The Quranic Salat: Step-by-step guide
By: A. Muhammad
The following is a step-by-step guide to the complete Salat as authorised by God in the Holy Quran. Every step is accompanied by the supporting Quranic verse.
If you read the list below and think that it does not include some details of the Salat that you are accustomed to do, this does not mean that the Quran does not have all the details of the Salat nor that the Quran is not complete on its own. What it means is that such details were never authorised in the Quran, and thus, they are not part of the Salat decreed by God.
The Quran does not necessarily detail the Salat that you do, but the Salat that God authorised. If you insist on following details that are not authorised in the Book of God, then you immediately become subject to the following words:
Or do they have partners who legislate for them of the religion what God did not authorise? If it were not for a decisive Word, judgment would have already been passed on them. Indeed, the transgressors shall have a painful punishment. 42:21
The following are the complete steps of the Quranic Salat, the full details of each of these steps are found in the Salat section of the site.
1- Perform the 4 steps of ablution:
Wash your faces and your arms to the elbows, and wipe your heads and your feet to the ankles. 5:6
2- Face Qibla:
From wherever you set off, turn your face towards the Masjid Al-Haram. 2:150
3- Stand humbly before God:
Those who are humble in their Salat. 23:2
4- Observe the Salat to glorify and commemorate the name of God alone:
I am God, there is no god except Me. Therefore, you shall worship Me and observe the Salat to commemorate ME. 20:14
The singular "ME" in 20:14 cannot be overlooked. The only name to be commemorated in the Salat is the name of God. By mentioning any name in our Salat other than God, we would have immediately disobeyed the command in 20:14
The same message is emphasised in the following 2 verses:
Never associate in the worship of his Lord anyone." 18:110
Say, "My Salat, my worship rituals, my life and my death, are all devoted to God, the Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. 6:162-163
And We have placed veils over their hearts so they do not understand it, and deafness in their ears. And when you commemorate your Lord, in the Quran alone, they turn their backs and run away in aversion. 17:46
This has been the same rule for all who received a Book from God. All were commanded to commemorate God by using His Book:
Among the People of the Book are an upright community. They recite God's revelations during the night while they prostrate. 3:113
6- Stand, bow, and prostrate:
You shall maintain the Salawaat and the Salat Al-Wusta, and stand devoutly obedient before God. 2:238
So the angels called out to him while he was standing, praying in the sanctuary. 3:39
O you who believe, bow and prostrate and worship your Lord, and do good so that you may succeed. 22:77
Muhammad, the messenger of God, and those with him are stern with the disbelievers and merciful amongst one another. You see them bowing and prostrating, seeking favor from God and consent. 48:29
7- Recite specific mandatory words during the Salat:
- 'Allahu Akbar' (command in 17:111 to magnify God)
- 'Praise my Lord the Great' (command in 56:74 to praise the name of God the Great)
- 'Praise my Lord the Most High' (command in 87:1 to praise the name of God the Most High)
- 'I bear witness that there is no god except God' (Those who posses knowledge utter the Shahada for God 3:18)
8- The Quranic words of the Salat can be recited any number of times. God never set a minimum number nor a maximum number. And so, each believer is able to do in accordance with his own willingness and ability. The ones who spend more of their time in the worship of their Maker, are indeed well rewarded:
For those who volunteer extra good work, God is Appreciative, Knowledgeable. 2:158
9- Recite other Quranic words of your choice, as long as they glorify God alone and mention the name of God alone (20:14). Such Quranic words can be recited during any of the 3 positions.
A long list of Quranic words that glorify God and for supplication can be found at the bottom of this page:
10- Throughout the Salat, the recitation must not be too loud, nor in a silent or whispering voice. The Salat must be observed in a moderate voice that is a path in between the two.
Do not shout your Salat nor whisper it, but seek a path in between. 17:110
11- Immediately after the command in 17:110 to observe the Salat in a moderate voice, we read the words "and say", which indicates that the words that follow "and say" must also be recited during the Salat:
- Do not shout your Salat nor whisper it, but seek a path in between,
- AND SAY:
- Praise be to God who has not taken a son, nor does He have a partner in the sovereignty, nor does He have an ally out of weakness.
In addition, the fact that the instruction to recite such words comes after having observed the Salat in a moderate voice indicates that the recitation of such words should be at the completion of the Salat, just before we end the Salat.
12- End the Salat with the words 'Praise be to God Lord of the Worlds' (10:10).
The following verse tells us about the believers who have made it to Paradise and how they end their prayers. The narration about such believers and their prayers sets an example for us to follow:
Their prayer therein is: "Glory to You, O God," and their greeting therein is: "Peace” and the ending of their prayer is: "Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds." 10:10
Their prayer therein is: "Glory to You, O God," and their greeting therein is: "Peace” and the ending of their prayer is: "Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds." 10:10