Asr
Afternoon Prayer · When the shadow of an object equals its length
The afternoon prayer has the same structure as Dhuhr — 4 obligatory rakʿahs with all recitation done silently. There are no confirmed sunnah prayers, though 4 optional rakʿahs before are recommended.
Rakah 1
Step 1 — Takbirat al-Ihram (Opening Takbir)
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu Akbar
The moment you say "Allahu Akbar" the prayer will officially begin. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to place his right hand on his left hand, then fold them strictly on his chest in prayer.
Takbeer
Standing upright, raising both hands to ear level, palms facing forward — the opening declaration that enters you into the prayer.
Steps 2–5 — Opening Supplication, Bismillah, Sūrah Al-Fātiḥah & Additional Sūrah
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ...
Step 2 — Opening Supplication (Duʿāʾ al-Istiftāḥ):
"Subhanakallahumma, wa bihamdika, tabarakasmuka wa ta'ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk"
Glory and praise be to You, O Allah. Blessed be Your name and exalted be Your majesty, there is none worthy of worship except You.
Say "Audhu billahi min ash-shaytan ar-rajim" (I seek protection of Allah against the accursed Satan), then "Bismillahi rahmani raheem" (In the name of Allah, the All Merciful, the All Compassionate).
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: "Prayer without reciting the Fatihah is invalid." Whisper Amin quietly in Asr.
Recite another chapter from the Qurʾān after Al-Fātiḥah. At a minimum you must recite Surah Fatihah in every rakʿah. All recitation in Asr is silent.
Al-Qiyam
Standing straight and still, right hand placed over left hand on the chest, eyes looking at the place of prostration, reciting Al-Fatiha and a surah.
Step 6 — Rukūʿ (Bowing)
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
As you are bowing down say "Allahu Akbar." Keep your back straight, your hands on your knees, and your eyes focused on the ground. Say three times: "Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great).
Rukū'
Bending forward at the waist with the back flat and horizontal, hands gripping the knees.
Step 7 — Rising from Rukūʿ
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
As you rise bring your hands to your ears and say: "Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah" (Allah hears those who praise Him). Then say: "Rabbana wa lakal hamd" (Our Lord, to You is all praise).
Standing from Rukū
Returning upright from Ruku, standing straight with hands at sides — a brief moment of standing before prostration.
Step 8 — First Sujūd (Prostration)
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Say "Allahu Akbar" as you go down. Ensure forehead, nose, palms, knees, and both toes touch the ground. Say "Subhana Rabbiyal A'la" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) three times.
First Sujūd
Lowering to the ground with 7 body parts touching: forehead & nose, both palms, both knees, and both feet. This is the closest a servant is to Allah.
Step 9 — Sitting Between the Two Sujūds (Jalsah)
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Say "Allahu Akbar" as you rise from sujūd and sit on your left leg. Place your hands on your knees. Say: "Rabbighfir li" (O Lord, forgive me).
Sitting between Sujūd
Sitting on the left foot with the right foot upright, hands resting on the thighs — the brief sitting between the two prostrations.
Step 10 — Second Sujūd
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Perform the second prostration exactly as the first, saying "Allahu Akbar" as you go down, and "Subhana Rabbiyal A'la" three times. Thereafter rise for the 2nd Rakʿah.
Second Sujūd
Lowering to the ground with 7 body parts touching: forehead & nose, both palms, both knees, and both feet. This is the closest a servant is to Allah.
Rakah 2
Recite Sūrah Al-Fātiḥah & an Additional Sūrah (same as Rakʿah 1)
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ...
Recite Sūrah Al-Fātiḥah followed by an additional sūrah, exactly as in Rakʿah 1 (silent). Whisper Amin quietly in Asr. At a minimum you must recite Surah Fatihah in every rakʿah of prayer.
Step 11 — The Tashahhud (After Every 2 Rakʿahs)
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَن لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
"Attahiyyaatu lillaahi wassalawaatu, wattayyibaatu, assalaamu 'alayka 'ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu, assalaamu 'alaynaa wa 'alaa 'ibaadillaahis-saaliheen. Ash-hadu 'an laa 'ilaaha 'illallaahu wa 'ash-hadu 'anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa Rasooluhu"
All greetings of humility are for Allah, and all prayers and goodness. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger. (Sahih Bukhari 7381)
After two Rakʿahs, sit and recite the Tashahhud. When you reach the Shahada, ball your right hand into a fist and raise your index finger — this symbolizes the Oneness of Allah. This is the first sitting — recite Tashahhud only, then rise for Rakʿah 3.
Tashahhud
Sitting on the left foot with the right foot upright, index finger raised during the Shahadah, reciting At-Tashahhud and Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ.
Rakah 3
Al-Fātiḥah only + Rukūʿ & Sujūd
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ...
Al-Fātiḥah only (silent)
No additional sūrah in 3rd/4th rakʿah
Al-Qiyam
Standing straight and still, right hand placed over left hand on the chest, eyes looking at the place of prostration, reciting Al-Fatiha and a surah.
Rakah 4
Al-Fātiḥah only + Rukūʿ & Sujūd
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ...
Al-Fātiḥah only (silent)
Recite silently
Al-Qiyam
Standing straight and still, right hand placed over left hand on the chest, eyes looking at the place of prostration, reciting Al-Fatiha and a surah.
Step 12 — The Final Tashahhud — Ṣalāt Ibrāhīmiyyah
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ وَبَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
"Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammad, Kamaa salayta 'ala Ibraaheem wa 'ala aali Ibrahim, Innaka Hameedun Majeed. Wa baarik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammad, Kamaa baarakta 'ala Ibraaheem wa 'ala aali Ibrahim, Innaka Hameedun Majeed"
O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, just as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Verily, You are full of Praise and Majesty.
In the final rakʿah, after the Tashahhud, add the Ṣalāt Ibrāhīmiyyah.
Tashahhud
Sitting on the left foot with the right foot upright, index finger raised during the Shahadah, reciting At-Tashahhud and Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ.
Step 13 — The Tasleem (Ending the Prayer)
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
"As-Salamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullah"
to the right, then to the left.
After reciting the second part of the Tashahhud, say the Tasleem to the right then to the left. Upon saying the Tasleem, the prayer will have come to an end.
Salām (Tasleem)
Turning the head to the right saying 'Assalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah', then to the left — completing the prayer with peace.