How to Pray Salah
Before You Start
- Be in a state of wudu, wear clean clothes, and pray in a clean place.
- Face Qiblah and pray within the prayer time.
- Cover awrah: men (navel to knees), women (entire body except face and hands in most schools).
- Start with learning Fajr well, then add Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha.
- Differences exist between madhhabs in some details; follow your local scholar if needed.
Wudu (Ablution)
- Make intention and say: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ (Bismillah).
- Wash both hands 3 times.
- Rinse mouth 3 times.
- Rinse nose 3 times.
- Wash face 3 times.
- Wash right arm then left arm up to elbows, 3 times each.
- Wipe head once and wipe ears.
- Wash right foot then left foot up to ankles, 3 times each.
Daily Prayer Rakah Count
Fajr
2 Fard
2 Sunnah before
Dhuhr
4 Fard
4 before, 2 after
Asr
4 Fard
4 Sunnah before
Maghrib
3 Fard
2 Sunnah after
Isha
4 Fard
2 after + Witr
Essential Recitations to Memorise First
Takbir
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar.
Allah is the Greatest.
Ruku
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal Azim. (3x)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.
Sujud
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal A’la. (3x)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Between Two Sujud
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbi-ghfir li.
My Lord, forgive me.
Step-by-Step Prayer Guide
Make Niyyah (Intention)
Stand facing Qiblah and make intention in your heart for the prayer.
No spoken formula is required; intention in heart is enough.
Dua / Dhikr
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi taala.
I intend to pray for Allah Most High.
Takbir al-Ihram
Raise both hands and say Allahu Akbar to begin Salah.
Hands are raised near ears/shoulders; then fold hands on chest/navel area per school.
Dua / Dhikr
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar.
Allah is the Greatest.
Opening Supplication (Optional Sunnah)
After Takbir, read an opening dua (thana). Beginners can learn this gradually.
Do this while standing before Al-Fatihah.
Dua / Dhikr
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subhanaka-llahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa taala jadduka wa la ilaha ghayruk.
Glory and praise are Yours O Allah. Blessed is Your Name, exalted is Your majesty, and none has the right to be worshiped but You.
Taawwudh, Basmala, and Al-Fatihah
Recite: Audhu billahi… then Bismillah, then Surah Al-Fatihah in every rakah.
Recite calmly with reflection; Al-Fatihah is essential in each rakah.
Dua / Dhikr
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil alamin…
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all worlds.
Recite a Short Surah
After Al-Fatihah in first two rakah, recite a short surah (for example: Al-Ikhlas).
In 3rd/4th rakah of Dhuhr, Asr, Isha, Al-Fatihah alone is enough.
Dua / Dhikr
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
Qul huwallahu ahad.
Say: He is Allah, One.
Ruku (Bowing)
Bow with straight back, hands on knees, and say the dhikr calmly.
Head and back should be aligned, elbows not bent inward.
Dua / Dhikr
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal Azim. (3x)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.
Qawmah (Stand After Ruku)
Rise from bowing and stand straight until fully at rest.
Do not rush directly into sujud; pause briefly while standing.
Dua / Dhikr
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Sami allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana lakal hamd.
Allah hears the one who praises Him; our Lord, to You belongs all praise.
First Sujud (Prostration)
Go to sujud with forehead and nose on the ground, elbows raised from floor.
Seven points should touch ground: forehead (with nose), two palms, two knees, two feet.
Dua / Dhikr
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal Ala. (3x)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Sit Between Two Sujuds
Sit calmly, then recite a short dua asking for forgiveness.
Sit with calmness before the second sujud.
Dua / Dhikr
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Subhana Rabbiyal Ala. (3x)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Second Sujud
Perform a second prostration similar to the first.
Keep focus and remain still briefly in sujud.
Dua / Dhikr
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal Ala. (3x)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Stand for Next Rakah
Stand up and repeat recitation, ruku, and sujud for the next rakah.
Use Allahu Akbar while moving to the next posture.
Dua / Dhikr
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar.
Allah is the Greatest.
Tashahhud (Final Sitting)
Sit and recite Tashahhud, then send blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Remain seated with calmness before ending prayer.
Dua / Dhikr
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ
At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat…
All greetings, prayers, and pure words are for Allah…
Tasleem (End of Salah)
Turn your head to the right and left, ending prayer with salam.
Say salam to right first, then left.
Dua / Dhikr
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah.
Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.
2-Rakah Flow (Fajr Example)
- Niyyah
- Takbir
- Thana (opt.)
- Al-Fatihah
- Short Surah
- Ruku
- Qawmah
- Sujud
- Jalsah
- Sujud
- 2nd Rakah
- Tashahhud
- Salam
Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
- Rushing between positions without pausing.
- Not straightening the back fully in ruku.
- Not placing forehead and nose firmly on the ground in sujud.
- Forgetting to pray on time.
- Leaving Al-Fatihah in any rakah.