Step by step
How to pray salah
Salah is the second pillar of Islam. We pray five times every day. Prayer is our connection with Allah.
Step 1: Standing and Intention (Qiyam & Niyyah)
Stand up straight facing the Qiblah (the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah). Make the intention in your heart for which prayer you are praying. The intention is in the heart.
Step 2: Opening Takbir (Takbiratul Ihram)
Raise your hands up to your ears (or shoulders) and say: Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest). This starts the prayer. Then place your right hand over your left hand on your chest.
Say
اللَّهُ أَكْبَر
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the Greatest
Step 3: Opening Supplication (Du'a Al-Istiftah)
Quietly say the opening supplication. This is said only in the first rak'ah (unit of prayer).
Say
سُبْحانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعالى جَدُّكَ، وَلا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُك
Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdik, wa tabaraka-smuk, wa ta'ala jadduk, wa la ilaha ghayruk.
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.
Step 4: Seeking Refuge and Bismillah
Say: 'I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan,' then say: 'In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.'
Say
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطانِ الرَّجِيم. بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيم
A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajeem. Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Raheem.
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Step 5: Reciting Al-Fatiha
Recite Surah Al-Fatiha. It is the first surah in the Quran. You must read it in every rak'ah. After Al-Fatiha, say: Ameen.
Recite
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ٢ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ٣ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ٤ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ٥ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ٦ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ ٧
Al-hamdu lillahi Rabbil-'aalameen. Ar-Rahmanir-Raheem. Maliki yawmid-deen. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een. Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqeem. Siratal-ladhina an'amta 'alayhim, ghayril-maghdubi 'alayhim wa lad-daalleen. Ameen.
All praise is for Allah, Lord of all the 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 on the Straight Path. The path of those You have blessed, not of those who earned anger, nor of those who went astray.
Step 6: Reciting a Short Surah
After Al-Fatiha, recite a short surah. For example, Surah Al-Ikhlas. This is done in the first and second rak'ah only.
Recite
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ١ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ٢ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ٣ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ ٤
Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad. Allahus-Samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.
Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He does not give birth, nor was He born. And there is nothing like Him.
Step 7: Ruku (Bowing)
Say: Allahu Akbar, and bow down. Bend forward and put your hands on your knees. Keep your back straight. Say three times: Subhana Rabbiyal-Adheem. Stay still and calm for a moment before you rise.
Say
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيم (ثَلاثَ مَرَّات)
Subhana Rabbiyal-Adheem (3 times)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great (three times)
Step 8: Standing from Ruku
Rise from bowing and say: Sami'Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears whoever praises Him). When you stand up straight, say: Rabbana wa lakal-hamd (Our Lord, to You is all praise). Stand still and calm for a moment before you go down.
Say
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه، رَبَّنا وَلَكَ الحَمْد
Sami'Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal-hamd.
Allah hears whoever praises Him, Our Lord, to You is all praise.
Step 9: Sujud (Prostration)
Say: Allahu Akbar, and go down to the ground. Seven parts of your body touch the ground: your forehead with your nose, both hands, both knees, and both sets of toes. Say three times: Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la. Stay still and calm; do not rush.
Say
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى (ثَلاثَ مَرَّات)
Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la (3 times)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High (three times)
Step 10: Sitting Between the Two Prostrations
Rise from sujud and say: Allahu Akbar. Sit on your left leg, still and calm, and say: Rabbighfir li (My Lord, forgive me). Then do the second prostration the same way. That completes one rak'ah: say Allahu Akbar, stand up for the next rak'ah and repeat steps 5 to 10. Fajr has 2 rak'ahs, Maghrib 3, and Dhuhr, Asr and Isha 4.
Say
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbighfir li, Rabbighfir li.
My Lord, forgive me. My Lord, forgive me.
Step 11: Tashahhud (Testimony of Faith in Prayer)
After the second rak'ah (and the last), sit and recite the Tashahhud. Point your right index finger when you say 'ash-hadu' (I testify). In a prayer of 3 or 4 rak'ahs, after this first Tashahhud say Allahu Akbar and stand up to finish the prayer.
Say
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ. السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ. السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-saliheen. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.
All greetings, prayers, and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
Step 12: Salawat on the Prophet (Salat Al-Ibrahimiyyah)
In the last tashahhud (the final rak'ah), add the Salat Al-Ibrahimiyyah after the tashahhud.
Say
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ. اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala aali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majeed. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala aali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majeed.
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.
Step 13: Tasleem (Ending the Prayer)
To end the prayer, turn your head to the right and say: As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah (Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you). Then turn your head to the left and say the same thing. Your prayer is complete!
Say
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّه
As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah
Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you
The Five Pillars of Islam
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Islam is built on five" (Sahih al-Bukhari 8, Sahih Muslim 16). Salah is the second pillar.
Shahada (Declaration of Faith)الشَّهادَة
To declare that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger. This is how a person enters Islam. It means we worship Allah alone and follow His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
Salah (Prayer)الصَّلاة
We pray five times every day: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isha (night). Prayer connects us to Allah and reminds us of Him throughout the day.
Zakat (Charity)الزَّكاة
Zakat means giving a part of your money to poor and needy people. Every Muslim who has enough money must give Zakat. This helps the community and purifies our wealth.
Sawm (Fasting in Ramadan)الصَّوْم
In the blessed month of Ramadan, Muslims fast from dawn to sunset. We do not eat or drink during the fast. Fasting teaches us patience and helps us feel what poor people go through.
Hajj (Pilgrimage to Makkah)الحَجّ
Hajj is the pilgrimage to the House of Allah (the Kaaba) in the holy city of Makkah. Every Muslim who is able must perform Hajj once in their lifetime. During Hajj, Muslims from all over the world come together as equals.
The Two Testimonies (Shahada)
The Two Testimonies (Shahada) are the first pillar of Islam. Whoever says them with true belief enters Islam. They are the most important words a Muslim says.
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّه
Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah
I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
Sources
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Pray as you have seen me praying" (Sahih al-Bukhari 631), and he taught a man how to pray in a hadith reported by al-Bukhari (757) and Muslim (397). These steps describe the prayer in one common way; the schools of law differ on some details, such as where to place the hands and how to sit, so ask a scholar you trust.