For new Muslims · Step-by-step

How to pray salah

Every Muslim prays five times a day. It's simpler than it looks. This page is the complete walkthrough: wudu, the exact words and positions, and how many rak'ahs each prayer has. Every line in Arabic, transliteration and English. Take it one page at a time.

1. Before you pray

Six things have to be in place before the salah counts:

Wudu: you are in a state of ritual purity
A quick wash of hands, mouth, face, arms, head and feet. Keeps its validity until you break it.
Clean clothes covering the awrah
Men: navel to knees at minimum. Women: everything except face and hands. Any clean clothing is fine.
Clean prayer space
A bed, a rug, a patch of grass, anywhere free of impurity. A prayer mat is a convenience, not a requirement.
Facing the qibla (the Ka'bah in Makkah)
Use a compass or the direction indicator in Barakah. If you can't tell, do your best, the intention is what counts.
The prayer's time has entered
Each of the five prayers has a window. Check live times for your city from the home page.
Intention (niyyah) in your heart
You don't need to speak it. Simply intending 'I'm praying Dhuhr now' is enough.

2. How to make wudu (ablution)

Wudu washes the parts that most often pick up dirt during the day. It takes about a minute. You keep your wudu as long as you don't use the bathroom, pass gas, fall asleep, or bleed heavily. If any of those happen, redo it before your next salah.

Before you start · say

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

Bismillah.

In the name of Allah.

1
Wash both hands up to the wrists (3 times)
Start with the right hand, then the left. Work between the fingers.
2
Rinse the mouth (3 times)
Scoop water with the right hand and rinse thoroughly.
3
Sniff water into the nose and blow it out (3 times)
A gentle sniff, just enough to reach the inside of the nose.
4
Wash the face (3 times)
From hairline to jaw, ear to ear. Make sure no patch is dry.
5
Wash the arms up to and including the elbows (3 times)
Right arm first, then left. Over the elbow is fine.
6
Wipe the head (once)
Wet the palms and run them from the front of the head to the back, then back again.
7
Wipe the ears (once)
Insert the index fingers into the ear canals and pass the thumbs behind the ears.
8
Wash the feet up to and including the ankles (3 times)
Right foot first, then left. Work between the toes.

When you finish wudu · say

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Ashhadu an la ilaha illa-llahu wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.

I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.

The Prophet ﷺ said whoever says this after wudu, the eight gates of Paradise are opened for them. Sahih Muslim 234.

3. The full two-rak'ah walkthrough

Every salah is built from repeating rak'ahs, one complete cycle of standing, bowing, and two prostrations. Learn two rak'ahs and you know every prayer; the rest is just repeating the pattern.

Qiyam: standing

Stand facing the qibla and make the opening takbir

Raise your hands to your earlobes (shoulders for women), palms facing forward, and say Allahu Akbar. This is Takbiratul Ihram, the moment the prayer begins and worldly talk is locked out until you finish.

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allahu Akbar.

Allah is the Greatest.

Qiyam: standing

Place your hands and say the opening supplication

Men: place the right hand over the left on or just below the navel. Women: place them on the chest. Look at the spot where you will prostrate. Then recite the opening du'a (thana) quietly.

Opening supplication · thana

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

Subhanaka-llahumma wa bi-hamdik, wa tabaraka-smuk, wa ta'ala jadduk, wa la ilaha ghayruk.

Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise. Blessed is Your Name and exalted is Your Majesty. There is no god but You.

Qiyam: standing

Seek refuge, say the Basmalah

Before reciting al-Fatihah in the first rak'ah, seek refuge from Shaytan and say Bismillah quietly.

Seeking refuge

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A'udhu billahi mina-sh-shaytani-r-rajim.

I seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan the accursed.

In the name of Allah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahi-r-Rahmani-r-Rahim.

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

Qiyam: standing

Recite Surat al-Fatihah

The Opening chapter of the Qur'an is recited in every rak'ah. At the end, say 'Ameen' quietly.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ۝ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ۝ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ۝ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ۝ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ۝ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

Al-hamdu lillahi Rabbi-l-'alamin. Ar-Rahmani-r-Rahim. Maliki yawmi-d-din. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in. Ihdina-s-sirata-l-mustaqim. Sirata-lladhina an'amta 'alayhim, ghayri-l-maghdubi 'alayhim wa la-d-dallin.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. Sovereign of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship, You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path, the path of those You have blessed, not of those who earned anger, nor of those who went astray.

After al-Fatihah · say

آمِينَ

Ameen.

So be it.

Qiyam: standing

Recite a short surah or verses

In the first two rak'ahs, recite a surah (or a portion of one) after al-Fatihah. A good starter is al-Ikhlas, three short verses.

Surat al-Ikhlas

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ۝ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ۝ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ۝ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Qul Huwa-llahu Ahad. Allahu-s-Samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.

Say: He is Allah, One. Allah, the Self-Sufficient upon whom all depend. He begets not, nor is He begotten. And there is nothing comparable to Him.

Ruku: bowing

Say the takbir and go into ruku (bowing)

Say Allahu Akbar as you bend forward. Keep your back flat and parallel to the ground, hands on your knees, fingers spread. Recite the tasbih three times.

While in ruku · at least 3×

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ× 3

Subhana Rabbiya-l-'Azim.

Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.

Qiyam: standing

Rise from ruku to standing, I'tidal

Straighten up from the bow, hands at your sides. As you rise, say the first line below; once standing, say the second.

As you rise · say

سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

Sami'a-llahu li-man hamidah.

Allah hears the one who praises Him.

Once standing · say

رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Rabbana wa laka-l-hamd.

Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.

Sujud: prostrating

Say the takbir and go into sujud (prostration)

Say Allahu Akbar and move down to prostration. Seven parts touch the ground: forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and the tips of both feet. Recite the tasbih three times.

