Namaz for Women
Namaz (Salah) is the second pillar of Islam and the most important act of worship after the declaration of faith. It is a direct connection between the believer and Allah, performed five times a day to purify the heart, bring peace to the soul, and strengthen one’s faith. Namaz shapes the daily rhythm of a Muslim’s life and is a source of guidance, discipline, and spiritual growth.
How To Perform Namaz for Women In Islam
1. Preparing for Salaah
- Ensure your clothes and the place of Salaah are clean.
- Make sure your Satr is covered:
- For women, the Satr in Salaah is everything except the hands, face, and feet.
- Face the Qiblah (direction of prayer – Makkah).
- Make your intention (niyyah) quietly or in the mind for the Salaah you wish to perform.
- During Salaah:
- Keep the eyes fixed on the spot where the head will be in Sajdah (prostration), unless otherwise mentioned.
- Ensure the feet point towards the Qiblah.
- Men should keep their feet a minimum of four fingers’ width apart.
- Women should keep their feet together.
Instructions: Takbeer
Takbeer
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ (Translation: Allaahu Akbar)Translation
Allah is the Greatest2. Takbeer e Tahreema
3. Preparing for Salaah
A woman should place three hands over the chest with the
right-hand palm over the back of the left hand,
keeping the fingers and thumb together.
Ensure not to form a ring around the wrist as men do.
Recitation
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subhaanaka Allaahumma wa bihamdika wa tabaarakasmuka wa taʿaala jadduka wa laa ilaaha ghayruka
Translation
Glory be to You, O Allah! and Praise be to You; Blessed is Your name, Exalted is Your Majesty, and there is none worthy of worship besides You.
3.1 Qiyaam
While Remaining in Qiyaam
Recite Ta’awwuz and Tasmiyah silently while standing.Ta’awwuz
أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
A‘oodhu billaahi minash-Shayṭaanir-rajeem Translation: I seek refuge in Allah from the rejected Satan.Tasmiyah
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem Translation: In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.Then Recite Surah Al-Fātiḥah:
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ، ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Alḥamdu lillaahi rabbil ‘aalameen; ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem Translation: Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Beneficent, the Merciful.مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ، إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
Maaliki yawmid-deen; iyyaaka na‘budu wa iyyaaka nasta‘een Translation: Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help.ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ، صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ
Ihdinas-siraatal mustaqeem; siraatal-ladheena an‘amta ‘alayhim Translation: Guide us on the Straight Path, the path of those whom You have favoured,غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
Ghayril-maghdubi ‘alayhim wa laḍ-ḍaaalleen Translation: Not of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray.3.2 Qiyaam
Qiyaam – Reciting Another Surah
Then recite any Surah, or a minimum of three short Aayats or one long Aayah.Example Surah: Surah Al-Ikhlaas
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللّٰهُ أَحَدٌ، ٱللّٰهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ
Qul huwallaahu ahad, Allaahus-Samad Translation: Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah, the eternally Besought of all!لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Lam yalid wa lam yoolad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad. Translation: He begetteth not, nor is He begotten. And there is none comparable unto Him.Posture for Women: Women should bend only enough for their fingers to touch the knees, keeping the fingers together. The knees should be slightly bent, and the back should not be straight like men. Elbows should touch the sides of the body. Eyes should be focused towards the toes.
Takbeer before Rukoo
ٱللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allaahu Akbar
Translation: Allah is the Greatest
Rukoo Recitation (Repeat 3 Times)
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhaana Rabbi-yal Azeem
Translation: Glory is to my Lord, the Most Great
4. Rukoo (Bowing Down)
5. Qaumah (Standing After Rukoo)
Instructions: Qaumah is the position of standing up straight after Rukoo, returning to the Qiyaam posture with your arms placed straight by your sides.
While rising from Rukoo, recite the Tasmee. Once fully standing, recite the Tamheed.
Tasmee (While Rising)
سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Sami‘a Allaahu liman ḥamidah
Translation: Allah hears all those who praise Him.
