Asr Prayer
صلاة العصر
The afternoon prayer -- the third of the five daily prayers
4
Fard (obligatory)
The Asr prayer has only 4 Fard (obligatory) rakaat with no confirmed Sunnah prayers before or after it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever misses the Asr prayer, it is as if he lost his family and property.” (Sahih al-Bukhari). The entire prayer is recited silently.
Step-by-Step Guide (4-Rakah Fard)
The Asr prayer follows the same structure as the Dhuhr Fard prayer -- 4 rakaat recited silently.
Stand facing the Qiblah. Raise both hands to ear level and fold them on your chest (right over left).
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the Greatest
This is the opening Takbir (Takbirat al-Ihram). After this, recite the opening supplication (dua al-istiftah) silently.
Remain standing with hands folded on your chest. Recite Surah Al-Fatiha silently.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٧﴾
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem. Al-hamdu lillahi Rabbil 'aalameen. Ar-Rahmanir Raheem. Maaliki yawmid-deen. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een. Ihdinas-Siratal Mustaqeem. Siratal-lazeena an'amta 'alayhim, ghayril maghdoobi 'alayhim wa lad-daalleen.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to 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 You have blessed, not of those who earned anger, nor of those who went astray.
Say 'Ameen' after completing Al-Fatiha. Like Dhuhr, Asr is recited silently.
Remain standing. Recite any surah or verses from the Quran after Al-Fatiha.
قُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ النَّاسِ ﴿١﴾ مَلِكِ النَّاسِ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَٰهِ النَّاسِ ﴿٣﴾ مِن شَرِّ الْوَسْوَاسِ الْخَنَّاسِ ﴿٤﴾ الَّذِي يُوَسْوِسُ فِي صُدُورِ النَّاسِ ﴿٥﴾ مِنَ الْجِنَّةِ وَالنَّاسِ ﴿٦﴾
Qul a'udhu bi Rabbin-naas. Malikin-naas. Ilaahin-naas. Min sharril-waswaasil-khannaas. Alladhee yuwaswisu fee sudoorin-naas. Minal-jinnati wan-naas.
Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind. The Sovereign of mankind. The God of mankind. From the evil of the retreating whisperer. Who whispers in the breasts of mankind. From among the jinn and mankind.
This is Surah An-Nas (114). You may recite any surah. An additional surah is recited only in the first two rakaat.
Say 'Allahu Akbar' and bow down, placing your hands on your knees with your back straight and parallel to the ground. Keep your gaze on the place of prostration.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal 'Azeem
Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great
Repeat this 3 times while in the bowing position.
Rise from bowing to a full standing position with your arms at your sides.
سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Sami' Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal hamd
Allah hears the one who praises Him. Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.
Say 'Allahu Akbar' and go down into prostration. Place your forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes on the ground.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal A'la
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High
Repeat this 3 times while in prostration.
Say 'Allahu Akbar' and rise to a sitting position. Sit on your left foot with your right foot upright.
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbighfir lee
My Lord, forgive me
You may repeat this supplication twice.
Say 'Allahu Akbar' and go into the second prostration, same as the first.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal A'la
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High
Repeat 3 times. This completes the first rakah.
Say 'Allahu Akbar' and stand up for the second rakah. Repeat steps 2-8 (Al-Fatiha, another surah, Ruku, standing, two Sujud).
The second rakah follows the same sequence as the first.
After the second Sujud of the second rakah, remain seated. Point your right index finger forward.
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-saliheen. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasooluh.
All greetings, prayers, and pure words are for 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.
After this first Tashahhud, stand up for the third rakah.
Say 'Allahu Akbar' and stand up. In the third and fourth rakaat, recite only Al-Fatiha (no additional surah). Perform Ruku, standing, and two Sujud in each rakah as before.
After the second Sujud of the fourth rakah, remain seated for the final Tashahhud.
After the second Sujud of the fourth rakah, sit and recite the full Tashahhud.
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-saliheen. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasooluh.
All greetings, prayers, and pure words are for 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.
Remain seated after the final Tashahhud.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ. اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala aali Ibrahim, innaka Hameedun Majeed. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala aali Ibrahim, innaka Hameedun Majeed.
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.
Turn your head to the right, then to the left, saying the Salam each time.
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah
Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you
Say this once turning to the right, and once turning to the left. This concludes the prayer.