Everything that a Muslim recites in a simple two Rakah mandatory prayer.

Ever wondered what a Muslim recites during his prayer and what’s the meaning of those recitations? Here we will know A-Z of that.

If you are a Muslim and non-Arabic savvy person, why won’t give it a go to know the meaning of what you have consistently been reading every day! Ever wondered?!

A simple two rakah Fajr prayer

Before Prayer:

• Before starting the prayer, say — ‘بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem —In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.)
• Start the prayer by saying takbir — الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar — Allah is [the] greatest).

First Rakah Prayer:

• Start the prayer reciting the following — سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ (Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk — Glorious You are O Allah, and with Your praise, and blessed is Your Name, and exalted is Your majesty, and none has the right to be worshipped but You.)
• Before starting the Fatiha, say — ‘بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem — In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.)
• Start Surah Fatiha — ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ (Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen — All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists).–) ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem —The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful) مَٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ (Maaliki Yawmid-Deen —The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)) إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُ (Iyyaaka na’budu wa lyyaaka nasta’een — You (Alone) we worship, and you (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).) ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ (Ihdinas-Siraatal-Mustaqeem — Guide us to the Straight Way) صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ غَيۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ (Siraatal-lazeena an’amta ‘alaihim ghayril-maghdoobi ‘alaihim wa lad-daaalleen — The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray.). Finish it by saying — آمین (Amen — O Allah please grant our supplication)
• Before starting another surah/few verses from the Holy Quran, say — ‘بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem — In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.)
• Now recite another surah/few verses from the Holy Quran. We are going with Surah Al Kafirun for the first rakah. قُلۡ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلۡكَٰفِرُونَ (Qul yaaa-ayyuhal kaafiroon — Say (O Muhammad ﷺ to these Mushrikun and Kafirun): “O Al-Kafirun (disbelievers in Allah, in His Oneness, in His Angels, in His Books, in His Messengers, in the Day of Resurrection, and in Al-Qadar, etc.)!) لَآ أَعۡبُدُ مَا تَعۡبُدُونَ (Laaa a’budu maa t’abudoon — “I worship not that which you worship,) وَلَآ أَنتُمۡ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعۡبُدُ (Wa laaa antum ‘aabidoona maaa a’bud — Nor will you worship that which I worship.) وَلَآ أَنَا۠ عَابِدٞ مَّا عَبَدتُّمۡ (Wa laaa ana ‘abidum maa ‘abattum — And I shall not worship that which you are worshipping.) وَلَآ أَنتُمۡ عَٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعۡبُدُ (Wa laaa antum ‘aabidoona maaa a’bud — Nor will you worship that which I worship.) لَكُمۡ دِينُكُمۡ وَلِيَ دِينِ (Lakum deenukum wa liya deen — To you be your religion, and to me my religion (Islamic Monotheism).)
• Go to the rukuh (bowing) position saying takbir — الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar — Allah is [the] greatest). Say ruku tasbeeh atleast three times — سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ (Subhaana Rabbiyal-’Adheem — Glory to my Lord the Exalted.) Go to standing position saying the following — سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ (Sami‘ Allâhu liman hamidah — Allah hears whoever praises Him).
• Say the following while standing; after that go to the sujood (prostration) position — رَبَّنـا وَلَكَ الحَمْـدُ حَمْـداً كَثـيراً طَيِّـباً مُـبارَكاً فيه (Rabbanaa wa la kal hamd, hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan feeh — Our Lord, all praise is due only to You, praise which is abundant, excellent and blessed.)
• Go to the sujood (prostration) position saying takbir — الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar — Allah is [the] greatest). Say sujood (prostration) tasbeeh at least three times — سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى (Subhaana Rabbiyal-A ‘laa — Glory is to my Lord, the Most High.) Go to the sitting position saying takbir — الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar — Allah is [the] greatest). While sitting, recite one of the followings — رَبِّ اغْفِـرْ لي ، رَبِّ اغْفِـرْ لي (Rabbighfir lee, Rabbighfir lee — My Lord forgive me, My Lord forgive me.) or, اللّهُـمَّ اغْفِـرْ لي ، وَارْحَمْـني ، وَاهْدِنـي ، وَاجْبُرْنـي ، وَعافِنـي وَارْزُقْنـي وَارْفَعْـني (Allaahum-maghfir lee, warhamnee, wahdinee, wajburnee, wa ‘aafinee, warzuqnee, warfa’nee — O Allah, forgive me, have mercy upon me, guide me, enrich me, give me health, grant me sustenance and raise my rank.) Go to the sujood (prostration) position saying takbir — الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar — Allah is [the] greatest). Say sujood (prostration) tasbeeh at least three times — سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى (Subhaana Rabbiyal-A ‘laa — Glory is to my Lord, the Most High.) Then, Go to a standing position saying Takbir — الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar — Allah is [the] greatest).