Tamheed (When Fully Standing)
رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Rabbanaa lakal ḥamd
Translation: Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.
Recitation (Takbeer)
ٱللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allaahu Akbar
Translation: Allah is the Greatest
Instructions: Move into prostration in the following order:
- Lower the knees to the ground first.
- Then the palms of both hands.
- Followed by the nose and finally the forehead.
Try to keep the back straight, though women may bend more than men. Keep the limbs close to the body and the ground — including arms, elbows, bottom, and feet. Feet should point to the right, and toes should face the Qiblah. Focus your eyes towards the nose.
Sajdah Recitation (First Prostration)
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhaana Rabbiyal A‘laa
Translation: Glory to my Lord, the Highest
Rising to Jalsa (Sitting Position)
Rise from the floor in this order: forehead, then nose, then hands, while saying:
ٱللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allaahu Akbar
Translation: Allah is the Greatest
Instructions: Sit upright (Jalsa) with your palms on the lower thighs (not on the knees). Women should rest on the floor with both feet pointing out to the right. Eyes should be focused between the hands in your lap. Pause briefly in this position.
Second Sajdah
Say:
ٱللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allaahu Akbar
Translation: Allah is the Greatest
Then perform the second Sajdah in the same manner and recite:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhaana Rabbiyal A‘laa
Translation: Glory to my Lord, the Highest
6. Sajdah (Prostration)
7. Quood (Qa'dah – Sitting Position)
Instructions: After the second Sajdah, sit upright. This marks the end of one Rak‘ah (unit) of prayer. The second Rak‘ah is performed the same way, but omit Thanaa and Ta’awwuz. Start with Tasmiyah (Bismillah).
At-Tashahhud (Recited while seated)
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ
Attahiyyaatu lillaahi was-salawaatu wat-tayyibaatu. Assalaamu ‘alaika ayyuhan-nabiyyu
Translation: All prayers and worship through words, actions, and sanctity are due to Allah only. Peace be upon you, O Prophet.
وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ
Wa raḥmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu. Assalaamu ‘alainaa wa ‘ala ibaadillaahis-saaliheen
Translation: And the Mercy of Allah and His Blessings. Peace be on us and on the righteous servants of Allah.
Shahadah (Declaration of Faith)
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Ash’hadu alla ilaaha illallaahu, wa ash’hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhoo wa rasooluh
Translation: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
Durood Shareef
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
Allaahumma ṣalli ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa aali Muhammadin kamaa ṣallayta ‘alaa Ibraaheema wa ‘alaa aali Ibraaheem
Translation: O Allah! Send Your blessings upon Muhammad and his family as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and his family.
إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
Innaka ḥameedum majeed. Allaahumma baarik ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa aali Muhammadin
Translation: You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. O Allah! Bless Muhammad and his family.
كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Kamaa baarakta ‘alaa Ibraaheema wa ‘alaa aali Ibraaheem, innaka ḥameedum majeed
Translation: As You blessed Ibrahim and his family. Truly, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَاةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ
(Allaahumma) Rabbij ‘alni muqeemaṣ-ṣalaati wa min dhurriyati, Rabbanaa wa taqabbal du‘aa Translation: O Lord! Make me one who establishes regular prayer and also from my offspring. O our Lord! Accept my prayer.رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْحِسَابُ
Rabbana’ghfir li wa li-waalidayya wa lil-mu’mineena yawma yaqoomul-hisaab Translation: O Lord! Forgive me, my parents, and all believers on the Day the Reckoning is established.Salaam (Ending the Prayer)
Instructions: Now turn your face to your right shoulder while saying the first Salaam. Then turn to the left shoulder and repeat. After completing the Salah, it is a great Sunnah and a blessing to make Du‘aa by raising your hands in supplication.Salaam to the Right
ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللّٰهِ
Assalaamu ‘alaikum wa raḥmatullah Translation: Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercySalaam to the Left
ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللّٰهِ
Assalaamu ‘alaikum wa raḥmatullah Translation: Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy8. Du'a After Tashahhud & Durood
