How to pray: salah step by step

Salah is the second pillar of Islam and a Muslim's meeting with Allah five times a day. This guide walks you through a prayer of two rak'ahs, such as Fajr.

إِنَّنِيٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعۡبُدۡنِي وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكۡرِيٓ ﴿١٤﴾

Innanee ana Allahu la ilaha illa ana faoʿbudnee waaqimi alssalata lithikree

Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance

Quran 20:14 · Surah Ta-Ha · Translation: Saheeh International · Transliteration: Tanzil.net

Pray as you have seen me praying.
Sahih al-Bukhari

Before you pray

Be pure: you need wudu, and after major impurity a full ghusl.
Be covered: men at least from the navel to the knees, women the whole body except the face and hands.
The time: each prayer has its time. Find the prayer times for your city.
The direction: face the Kaaba in Makkah, the qibla.

One rak'ah, step by step

Intention (niyyah): resolve in your heart which prayer you are praying, for example Fajr. You do not need to say it aloud.
Takbir: raise your hands and say Allahu akbar (Allah is the Greatest). The prayer has begun.
Standing: place your right hand over your left. Recite an opening such as Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdik, then A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim and Bismillahir-rahmanir-rahim.
Al-Fatiha: recite Surah al-Fatiha; it is required in every rak'ah. In the first two rak'ahs add another surah, for example al-Ikhlas.
Ruku': say Allahu akbar, bow with a straight back and your hands on your knees, and say three times Subhana rabbiyal-'azim (Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent).
Rising: say Sami'allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears whoever praises Him) and, standing, Rabbana wa lakal-hamd (Our Lord, to You belongs all praise).
Sujud: say Allahu akbar and prostrate: forehead and nose, both hands, knees and toes on the ground. Say three times Subhana rabbiyal-a'la (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High).
Sitting: rise to sitting with Allahu akbar and say Rabbighfir li (My Lord, forgive me).
Second sujud: as the first. This completes one rak'ah.

Ending the prayer

After the second rak'ah stay seated and recite the tashahhud (at-tahiyyatu lillah ...), then the blessings on the Prophet (as-salat al-Ibrahimiyyah). In prayers of three or four rak'ahs you stand up after the first tashahhud and continue, and recite the blessings only in the final sitting. Finish by turning your head to the right and to the left, saying each time as-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah.

Tips for beginners

Start with the essentials: al-Fatiha, the words of ruku' and sujud and the tashahhud. Learn the rest step by step.
Pray with others at the mosque; the movements quickly become natural.
Learn al-Fatiha and short surahs verse by verse with transliteration and audio.

The schools of law differ in small details, such as where the hands rest while standing or whether the hands are raised before ruku'. All of these forms are narrated, and the prayer is valid with any of them.

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Frequently asked questions

How many prayers are there each day?

Five obligatory prayers: Fajr (2 rak'ahs), Dhuhr (4), Asr (4), Maghrib (3) and Isha (4). See how many rakats.

Do I have to pray in Arabic?

Al-Fatiha and the fixed words of the prayer are said in Arabic. If you cannot yet, learn them step by step and meanwhile pray as well as you can, for example with Subhanallah and Alhamdulillah. Personal dua outside the prayer can be made in any language.

What if I make a mistake?

If you forget something like the first tashahhud, you make two extra prostrations at the end (sujud as-sahw). If you leave out a pillar such as al-Fatiha or a ruku', you make up that rak'ah.

This article was written with the help of AI. Quran verses are inserted directly from the Quran text (translation: Saheeh International); it is general information, not a religious ruling (fatwa). For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar. Found a mistake? Write to support@hadaff.de.