What We Say in Salah
We begin Salah with the remembrance of God and glorifying Him. We start with Niyyah (the intention and knowing what we are doing, what we are reciting, and for whom and for what a certain movement is made) and enter Salah by saying Allahu Akbar (God is great), hence removing from our heart everything but God.
Allahu Akbar means God is greater than anything and anyone and greater than what can be described. His power is superior to that of anyone. He is everlasting and His mercy and favor are unlimited. He is also omniscient.
By saying Allahu Akbar, we declare the fact that we do not recognize any power but His, we are not afraid of anyone but Him, and we obey Him only. We will begin with His name because He is the greatest.
Takbir (saying Allahu Akbar) both begins and ends the Salah. The Holy Prophet (PBUH) said that nothing is better and more favored before God than the phrase Allahu Akbar.
After Takbir, we recite Surah Al-Fatiha, followed by another Surah of the Quran, such as Surah Al-Ikhlas. The Surahs begin with “In the Name of God, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful”. This should be the beginning of everything we do if we want it to have a good outcome. Bismillah (in the name of God) is the sign of servitude to God and a symbol of love and Tawakkul (putting one’s trust in God).
Then we say, “All praise belongs to God, Lord of the Universe.” (Verse 2 of Surah Al-Fatiha) All praise be to God because every blessing is from Him and no one can count them.
Then we seek guidance from God and ask Him to lead us to the straight path, which is the path of Taqwa (God-fearing), justice, purity, good deeds, and servitude to God, the path of those upon whom God has favored, not those upon whom is the anger, nor the astray.
In Surah Al-Ikhlas, we praise God as the only God on Whom all depend and one who neither begets nor was He begotten and there is no one equal to Him.
In Ruku and Sajdah, too, we praise God and say we consider the glorious Lord to be pure and away from any imperfections.
We thank God for guiding us and giving us countless blessings. Our doing Ruku before you is a sign of our humility.
Subhana Rabbiyal 'Azimi wa bihamdhi (Glory be to my High. Sustainer and I praise Him)
We will not submit to any power but before You, the omnipotent, prostate and praise you.
Subhana Rabbiyal A'la wa bihamdih (Glory be to my Great. Sustainer, Most High, and I praise Him) Sajdah revives the spirit of servitude and worshiping God.
Tashahhud is our bearing witness to the oneness of God and prophethood of His messenger. And Salam at the end of Salah is sending greetings to the Holy Prophet (PBUH), all believers and good doers and angels.
