ask Allah's forgiveness and I repent to Him As'tagh'fur Allah Rabbi wa Atoobu Ilayh	أستغفـر الله ربي وأتوب إليه
Allah is the Greatest Allaahu Akbar	الله أكبر

7. You repeat the Sujood, saying the same phrase three times as done with every Sujood, that is:

Glory be to my Lord the Most High and His is the Praise

Subhaana Rabbiya Al-A'la wa Bi-Hamdih

سبحان ربِّيَ ألأعلى وبحَمْده

8. Finally, rise to a standing position while saying:

By Allah's Power and Majesty I stand up and sit down

Bi Hawli Llaahi wa Quwwatih Aqoomu wa Aq'ud

بحول الله وقُوَّتِه أقوم وأقعد

The eight steps above constitute the first Rak'a of each Salat. The second Rak'a of each Salat is the same as the first one with one difference. The difference is that you do not say Allaahu Akbar before reading Surah Al-Fatiha.

III: The Second Rak'a

To say the second Rak'a you do the following:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِِ

In Allah's Name, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Bismil Laah Al-Rahman Al-Rahim

Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, Al-Hamdu Lil-Laahi Rabb Al-Aalameen	الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
the Gracious, the Merciful; Al-Rahman Al-Rahim	الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Master of the Day of Judgment Maaliki Yawm Al-Deen	مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
Verily, You do we worship, and Your help do we seek. Iyyaka Na'budu Wa Iyyaka Nasta'een	إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
Guide us along the straight path, Ihdina Al-Siraatal Mustaqeem	اهدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ
the path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your grace, Siraatal Ladheena An'amta Alayhim	صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ
with whom You are not angry, nor who go astray. Ghayril Magh'dhubi Alayhim Wa La Al-Dhaalleen	غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ

2. You follow the above by Surah Al-Ikhlaas:

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِِ

In Allah's Name, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Bismil Laah Al-Rahman Al-Rahim

Say: He is Allah the One Qul huwa Allaahu Ahad	قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
Allah who is essential to all Allaahu Al-Samad	اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ
He begets not nor is He begotten Lam Yalid wa Lam Yulad	لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
And there is none equal to Him Wa lam Yakun Lahu Ku'fowan Ahad.	وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Here you have the option of saying Du'aa in Qunoot just before you do the Rukoo of the second Rak'a. To do so hold your hands open in front of you like an open book, with arms bent.

(This Du'aa is from the Holy Quran and is read during Qunoot.)
Our Lord Grant us Goodness in This Life Rabbena Aatina fi Al-Dunya Hasana	ربَّنا آتِنا في الدُّنيا حَسَنه
And in the Hereafter wa fil Aakhirati Hasana	وفي الآخرة حسنه
And Shield us from the Affliction of Doom's Day wa Qi'na Athaaba N'naar	وقِنا عَدآبَ النّار
In the Name of Muhammad and his Pure Descendants Bi'jaahi Muhammadin wa Aalihil At'haar	بِجاهِ محمدٍ وآله ألأطهار

3. Before bowing for Rukoo' you say one time:

Allah is the Greatest

Allaahu Akbar

الله أكبر

4. During Rukoo' you repeat three times:

Glory be to my Lord most Great and His is the Praise

Subhaana Rabbiya Al-Adheemi wa Bi-Hamdih

سبحان ربِيَ العظـبمِ وبحَمْده

5. As you stand up you say once:

Allah has already heard the one who Praised Him

Sami'a Allaahu Li'man Hamidah

سمع الله لمَنْ حَمِده

Having said that, you say:

Allah is the Greatest

Allaahu Akbar

الله أكبر

6. After this, you do Sujood. This means you go to your knees and prostrate in such a way that you place the palms of your hands on the floor in front of you and place your forehead on the floor in between your hands (on a clean natural spot). Your knees and the tips of your toes should also touch the floor.

During Sujood you say three times:

Glory be to my Lord the Most High and His is the Praise

Subhaana Rabbiya Al-A'la wa Bi-Hamdih

سبحان ربِّيَ ألأعلى وبحَمْده

7. You sit up momentarily and place your hands on your thighs with your feet under you. Now you say:

Having said that, you say:

Allah is the Greatest Allaahu Akbar	الله أكبر
I ask Allah's forgiveness and I repent to Him As'tagh'fur Allah Rabbi wa Atoobu Ilayh	أستغفـر الله ربي وأتوب إليه
Allah is the Greatest Allaahu Akbar	الله أكبر

8 You repeat the Sujood, saying the same phrase three times as done with every Sujood, that is:

Glory be to my Lord the Most High and His is the Praise

Subhaana Rabbiya Al-A'la wa Bi-Hamdih

سبحان ربِّيَ ألأعلى وبحَمْده

Now that the second Rak'a is finished, sit on your folded legs. You may either have your toes together, heels apart and sit on your feet or you may rest one foot on top of the other and sit on them.