While in sujud · at least 3×

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى× 3

Subhana Rabbiya-l-A'la.

Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

Jalsa: sitting

Sit between the two sujuds (jalsa)

Say Allahu Akbar as you rise. Sit with your left foot folded under and your right foot standing on its toes. Hands rest on your thighs. A short dua is recommended.

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

Rabbi-ghfir li.

My Lord, forgive me.

Sujud → Qiyam

Second sujud, then stand for rak'ah 2

Say Allahu Akbar and prostrate again, reciting Subhana Rabbiyal A'la three times. Then rise (Allahu Akbar) to standing for the second rak'ah. Repeat: Fatihah + short surah + ruku + i'tidal + two sujuds with a jalsa between.

Jalsa: sitting

Sit for tashahhud after the second sujud of rak'ah 2

After the second prostration of the second rak'ah, sit in the same jalsa posture. Raise your index finger on your right hand when you say 'illa-llah' as a pointer to tawhid.

Tashahhud · the witnessing

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

At-tahiyyatu lillahi wa-s-salawatu wa-t-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuha-n-nabiyyu wa rahmatu-llahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadi-llahi-s-salihin. Ashhadu an la ilaha illa-llah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.

All greetings, prayers, and good deeds 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 bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

Jalsa: sitting

Send salawat on the Prophet ﷺ

Immediately after tashahhud, send prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ. This is the durood recited in every prayer.

Salawat · Ibrahimiyyah

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 ali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid.

O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bestow Your favour on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You bestowed Your favour on Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.

Jalsa: sitting

Make a final du'a of your own

Before the salam, the Prophet ﷺ taught us to ask for protection. This one is a protected slot, any dua you make after the final tashahhud is strongly encouraged to be accepted.

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَمِنْ عَذَابِ النَّارِ، وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ

Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'adhabi-l-qabr, wa min 'adhabi-n-nar, wa min fitnati-l-mahya wa-l-mamat, wa min sharri fitnati-l-Masihi-d-Dajjal.

O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave, from the punishment of the Fire, from the trial of life and death, and from the evil of the trial of the False Messiah.

Jalsa: sitting

Taslim, end the prayer

Turn your head to the right so your right cheek is visible to someone behind you. Then turn to the left the same way. That ends the prayer.

Right, then left · say

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatu-llah.

Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.

4. Rak'ahs for each of the five prayers

Fardare the obligatory rak'ahs you must pray. Sunnah are the ones the Prophet ﷺ prayed regularly, strongly recommended. Start with the fard and add the sunnah as you grow.

Prayer	Sunnah before	Fard	Sunnah after	Witr
Fajr الفجر	2	2	—	—
Dhuhr الظهر	4	4	2	—
Asr العصر	—	4	—	—
Maghrib المغرب	—	3	2	—
Isha العشاء	—	4	2	3

If you only pray the fard rak'ahs, that's the obligation complete. Total fard each day: 17 rak'ahs. The sunnah are bonus weight the Prophet ﷺ never missed.

5. Common mistakes & tips

You don't have to understand the Arabic to pray
The prayer is valid in Arabic from day one. Learn the translations over time, many new Muslims pray with a transliteration card on the mat for the first weeks.
For prayers with 3 or 4 rak'ahs, don't recite a second surah after rak'ah 2
The third and fourth rak'ahs have only al-Fatihah (no second surah). Everything else stays the same.
For 3-rak'ah (Maghrib) and 4-rak'ah (Dhuhr / Asr / Isha) prayers, sit for a brief tashahhud after rak'ah 2
Say only the tashahhud, not the salawat, then stand for rak'ah 3. The full salawat + dua happens only at the very end.
Missed a fard? Pray it as qada as soon as you remember
The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever forgets a prayer, let him pray it as soon as he remembers, there is no expiation for it except that.' Sahih Muslim 684.
Never rush
Tranquillity (khushu') in every position is a pillar of salah. Stay in each posture long enough to feel it, the Prophet ﷺ once told a man to re-pray because he prayed too quickly.

6. FAQs new Muslims ask

I can't read Arabic yet. Can I pray in English?+

Salah is recited in Arabic by scholarly consensus. Use a transliteration card and repeat the lines phonetically, you don't need to fully understand Arabic to pray a valid salah. Understanding comes quickly once you're praying daily.

What do I do if I miss part of the prayer behind an imam?+

When the imam says salam, stand and complete the rak'ahs you missed on your own. You pray those rak'ahs as though they are the start of your prayer.

What if I'm not sure which rak'ah I'm in?+

Build on certainty. If you're unsure whether you just prayed rak'ah 2 or rak'ah 3, assume the lower number, complete the extra rak'ah, and perform two sujud as-sahw (prostrations of forgetfulness) before the final salam.

Do women and men pray differently?+

The core is identical. A few small adjustments: women keep their hands on the chest (not the navel) when standing, and scholars describe a more compact posture in ruku and sujud. Follow whichever detailed teaching your local teacher or madhab presents.

Can I pray sitting if I'm injured or very ill?+

Yes. The rule is: pray standing if you can, sitting if you can't, and lying down if you can't sit. Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity (Qur'an 2:286).

How many prayers must I make up if I just became Muslim?+

When you said shahadah, everything before it was wiped clean. You start from your first salah forward, no making-up of prayers from before Islam.

Ready to build the habit?

Sign in to Barakah and your five prayers are tracked each day, with push notifications at the right time for your city, a streak that counts only the days you prayed all five, and the qibla direction on a compass.

This guide follows the widely-accepted Hanafi and Shafi'i descriptions of the prayer and is compatible with all four Sunni madhabs on the essentials. Small details of posture and wording vary, if you're studying with a local teacher, follow the details they teach. The essentials are the same.