Task: Spend the weekend learning or revising over the English translation and meaning of most of your salaat.

Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika wa tabaarakas muka wa ta’aalaa jadduka wa laa ilaaha ghairuk.

O Allah! I declare You far removed from and above all imperfection, and that You deserve all Praise. Blessed is Your Name. Your Majesty (Glory and Might) is Exalted., and there is no true God Worthy of Worship Except You.

A’oodthu billahi minash-shaitanir-rajeem. Bismillaahir-Rahmannir-Raheem

I seek Refuge with Allah from Satan, the outcast. In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

Subhanna Rabbiyal ‘Adheem

Glory to my Lord the Exalted

Sami’Allahu li man hamdidah

Allah hears the one who praises Him.

Rabbana walakal-hamd

O our Rabb (Lord)! All the praise is due to You.

Subhaana Rabiyyal-’Alaa

Glory is to My Lord, The Most High

At-tahiy-yatu lil-lahi was sala-watu wat-tay yibatu
As-salamu ‘alayka ay-yuhan-nabiy-yu
wa rahma tullahi wa bara-katuhu
As-salamu ‘alayna wa’ala ‘ibadil-la his-sali-heen
Ash hadu al-la ilaha il-lal lahuwa ash hadu an-na Muhammadan ‘ab-duhu wa rasuluh.

All compliments, all physical prayer, and all worship are for Allah.
Peace be upon you, Oh Prophet,
and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
Peace be on us and on all righteous slaves of Allah.
I bear witness that no one is worthy of worship except Allah
And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama sallaita ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem innaka Hameedun Majeed, wabaarik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhamaad kama baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem innaka Hameedun Majeed.

O Allah! Praise Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as You Praised Ibraaheem, and the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. And send blessings on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent blessings on Ibraaheem, and the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.

Surah Faatiha

Please refer to the Surah for the Arabic and learn the translation ayat by ayat. Please take note of the commentary with each ayat. It is an abridged commentary from Towards Understanding Your Salaah by Moulana AS Chohan.

Verse 1: All praises are due to Allah, the Rabb of all the worlds

This ayah is a reminder that all praises are due to Allah (swt) alone and in praising others we should always be aware of the fact that He is the creator and owner of that which is praised. If your heart is not filled with admiration and awe of Allah it will be filled with love and worship of other things and people. The use of the word Rabb refers to one who nurtures and sustains, this is to develop something or someone gradually in a manner that is best for it until it attains perfection. Aa’lameen (all the worlds) refers to all forms of existence in the universe. This is the planets, the stars, the angels, man, jinn etc. This verse is also a reminder that Allah (swt) alone is the nurturer and sustainer of all things.

Verse 2: The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

This verse reminds us of Allah’s (swt) abundance Mercy.

Verse 3: Owner of the Day of Recompense
The term Malik refers to the ownership of a commodity and free will to do what one likes over it. This verse serves to remind us that the Day of Recompense (reckoning) belongs to Allah (swt) and we will be at his mercy.

Verse 4: You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help

This ayah outlines two basic principles: Worship and reverence is due to Allah alone (the term ‘Na’budu signifies humility and subjugation which emanates from extreme honour and affection) and only Allah (swt) can fulfil the needs of creation. Imaam Ghazali (ra) has stated that worship is not only limited to the fard acts but also remembrance of Allah (swt) in all conditions, fulfilling the rights of fellow humans, calling to others to be righteous and prohibit evil, adherence to the sunnah, reading the Qur’an and searching for halal livelihood.

Verses 5-6: Guide us to the Straight Path, the path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the path) of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray

Guidance or hidayah is defined as showing a person, with extreme kindness, the path to his destination. When we read this verse we are appealing to Allah (swt) to guide us to the path of those who have been graced, the prophets, the righteous, the martyrs and the pious and not those who have earned His anger.