How to Pray Namaz (Women) – Step by Step Guide
Salah (Namaz) is an essential act of worship in Islam. Women have the same prayer structure as men, but their posture is slightly different, such as keeping their arms closer to their body and sitting with their legs folded to one side in Tashahhud.
This guide will cover the conditions before prayer and a step-by-step explanation with Arabic text, transliteration, and translation for each step.
Conditions for Women Before Praying Salah
Before starting Salah, women must ensure:
- Purity (Taharah): Perform wudu (ablution). If required, take ghusl (full-body purification).
- Proper Dress (Hijab in Prayer): Wear loose, non-transparent clothing covering the entire body except for the face, hands, and feet.
- Clean Place: The place of prayer should be pure and clean.
- Facing Qibla: Stand in the direction of the Kaaba (Qibla).
- Correct Time: Pray each Salah within its designated time.
- Intention (Niyyah): Have the intention in your heart before starting.
Step-by-Step Guide to Performing Namaz for Women
Step 1: Intention (Niyyah)
- Before starting Salah, make the intention in your heart for the specific prayer.
Example Intention for Fajr Prayer:
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ صَلَاةَ الْفَجْرِ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
Nawaitu an usalli Salat al-Fajr lillahi ta’ala.
Translation:
“I intend to perform the Fajr prayer for the sake of Allah, the Most High.”
Step 2: Takbir (Starting the Prayer)
Position: Raise both hands to shoulder level, keeping elbows close to the body.
Say Takbir:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar
Translation: “Allah is the Greatest.”
After Takbir: Place both hands on the chest, with the right hand over the left.
Step 3: Recite the Opening Supplication (Sana)
Arabic:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Transliteration:
Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta‘ala jaduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk.
Translation:
“Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.”
Step 4: Recite Surah Al-Fatiha
Arabic:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
Transliteration:
Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘aalameen. Ar-Rahmanir-Raheem. Maliki yawmid-deen. Iyyaka na‘budu wa iyyaka nastaeen. Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqeem. Siratal-ladhina an‘amta ‘alayhim ghayril-maghdoobi ‘alayhim walad-dalleen.
Translation:
“All praise is for Allah, Lord of all the worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us on the Straight Path. The path of those who have received Your grace, not of those who have brought Your wrath, nor of those who have gone astray.”
Say ‘Ameen’ at the end.
Step 5: Recite a Short Surah
- After Surah Al-Fatiha, recite any short Surah like Surah Al-Ikhlas (Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad).
Example: Surah Al-Ikhlas
Arabic:
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Transliteration:
Qul huwa Allahu Ahad. Allahus-Samad. Lam yalid walam yulad. Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.
Translation:
“Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Absolute. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is none equal to Him.”
Step 6: Ruku (Bowing Down)
Position:
- Say Allahu Akbar and bend down, keeping your back straight.
- Place your hands on your knees, keeping your arms close to the body.
Recite three times:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal ‘Azeem.
Translation: “Glory is to my Lord, the Most Great.”
Step 7: Stand Up from Ruku (Qawmah)
- Stand straight, saying:
Arabic:
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Sami’Allahu liman hamidah.
Translation: “Allah hears those who praise Him.”
- Then say:
Arabic: رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
- Rabbana wa lakal hamd.
Translation: “Our Lord, all praise is for You.”
Step 8: Sujood (Prostration)
Position:
- Say Allahu Akbar and go into Sujood (prostration).
- Place forehead, nose, hands, knees, and toes on the ground.
- Keep arms close to the body, and do not raise elbows.
Recite three times:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal A‘la.
Translation: “Glory is to my Lord, the Most High.”
Step 9: Sitting Between Two Sujood (Jalsa)
Position:
- Sit with legs folded, placing hands on thighs.
- Say:
Arabic:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbi ighfir li.
Translation: “My Lord, forgive me.”
Step 10: Second Sujood
Perform another Sujood, reciting:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى (Same as the first Sujood).
Step 11: Second Rak’ah and Tashahhud (Sitting for Testimony)
Repeat all steps for the second Rak’ah.
After the second Sujood, sit for Tashahhud, placing hands on thighs.
Arabic:
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Transliteration:
At-tahiyyaatu lillahi wassalawatu wattayyibat, assalamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, assalamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-salihin.
Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.
Translation:
“All compliments, prayers, and pure words are due to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah.
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.“
Step 12: Durood-e-Ibrahim
Arabic:
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Transliteration:
Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidum Majeed.
Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammadin, kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidum Majeed.
Translation:
“O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.
O Allah, bestow favor upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You bestow favor upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.“
Step 13: Dua After Durood (Optional)
Arabic:
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ، رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ
Transliteration:
Rabbi-j‘alni muqeema as-salati wa min dhurriyati, Rabbana wa taqabbal du‘a.
Rabbana ighfir li wa li walidayya wa lil-mu’minina yawma yaqumul hisab.
Translation:
“My Lord, make me an establishment of prayer, and [also] from my descendants. Our Lord, accept my supplication.
Our Lord, forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day the account is established.“
Step 14: Ending the Prayer (Salam)
Arabic:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
Transliteration:
Assalamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullah.
Translation:
“May peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.”
How to Perform Salam:
- Turn your head to the right and say Salam.
- Turn head to the left and say Salam again.
Salah is now complete!