While in this position, place your palms on your thighs in a relaxed manner. While in the position of Juloos, you say Al-Tashah'hud followed by Al-Tasleem.

1. The TASHAH'HUD is said following any first two Rak'as. Also at the to conclude the Salat

2. The TASLEEM is always said following the Tashah'hud to conclude the Salat.

IV: Al-Tashah'hud

Tashah'hud
In Allah's Name and by His Power. Bismil Allah Wa Billaah	بسم الله وبالله
The Praise Belongs to Him Wal Hamdu Lillaah	والحمد لله
and the Best Names are His Wa Khayrul Asmaa'i Lillaah	وخير الأسماء لله
I Declare That There is no Deity Except Allah, Ash'hadu Ann Laa Ilaaha Illa Allah	أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله
He is One without a Partner Wahdahu Laa Shareeka Lahu	وحده لا شريك له
And I Declare that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger Wa Ash'hadu Anna Muhammadan Abduhu Wa Rasooluh	وأشهد أنَّ محمداً عبده ورسوله
O Lord! Bless Muhammad Allahumma Salli Ala Muhammad Wa Aali Muhammad	أللهم صلِّ على محمدٍ
and the Descendants of Muhammad	وآلِ محمد

As you stand up for the third Rak'a, say:

By Allah's Power and Majesty I stand up and sit down

Bi Hawli Llaahi wa Quwwatih Aqoomu wa Aq'ud

بحول الله وقُوَّتِه أقوم وأقعد

V: The Third Rak'a

1. To perform the third Rak'a you have the option of either saying the following three times or reciting Surah Al-Fatiha once:

	During 3rd Rak'a
1.	Glory be to Allah Subhaana Llaahi	سبحان الله
	and His is all the praise Wal Hamdu lil Laahi	والحمد لله
	and there is no deity except Almighty Allah Wa la Ilaaha Illa Laah	ولا إله إلا الله
	and Allah is most Great Wal ALaahu Akbar	والله أكبر

2.	Glory be to Allah Subhaana Llaahi	سبحان الله
	and His is all the praise Wal Hamdu lil Laahi	والحمد لله
	and there is no deity except Almighty Allah Wa la Ilaaha Illa Laah	ولا إله إلا الله
	and Allah is most Great Wal ALaahu Akbar	والله أكبر

3.	Glory be to Allah Subhaana Llaahi	سبحان الله
	and His is all the praise Wal Hamdu lil Laahi	والحمد لله
	and there is no deity except Almighty Allah Wa la Ilaaha Illa Laah	ولا إله إلا الله
	and Allah is most Great Wal ALaahu Akbar	والله أكبر

Having finished the above, you say:

Allah is the Greatest

Allaahu Akbar

الله أكبر

2 Then you bow in such a way that the palms of your hands come to rest on the corresponding knee. This is called Rukoo'. You say three times:

Glory be to my Lord most Great and His is the Praise

Subhaana Rabbiya Al-Adheemi wa Bi-Hamdih

سبحان ربِيَ العظـبمِ وبحَمْده

3. Then you stand up momentarily to say once:

Allah has already heard the one who Praised Him

Sami'a Allaahu Li'man Hamidah

سمع الله لمَنْ حَمِده

Having said that, you say:

Allah is the Greatest

Allaahu Akbar

الله أكبر

4. After this, you do Sujood. This means you go to your knees and prostrate in such a way that you place the palms of your hands on the floor in front of you and place your forehead on the floor in between your hands (on a clean natural spot). Your knees and the tips of your toes should also touch the floor.

During Sujood you say three times:

Glory be to my Lord the Most High and His is the Praise

Subhaana Rabbiya Al-A'la wa Bi-Hamdih

سبحان ربِّيَ ألأعلى وبحَمْده

5. You sit up momentarily and place your hands on your thighs with your feet under you. Now you say:

Having said that, you say:

Allah is the Greatest Allaahu Akbar	الله أكبر
I ask Allah's forgiveness and I repent to Him As'tagh'fur Allah Rabbi wa Atoobu Ilayh	أستغفـر الله ربي وأتوب إليه
Allah is the Greatest Allaahu Akbar	الله أكبر

6. You repeat the Sujood, saying the same phrase three times as done with every Sujood, that is:

Glory be to my Lord the Most High and His is the Praise

Subhaana Rabbiya Al-A'la wa Bi-Hamdih

سبحان ربِّيَ ألأعلى وبحَمْده

VI: The Fourth Rak'a

1. To perform the Fourth Rak'a you have the option of either saying the following three times or reciting Surah Al-Fatiha once:

	During 4th Rak'a
1.	Glory be to Allah Subhaana Llaahi	سبحان الله
	and His is all the praise Wal Hamdu lil Laahi	والحمد لله
	and there is no deity except Almighty Allah Wa la Ilaaha Illa Laah	ولا إله إلا الله
	and Allah is most Great Wal ALaahu Akbar	والله أكبر

2.	Glory be to Allah Subhaana Llaahi	سبحان الله
	and His is all the praise Wal Hamdu lil Laahi	والحمد لله
	and there is no deity except Almighty Allah Wa la Ilaaha Illa Laah	ولا إله إلا الله
	and Allah is most Great Wal ALaahu Akbar	والله أكبر

3.	Glory be to Allah Subhaana Llaahi	سبحان الله
	and His is all the praise Wal Hamdu lil Laahi	والحمد لله
	and there is no deity except Almighty Allah Wa la Ilaaha Illa Laah	ولا إله إلا الله
	and Allah is most Great Wal ALaahu Akbar	والله أكبر

Having finished the above, you say:

Allah is the Greatest

Allaahu Akbar

الله أكبر

2 Then you bow in such a way that the palms of your hands come to rest on the corresponding knee. This is called Rukoo'. You say three times:

Glory be to my Lord most Great and His is the Praise

Subhaana Rabbiya Al-Adheemi wa Bi-Hamdih

سبحان ربِيَ العظـبمِ وبحَمْده

3. Then you stand up momentarily to say once:

Allah has already heard the one who Praised Him

Sami'a Allaahu Li'man Hamidah

سمع الله لمَنْ حَمِده

Having said that, you say:

Allah is the Greatest

Allaahu Akbar

الله أكبر

During Sujood you say three times:

Glory be to my Lord the Most High and His is the Praise

Subhaana Rabbiya Al-A'la wa Bi-Hamdih

سبحان ربِّيَ ألأعلى وبحَمْده

5. You sit up momentarily and place your hands on your thighs with your feet under you. Now you say:

Having said that, you say:

Allah is the Greatest Allaahu Akbar	الله أكبر
I ask Allah's forgiveness and I repent to Him As'tagh'fur Allah Rabbi wa Atoobu Ilayh	أستغفـر الله ربي وأتوب إليه
Allah is the Greatest Allaahu Akbar	الله أكبر

6. You repeat the Sujood, saying the same phrase three times as done with every Sujood, that is:

Glory be to my Lord the Most High and His is the Praise

Subhaana Rabbiya Al-A'la wa Bi-Hamdih

سبحان ربِّيَ ألأعلى وبحَمْده

Now that the fourth Rak'a is finished, sit on your folded legs. You may either have your toes together, heels apart and sit on your feet or you may rest one foot on top of the other and sit on them.

While in this position, place your palms on your thighs in a relaxed manner. While in the position of Juloos, you say Al-Tashah'hud followed by Al-Tasleem.

1. The TASHAH'HUD is said following any first two Rak'as. It is also said at the end of the Salat.

2. The TASLEEM is always said following the Tashah'hud to conclude the Salat.

VII: Al-Tashah'hud

Tashah'hud
In Allah's Name and by His Power. Bismil Allah Wa Billaah	بسم الله وبالله
The Praise Belongs to Him Wal Hamdu Lillaah	والحمد لله
and the Best Names are His Wa Khayrul Asmaa'i Lillaah	وخير الأسماء لله
I Declare That There is no Deity Except Allah, Ash'hadu Ann Laa Ilaaha Illa Allah	أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله
He is One without a Partner Wahdahu Laa Shareeka Lahu	وحده لا شريك له
And I Declare that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger Wa Ash'hadu Anna Muhammadan Abduhu Wa Rasooluh	وأشهد أنَّ محمداً عبده ورسوله
O Lord! Bless Muhammad Allahumma Salli Ala Muhammad Wa Aali Muhammad	أللهم صلِّ على محمدٍ
and the Descendants of Muhammad	وآلِ محمد

Since Salat of Maghrib is to be finished, follow Al-Tashah'hud by Al-Tasleem to bring it to conclusion.

VIII Al-Tasleem

Al-Tasleem is said to conclude the Salat. It is always said after the Tashah'hud. It is said in the following manner:

Tasleem
May Peace be Unto you, O Prophet Al-Salaamu Alayka Ayyuha Nabiyyo	السلام عليك أيُّها النبي
And so will Allah's Mercy and Blessings Wa-Rahmatul Allahi Wa Barakatuh	ورَحمةُ الله وبركاته
May Peace be Unto us and Unto the Righteous Servants of Allah Al-Salaamu Alayna Wa Ala Ibaad Allah Al-Saaliheen	السلام علينا وعلى عباد الله الصالحين
May Allah's Peace and Mercy be Unto you Al-Salaamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatul Allah	السلام عليكم ورحمة الله

After you say the last phrase, you raise and lower your hands three times as you say Allaahu Akbar.