Line-by-line meaning of the words of Namaz.
Fajr, Sunnah and Nafl prayers — follow these steps in order.
Silently, in your heart, before starting
I intend to pray ___ rak'ahs of ___ salah for the sake of Allah, facing the Qiblah.
Meaning: The intention is made in the heart. You are consciously choosing to stand before Allah for this specific prayer.
Raising both hands to the ears/shoulders, then folding them
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu Akbar
Meaning: Allah is the Greatest.
You declare that Allah is greater than everything — greater than your worries, your work, and the world you just left behind.
After folding hands, standing (Qiyam)
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānaka Allāhumma wa biḥamdika, wa tabāraka smuka, wa taʿālā jadduka, wa lā ilāha ghayruk.
Meaning: Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise is Yours. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god besides You.
Silently, before reciting Al-Fatiha
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Aʿūdhu billāhi mina ash-shayṭāni ar-rajīm. Bismillāhi ar-Raḥmāni ar-Raḥīm.
Meaning: I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
In every rak'ah, while standing
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi Rabbi l-ʿālamīn. Ar-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm. Māliki yawmi d-dīn. Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn. Ihdinā ṣ-ṣirāṭa l-mustaqīm. Ṣirāṭa lladhīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayri l-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa lā ḍ-ḍāllīn.
Meaning: All praise is for Allah, Lord of all 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 to the straight path — the path of those You have blessed, not of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray.
Say 'Ameen' silently after finishing.
After Al-Fatiha, in the first two rak'ahs
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Qul huwa Allāhu aḥad. Allāhu ṣ-ṣamad. Lam yalid wa lam yūlad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan aḥad.
Meaning: Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, and none is comparable to Him.
Bowing so back is level, hands on knees. Say 3 times:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subḥāna Rabbiya l-ʿAẓīm
Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.
You are physically lowering yourself and verbally declaring that only Allah is truly great. This is where the phrase in your question — Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem — is said.
Standing back up from bowing
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah. Rabbanā wa laka l-ḥamd.
Meaning: Allah hears whoever praises Him. Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise.
Forehead, nose, palms, knees, and toes on the ground. Say 3 times:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna Rabbiya l-Aʿlā
Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
This is the closest a servant is to Allah. You place the highest part of your body (the head) on the ground to praise the Highest (Al-Aʿlā).
Briefly sitting up between the two prostrations
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbi ghfir lī, Rabbi ghfir lī
Meaning: My Lord, forgive me. My Lord, forgive me.
Same as step 9
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna Rabbiya l-Aʿlā (×3)
Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Sitting after 2 rak'ahs, and at the end of the prayer
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi wa ṣ-ṣalawātu wa ṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuha n-Nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhi ṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu an lā ilāha illa Allāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh.
Meaning: All greetings, prayers and pure words are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and upon Allah's righteous servants. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
Raise the right index finger at 'lā ilāha' and lower it at 'illa Allāh' — pointing to the oneness of Allah.
In the final sitting, after Tashahhud
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
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammad wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd.
Meaning: O Allah, send blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings on Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.
After Durood, before ending the prayer
اللَّهُمَّ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا، وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَارْحَمْنِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Allāhumma ẓalamtu nafsī ẓulman kathīrā, wa lā yaghfiru dh-dhunūba illā anta, fa-ghfir lī maghfiratan min ʿindika, wa rḥamnī innaka anta l-Ghafūru r-Raḥīm.
Meaning: O Allah, I have wronged myself greatly, and none forgives sins except You. So forgive me with forgiveness from You, and have mercy on me. Indeed, You are the Forgiving, the Merciful.
Turning face right, then left
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh
Meaning: Peace and Allah's mercy be upon you.
You greet the angels on your right and left, and everyone around you. The prayer is now complete.
Immediately after saying Salam on both sides
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ، تَبَارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ
Astaghfiru Allāh, astaghfiru Allāh, astaghfiru Allāh. Allāhumma anta as-salāmu wa minka as-salāmu, tabārakta yā dhā l-jalāli wa l-ikrām.
Meaning: I seek forgiveness from Allah (×3). O Allah, You are As-Salām — the Source of peace — and from You comes peace. Blessed are You, O Possessor of majesty and honor.
