The Opening of Salah (Qiyam and Recitation)
Aligning Our Posture and Words with the Authentic Sunnah
The moment you say "Allahu Akbar," you leave the world behind and enter into a direct, private conversation with the Lord of the Worlds. This is called Takbir Tahrimah because it prohibits (makes haram) all worldly actions like eating or talking until the prayer ends.
Let us break down this beautiful sequence strictly through the authentic narrations of the Prophet ﷺ, clarifying common practices where some schools of thought (like the Hanafi madhab) diverge from the most authentic texts.
Part I: The Opening Takbir and Posture
1. The Intention & Takbir (Fard)
You must intend the specific prayer in your heart and pronounce the Takbir audibly (loud enough for your own ears).
(Allah is the Greatest.)
The Evidence: The Prophet ﷺ said: "The key to prayer is purification; its beginning is the Takbir, and its end is the Taslim." (Sunan Abi Dawud, 61).
2. Raising the Hands (Raf' al-Yadayn)
- The Evidence-Based Correction: Some schools say men raise hands to the earlobes and women to the shoulders. However, there is no authentic Hadith distinguishing between men and women in this.
- The Sunnah: The Prophet ﷺ was authenticated to do both. You may raise your hands to the level of your shoulders (Sahih Bukhari, 735) or to the level of your earlobes (Sahih Muslim, 390). Both are valid for both men and women.
3. Placement of the Hands
- The Evidence-Based Correction: The Hanafi practice of placing the hands "below the navel" relies on a narration from Ali ibn Abi Talib which scholars of Hadith universally grade as Weak (Da'if).
- The Sunnah: The most authentic narrations specify placing the hands on the chest. Wail bin Hujr reported: "I prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and he placed his right hand over his left hand on his chest." (Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, 479; graded Authentic).
Part II: The Opening Supplications (Sunnah)
Before reciting the Quran, the Prophet ﷺ would pause in silence to praise Allah and seek refuge.
1. The Opening Praise (Du'a al-Istiftah / Thana)
There are several authentic opening supplications. This one is beautiful and highly recommended:
(Glory is to You, O Allah, and praise; blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god besides You.)
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud, 775 (Authenticated by Al-Albani).
2. Seeking Refuge (Ta'awwuz) & Bismillah
Allah commands in the Quran: "So when you recite the Quran, [first] seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the expelled." (Surah An-Nahl, 16:98).
(I seek refuge in Allah from the rejected devil.)
(In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.)
Part III: The Greatest Pillar (Surah Al-Fatiha)
Reciting Al-Fatiha is an absolute pillar of the prayer.
Alhamdu lillahi rabbil-'alamin, ar-rahmanir-rahim, maliki yawmid-din, iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in, ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim, siratalldhina an'amta 'alayhim, ghayril-maghdubi 'alayhim wa lad-dallin.
(All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds, the Most Compassionate, 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 favored, not of those who earned anger, nor of those who went astray.)
The Evidence-Based Corrections for Al-Fatiha:
- The Hanafi Claim: Followers should remain silent and not recite Al-Fatiha behind the Imam.
- The Sunnah: The Prophet ﷺ explicitly commanded the congregation to recite it. He once asked his Companions, "Do you recite behind your Imam?" They said yes. He said: "Do not do that, except for the Opening of the Book (Al-Fatiha), for there is no prayer for the one who does not recite it." (Sunan Abi Dawud, 823; Graded Authentic). Furthermore, he said generally: "There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book." (Sahih Bukhari, 756).
- The Claim: It should be said quietly.
- The Sunnah: In silent prayers (Dhuhr, Asr), it is said quietly. However, in loud prayers (Maghrib, Isha, Fajr), the Sunnah is to say it loudly. Wail bin Hujr reported: "When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ recited 'Not of those who earned anger, nor of those who went astray,' he would say 'Amin' and raise his voice with it." (Sunan Abi Dawud, 932; Graded Authentic).
Part IV: Reciting an Additional Surah
Reciting another Surah after Al-Fatiha in the first two Rak'ahs is a highly emphasized Sunnah. Here are two beautiful examples:
Surah al-Ikhlas (112)
Surah al-Kawthar (108)
The Claim: It is disliked to recite a Surah that comes earlier in the Quran after one that comes later.
The Sunnah: While it is best practice to follow the order of the Mushaf, the Prophet ﷺ occasionally recited out of order. Hudhayfah reported praying with the Prophet ﷺ at night, and in a single Rak'ah, the Prophet ﷺ recited Surah Al-Baqarah (2), then Surah An-Nisa (4), and then Surah Ali 'Imran (3). (Sahih Muslim, 772). Therefore, while maintaining the order is good, reciting out of order does not invalidate or diminish the prayer.
Self-Check for the Student of Knowledge
- Did I place my hands on my chest, following the authentic practice?
- Did I ensure I recited Al-Fatiha myself, even when following the Imam?
- Did I raise my voice with Amin during the loud prayers to follow the Sunnah?