Many children know the movements of salah before the words. A position-by-position chart helps them learn both.
The words, position by position
| Position | Say |
|---|---|
| Opening | اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ |
| Standing | Opening dua (e.g. سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ …), A’udhu billah, Bismillah, Al-Fatihah, a surah |
| Ruku’ (bowing) | سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ ×3 |
| Rising | سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ, then رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ |
| Sujud | سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى ×3 |
| Between sujud | رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي |
| Sitting (tashahhud) | التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ … (Sahih al-Bukhari 831) |
| Final sitting | Tashahhud, then the salawat on the Prophet ﷺ (اللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ …) |
| Ending | السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ, right then left |
Small differences in wording and practice exist between schools of thought. Follow what your teacher and family use. See why prayer differs slightly.
Learn in stages
- Takbir, Al-Fatihah, ruku’ and sujud words.
- Rising and between-sujud words.
- Tashahhud.
- Salawat and opening dua.
Teach the meanings
“Subhana Rabbiyal A’la” means “Glory be to my Lord, the Most High”. Children who know they’re saying this with their forehead on the ground feel the prayer differently.
Teacher’s tip: a laminated picture chart with each position and its words, placed by the prayer mat, helps children pray independently within weeks.
Related: Rak’ahs in each prayer and praying too fast.
