Takbir (Opening)
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu akbar.
Allah is the Greatest.
Raise the hands to the ears/shoulders, then place them on the chest.
Resources
Beginner Salah Guide
Learn the postures, recitations and meanings of the Muslim prayer, step by step.
Preparing for Salah
- Perform Wudu (ablution).
- Wear clean clothing that covers what should be covered.
- Pray in a clean place, ideally free from distractions.
- Face the Qiblah (direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah).
- Make the intention (niyyah) in your heart for the specific prayer.
The postures, in order
Opening supplication (optional)
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ
Subḥānaka-llāhumma wa biḥamdik…
Glory and praise be to You, O Allah…
Recited silently before Al-Fatihah.
Recite Al-Fatihah
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ …
Bismillāhi-r-raḥmāni-r-raḥīm…
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful…
Recited in every unit of prayer.
Recite a short Surah (in the first two units)
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ …
Qul huwa-llāhu aḥad…
Say: He is Allah, the One…
Any surah, e.g. Al-Ikhlas, Al-Kawthar.
Ruku (Bowing)
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subḥāna rabbiya-l-ʿaẓīm.
Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.
Bow with a straight back, hands on the knees. Say three times.
Returning to standing
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ — رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Samiʿa-llāhu liman ḥamidah — Rabbanā wa laka-l-ḥamd.
Allah hears the one who praises Him — Our Lord, to You be all praise.
Sujood (Prostration)
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subḥāna rabbiya-l-aʿlā.
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Place forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes on the ground. Say three times.
Sitting between prostrations
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbi-ghfir lī.
My Lord, forgive me.
Second Sujood
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subḥāna rabbiya-l-aʿlā.
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
As before.
Tashahhud
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ …
At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi wa-ṣ-ṣalawātu wa-ṭ-ṭayyibāt…
All greetings, prayers and pure words belong to Allah…
Recited sitting after every two units.
Sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ …
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad…
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad…
Recited in the final sitting.
Ending with Salam
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh.
Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.
Turn the face to the right, then to the left.
The five daily prayers
Fajr
2 rak'ahBefore dawn, before sunrise. Recitation aloud.
Dhuhr
4 rak'ahAfter the sun passes its zenith. Recitation silent.
Asr
4 rak'ahMid-afternoon. Recitation silent.
Maghrib
3 rak'ahJust after sunset. First two units aloud.
Isha
4 rak'ahAfter twilight ends. First two units aloud.
Jumu'ah
2 rak'ahReplaces Dhuhr on Fridays for men, in congregation with a khutbah (sermon).
Two, three and four Rak'ah prayers
- Two rak'ah (e.g. Fajr): Two standing units, followed by final Tashahhud and Salam.
- Three rak'ah (Maghrib): Two units + Tashahhud (short), stand for the third unit (Fatihah only), then final Tashahhud and Salam.
- Four rak'ah (Dhuhr/Asr/Isha): Two units + Tashahhud (short), stand for the third and fourth units (Fatihah only), then final Tashahhud, blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, and Salam.