Roman Urdu: Main Allah se maafi maangta hoon, main Allah se maafi maangta hoon, main Allah se maafi maangta hoon. Allah hum Tu Salam hai aur Tere hi taraf se salam ata hota hai, Tu barkat wala hai, ae Jalal-o-Ikram Wale.
This is the sunnah dua the Prophet ﷺ taught us to say right after finishing the prayer. It cleans the heart and seals the salah with praise of Allah.
After the post-Salah adhkar, raise hands and ask Allah
اللَّهُمَّ أَجِرْنِي مِنَ النَّارِ
Allāhumma ajirnī mina n-Nār
Meaning: O Allah, save me from the Fire.
Roman Urdu: Allah hum mujhe Aag se bacha.
The Prophet ﷺ taught that after salah we should ask Allah three times for protection from the Hellfire. This short dua reminds us that salah is a shield, and our greatest goal is safety in the Hereafter.
After asking for protection from the Fire
اللَّهُمَّ عَافِنِي بِعَفْوِكَ يَا كَرِيمُ
Allāhumma ʿāfinī bi ʿafwika yā Karīm
Meaning: O Allah, grant me pardon and well-being through Your forgiveness, O Most Generous.
Roman Urdu: Allah hum mujhe apni aaf se aaf kar, ae Kareem.
After salah we ask Allah to cover our faults and grant us health, safety, and forgiveness. ‘Afwa’ is a pardon that erases sin completely, and only the Most Generous gives it freely.
After the post-Salah adhkar, raise hands and ask Allah
اللَّهُمَّ حَاسِبْنِي حِسَابًا يَسِيرًا
Allāhumma ḥāsibnī ḥisāban yasīrā
Meaning: O Allah, reckon me with an easy reckoning.
Roman Urdu: Allah hum mera hisaab aasan kar.
The Prophet ﷺ taught that on the Day of Judgment those whose reckoning is made easy will enter Paradise. This short dua asks Allah to make our final accounting light and merciful.
After the post-Salah adhkar, raise hands and ask Allah
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَنَا قَبْلَ الْمَوْتِ، وَارْحَمْنَا عِنْدَ الْمَوْتِ، وَلَا تُعَذِّبْنَا بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ، وَلَا تُحَاسِبْنَا عِنْدَ الْقِيَامَةِ، إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Allāhumma ighfir lanā qabla al-mawt, wa rḥamnā ʿinda al-mawt, wa lā tuʿadhdhibnā baʿda al-mawt, wa lā tuḥāsibnā ʿinda al-qiyāmah, innaka ʿalā kulli shay'in qadīr.
Meaning: O Allah, forgive us before death, have mercy on us at the time of death, do not punish us after death, and do not call us to account on the Day of Resurrection. Indeed, You are able to do all things.
Roman Urdu: Allah hum humein maut se pehle maaf farma, maut ke waqt reham farma, maut ke baad azab mat de, aur Qayamat ke din humein hisaab mat lena, beshak Tu har cheez par qadir hai.
This complete dua covers the four critical moments of our final journey: before death, at the moment of death, after death in the grave, and on the Day of Resurrection. It asks Allah for forgiveness, mercy, safety from punishment, and an easy reckoning.
After the post-Salah adhkar, raise hands and ask Allah
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ الْجَنَّةَ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ، وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ النَّارِ وَمَا قَرَّبَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ قَوْلٍ أَوْ عَمَلٍ
Allāhumma innī as'aluka al-jannata wa mā qarraba ilayhā min qawlin aw ʿamalin, wa aʿūdhu bika mina n-nāri wa mā qarraba ilayhā min qawlin aw ʿamalin.
Meaning: O Allah, I ask You for Paradise and the words and deeds that bring one closer to it. And I seek refuge in You from the Fire and the words and deeds that bring one closer to it.
Roman Urdu: Allah hum main Tujh se Jannat aur Jannat ke qareeb karne wale qaul aur amal ki dua maangta hoon, aur main Tere panah chahta hoon Aag se aur Aag ke qareeb karne wale qaul aur amal se.
This dua asks for the ultimate success — Jannah — along with the speech and actions that lead to it, while seeking protection from Hellfire and anything that draws one near to it.