Second Rakah Prayer:

• Start the second rakah saying — ‘بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem — In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.)
• Start Surah Fatiha — ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ (Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen — All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists).–) ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem — The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful) مَٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ (Maaliki Yawmid-Deen — The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)) إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُ (Iyyaaka na’budu wa lyyaaka nasta’een — You (Alone) we worship, and you (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).) ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ (Ihdinas-Siraatal-Mustaqeem — Guide us to the Straight Way) صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ غَيۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ (Siraatal-lazeena an’amta ‘alaihim ghayril-maghdoobi ‘alaihim wa lad-daaalleen — The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray.). Finish it by saying — آمین (Amen — O Allah please grant our supplication)
• Before starting another surah/few verses from the Holy Quran, say — ‘بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem — In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.)
• Now recite another surah/few verses from the Holy Quran. We are going with Surah Al Ikhlas for the second rakah. قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ (Qul huwal laahu ahad —Say (O Muhammad ﷺ): He is Allah, (the) One. ) ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ (Allah hus-samad — Allah-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures need, He neither eats nor drinks).) لَمۡ يَلِدۡ وَلَمۡ يُولَدۡ (Lam yalid wa lam yoolad —He begets not, nor was He begotten; ) وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدُۢ (Wa lam yakul-lahoo kufuwan ahad —And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.)
• Go to the rukuh (bowing) position saying takbir — الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar — Allah is [the] greatest). Say ruku tasbeeh atleast three times — سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ (Subhaana Rabbiyal-’Adheem — Glory to my Lord the Exalted.) Go to standing position saying the following — سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ (Sami‘ Allâhu liman hamidah — Allah hears whoever praises Him).
• Say the following while standing; after that go to the sujood (prostration) position — رَبَّنـا وَلَكَ الحَمْـدُ حَمْـداً كَثـيراً طَيِّـباً مُـبارَكاً فيه (Rabbanaa wa la kal hamd, hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan feeh — Our Lord, all praise is due only to You, praise which is abundant, excellent and blessed.)
• Go to the sujood (prostration) position saying takbir — الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar — Allah is [the] greatest). Say sujood (prostration) tasbeeh at least three times — سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى (Subhaana Rabbiyal-A ‘laa — Glory is to my Lord, the Most High.) Go to the sitting position saying takbir — الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar — Allah is [the] greatest). While sitting, recite one of the followings — رَبِّ اغْفِـرْ لي ، رَبِّ اغْفِـرْ لي (Rabbighfir lee, Rabbighfir lee — My Lord forgive me, My Lord forgive me.) or, اللّهُـمَّ اغْفِـرْ لي ، وَارْحَمْـني ، وَاهْدِنـي ، وَاجْبُرْنـي ، وَعافِنـي وَارْزُقْنـي وَارْفَعْـني (Allaahum-maghfir lee, warhamnee, wahdinee, wajburnee, wa ‘aafinee, warzuqnee, warfa’nee — O Allah, forgive me, have mercy upon me, guide me, enrich me, give me health, grant me sustenance and raise my rank.) Go to the sujood (prostration) position saying takbir — الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar — Allah is [the] greatest). Say sujood (prostration) tasbeeh at least three times — سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى (Subhaana Rabbiyal-A ‘laa — Glory is to my Lord, the Most High.) Then, once again, go to a standing position saying takbir — الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar — Allah is [the] greatest).
• In this sitting position need to pray a few things one after another. First, recite Tashahhud — التَّحِيَّاتُ للهِ، وَالصَّلَوَاتُ، وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِينَ. أّشَْدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً 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.) Second, recite Durood-e-Ebrahimi — اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحمَّد، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَميدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحمَّدٌ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَِكْتَ عَلَى إبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ (Allaahumma salli ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa ‘aali Muhammadin, kamaa sallayta ‘alaa ‘Ibraaheema wa ‘alaa ‘aali ‘Ibraaheema, ‘innaka Hameedun Majeed. Allaahumma baarik ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa ‘aali Muhammadin, kamaa baarakta ‘alaa ‘Ibraaheema wa ‘alaa ‘aali ‘Ibraaheema, ‘innaka Hameedun Majeed — O Allah, bestow Your favor on Muhammad and on the family of Muhammad as You have bestowed Your favor on Ibrahim and on the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.) Third, recite the following dua — اَللَّهُـمَّ إِنيِّ أَعوُذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذاَبِ جَهَنَّمَ ، وَمِنْ عَذاَبِ الْقَبْرِ ، وَمِنْ فِتْـنَةِ الْمَحْياَ وَالْمَماَتِ وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْـنَةِ الْمَسيِحِ الدَّجاَّلِ (Allahumma, inni a’adhu bika min ‘adhabi jahannama, wa min ‘adhabil-qabri, wa min fitnatil-mahya wal-mamati wa min sharri fitnatil-Masihid-Dajjal — O Allah! I seek refuge with You from the punishment of Hell, from the punishment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the evil of the tribulation of the Dajjal.) Finally, recite the following dua — اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا، وَلاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَارْحَمْنِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ (Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathira wala yaghfirudh dhunuba illa anta faghfirli maghfiratam min ‘indika war hamni innaka antal ghafurur rahim — O Allah! I have greatly wronged myself and none forgives sins except You, so grant me Your forgiveness and have mercy on me. You are the Forgiving, the Merciful.)
• Now end the prayer by offering Salam to your right and left shoulders, sequentially. Say — ‏اَلسَلامُ عَلَيْكُم وَرَحْمَةُ اَللهِ (Assalamualaikum Warahmatullah — Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy.

After Prayer:

• After prayer is end, recite the following —أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ ، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ ، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ ، ‏ اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلاَمُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلاَمُ تَبَارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلاَلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ (Astaghfirullah, Astaghfirullah, Astaghfirullah, Allahumma Antas-Salamu, wa minkas-Salamu, tabarakta ya Dhal-Jalali wal-Ikram — I seek the forgiveness of Allah. I seek the forgiveness of Allah. I seek the forgiveness of Allah. O Allah! You are the Bestower of security and security comes from You; Blessed are You. O Possessor of glory and honour.)