What are the meanings of the supplications and tasbihat said in prayer?

Dear Brother / Sister,

Tasbihat said in Prayers and their Meanings:

- Subhanalah: Allah is free and away from deficiencies; he is qualified with perfect attributes.  

- Alhamdulillah: Praise be to Allah.

- Allahu akbar: Allah is the greatest.

- Sami'allahu liman hamidah: Allah hears the one who praises Him.

- Rabbana lakalhamd: Our Lord! Praise be to You.

- Subhanarabbiyalazim: Allah, who is great, is free and away from all deficiencies.

- Subhanarabbbiyal a'la: Allah, who is sublime, is free and away from all deficiencies.

Supplications and their Meanings read in Prayer:

- Subhanaka:

"Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdik. Wa tabara kasmuk wa taalaa jadduk (-in janazah prayer- Wa jalla thanauk) Wa lailaha ghayruk"

(O Allah! Glory be to you, and all praises are due unto You, and blessed is Your name and high is Your majesty (exalted is Your praise) and none is worthy of worship but You.)

When to read it: It is read while standing in prayers in the first rak’ah of each prayer after the opening (iftitah) takbir. It is also read in the third rak’ahs of the sunnah of the afternoon prayer and the first sunnah of the night prayer before al-Fatiha. If tarawih prayer is performed in four rak’ahs, it is also read at the beginning of the fourth rak’ah. It is read with the addition “wa jalla thanauk” in janazah prayer after the first takbir. 

- Attahiyyatu:

"Attahiyyatu lillahi wassalawatu wattayyibat. Assalamu alayka ayyuhannabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Assalamu alayna wa ala ibadillahissalihin. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh.

("Words of Praise and Salutations are for Allah, and Prayers and pure words. Peace and salutations upon you O Prophet and the Mercy of Allah and His Blessings! And peace be upon us and upon all of Allah's righteous servants! I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and testify that Muhammad is His Slave and Messenger.")

When to read it: It is read in all sittings of prayers.

- Allahumma Salli:

"Allahumma salli ala Muhammadin wa ala ali Muhammadin, kama sallayta ala Ibrahima wa ala ali Ibrahima innaka hamidun majid."

(O Allah! bestow Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You bestowed Your blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Assuredly, You are All-Praised, All-Illustrious)

- Allahumma Barik:

"Allahumma barik ala Muhammadin wa ala ali Muhammadin, kama barakta ala Ibrahima wa ala ali Ibrahima innaka hamidun majid."

(O Allah! Your abundant gifts and favors unto Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent them unto Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Assuredly, You are All-Praised, All-Illustrious)

When to read them: They are read after at-Tahiyyatu in the last sitting of all prayers, in the first sitting of the Sunnah of the afternoon prayer and the first Sunnah of the night prayer, after the second takbir in janazah prayer.  

- Rabbana Atina:

"Rabbana atina fiddunya hasanatan wa fil akhirati hasanatan wa qina adhabannar."

(Our Lord! Give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and save us from the torment of the fire.)

- Rabbanaghfirli:

"Rabbanaghfirli wa li walidayya wa lil mu'minina yawma yaqumul hisab."

(O our Lord! cover (us) with Thy Forgiveness― me, my parents, and (all) Believers, on the Day that the Reckoning will be established.)

When to read them: In the sittings of the prayers after Allahumma salli and Allahumma Barik.

- Qunut Supplications:

1.  "Allahumma inna nastainuka wa nastaghfiruka wa nastahdika wa nu'minu bika wa natubu ilayka wa natawakkalu alayka wa nuthni alaykal-khayra kullahu nashkuruka wa la nakfuruka wa nakhlau wa natruku man yafjuruk."

(Oh Allah, we ask You for help and seek Your forgiveness and guidance, and we believe in You and have trust in You, and we praise You in the best way and we thank You and we are not ungrateful to You, and we forsake and turn away from the one who disobeys You.)

2. "Allahumma iyyaka na'budu wa laka nusalli wa nasjudu wa ilayka nas'a wa nakhfidu narju rahmataka wa nakhsha adhabaka inna adhabaka bilkuffari mulhiq."

(O Allah, we worship You only and pray to You and prostrate ourselves before You, and we run towards You and serve You, and we hope to receive Your mercy, and we fear Your punishment. Surely, Your punishment will catch the unbelievers.)

When to read them: Qunut supplications are read in the third rak’ah of witr prayer after al-Fatiha and an additional chapter is read; the hands are raised with takbir; when the hands are put over each other, qunut supplications are read.

- Ayatul-Kursiyy:

"Allahu la ilaha illa huwal hayyul qayyum. La ta’khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm. Lahu ma fis-samawati wama fil ard. Man dhalladhi yashfau indahu illa biidhnihi. ya’lamu ma bayna aydihim wama khalfahum wala yuhituna bishay’in min ilmihi illa bima sha’a wasia kursiyyuhus-samawati wal ard. Wala yauduhu hifzuhuma wa huwal aliyyul azim."

(Allah! there is no Allah but He―the living, the Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize him nor sleep. His are all things in the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth? He knoweth what (appeareth to His creatures as) Before or After or Behind them. Nor shall they compass aught of His knowledge except as He willeth. His Throne doth extend over the heavens and the earth, and He feeleth no fatigue in guarding and preserving them. For He is the Most High, the Supreme (in glory).)

When to read it: It is read as an additional verse in the prayer and before the tasbihat after prayer.

How to say Tasbihat:

1. After the fard of the prayer, "SALAM SUPPLICATION" is read: Astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah, astaghfirullah al-azim al-karim, alladhi la ilaha illa hu, al-hayyal qayyum wa atubu ilayh. Allahumma antas-salamu wa minkas-salam, tabarakta ya dhaljalali va'l-ikram.

2. "Subhanallahi wal-hamdu lillahi wa la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar wa la hawla wa la quwwata illa billahil-aliyyil-azim." After reading this supplication, Ayatul-Kursiyy is read. Then, Subhanallah is said 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Allahu akbar 33 times.

3. After that, the following supplication is read: "Lailaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah. Lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ala kulli shay'in qadir." After that, dua for the prayer is said.

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