As Muslims, it’s Fardh (obligatory) upon us to perform Salah (prayer) five times a day. This guide takes you through a step-by-step process of how to pray Salah.
It is essential to acknowledge that there may be slight differences of opinion regarding certain movements in the prayer depending on which Madhab (school of thought) you follow. However, the fundamental principles of prayer remain the same.
How many Rak’ahs are there in Salah?
Salah consists of a set number of Rak’ahs (units of prayer) for each of the five daily prayers. These are divided into Fardh (obligatory) and Sunnah or Nafl (optional) prayers.
The number of Fardh Rak’ahs differ for each prayer. For our five daily prayers, these are as follows:
- Fajr – Two Fardh Rak’ahs.
- Dhuhr – Four Fardh Rak’ahs.
- Asr – Four Fardh Rak’ahs.
- Maghrib – Three Fardh Rak’ahs.
- Isha – Four Fardh Rak’ahs.
In addition to the Fardh Rak’ahs, there are Sunnah and Nafl prayers that were regularly observed by the Prophet (PBUH) and carry great reward. The number of these may vary slightly depending on the Madhab followed.
What are the benefits of Salah?
As well as fulfilling an obligation prescribed by Allah, Salah brings many spiritual and personal benefits.
Through prayer, a Muslim can strengthen their connection with Allah, standing before him in focused worship five times a day.
In Surah Al-Ma’arij, Allah says:
Verily, man was created impatient, irritable when evil touches him and niggardly when good touches him. Except for those devoted to prayer, those who remain constant in their prayers…
[Qur’an | Surah Al-Ma-arij | 70:19-23]
Find out more about the importance of Salah here.
What to do before performing Salah
When it’s time for Salah, make sure you have performed Whudu (ablution) before the prayer.
Make sure you’re wearing clothing that covers your Awrah (intimate parts) – for men, this is to cover everything from and including the navel to the knees, and for women, this means covering everything except the hands, feet and face.
Find a clean, convenient place to pray.
Performing Salah
Here is a step by step guide of how to pray the Fardh Rak’ahs for Salah.
Step 1 – Niyyah (Intention)
Make a sincere intention for the specific prayer you want to perform, whether it’s Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, or Isha.
Before beginning your Salah, you need to make Niyyah.
Step 2 – Qiyam (Standing)
Face the Qibla (the direction of the Ka’aba in Mecca) and stand with feet shoulder-width apart.
You need to face the direction of the Qibla during your Salah.
Step 3 – Takbir al-Ihram
Raise both hands to your ears or shoulder area, and say: “Allahu Akbar” to begin the prayer like so:
اَللَّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Transliteration: Allahu Akbar.
Translation: Allah is the Greatest.
Raise both hands while saying “Allahu Akbar” to begin your prayer.
From this point, your focus should be solely on the prayer and you should be in a state where nothing should distract you.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that while you are praying your eyes should always look to where you will prostrate, so keep your eyes focused on the ground in front of you.
Step 4 – Qira-ah (Recitation)
Lower your hands placing your right hand over your left.
Following the takbir, you should lower your hands and begin recitation.
According to Hanafi and Hanbali madhhabs (schools of thought), it is sunnah to read Sana at this point:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
Transliteration: Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk.
Translation: Glorious You are O Allah, and with Your praise, and blessed is Your Name, and exalted is Your majesty, and none has the right to be worshipped but You.
Step 5 – Recite Surah al-Fatihah
After reciting Sana, you will then recite Ta’awadh and Tasmiah:
أعوذُ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ
Transliteration: A’udhu billahi min ash-shaytaan-ir-rajeem.
Translation: I seek refuge in Allah from the outcast Shaitan.
﷽
Transliteration: Bismillah hir rahman nir raheem.
Translation: In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious and The Most Merciful.
You will recite Surah Al-Fatihah (the opening chapter of the Qur’an) in every unit (Rak’ah) of the prayer.
Surah Al-Fatihah is recited as follows:
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
Transliteration: Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen
Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem
Maaliki Yawmid-Deen
Iyyaaka na’budu wa lyyaaka nasta’een
Ihdinas-Siraatal-Mustaqeem
Siraatal-lazeena an’amta ‘alaihim ghayril-maghdoobi ‘alaihim wa lad-daaalleen
Translation: All praise is for Allah — Lord of all worlds,
the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
Master of the Day of Judgment.
You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help.
Guide us along the Straight Path,
the Path of those You have blessed – not those You are displeased with, or those who are astray.
Step 6 – Recite an excerpt from the Qur’an
Following Surah al-Fatihah, you should then recite another excerpt from the Qur’an (ideally at least three verses).
Step 7 – Ruk’ah (Bowing)
While saying “Allahu Akbar” bow with your hands resting on your knees, keeping your back straight.
Perform Ruk’ah (bowing) with your hands on your knees.
At this bowing position say:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Transliteration: Subhana Rabbiy-al-‘Adheem.
Translation: Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.
The Sunnah is to say it three times.
Start to rise from the bowing position.
As you are rising, say:
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Transliteration: Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah.
Translation: Allah hears whoever praises Him).
Once you’ve returned to the standing position, say:
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Transliteration: Rabbana lakal hamd.
Translation: O our Lord, all praise belongs to You.
Step 8 – Sujood (Prostration)
Say “Allahu Akbar” and prostrate, placing your forehead, nose, palms, knees, and toes on the ground.
Perform prostration by placing your forehead, nose, palms, knees, and toes on the ground.
Whilst in Sujood say the following ideally three times:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
Transliteration: Subhaana Rabbiy-al-A‘laa.
Translation: Glory be to my Lord, the Highest.
Then sit up whilst saying “Allahu Akbar”.
Sit up following Sujood.
After a few seconds, return back into prostration whilst saying “Allahu Akbar” and repeat “Subhaana Rabbiy-al-A‘laa” ideally at least three times again.
Stand up from Sujood whilst saying “Allahu Akbar” and get back into position with your right hand placed over your left.
Get back into position with your right hand placed over your left to begin your next Rak’ah.
You have now completed your first Rak’ah.
Step 9 – Repeat the steps for each Rak’ah
Repeat steps 5-8 to complete your second Rak’ah of prayer, then return to the sitting position described in step 8.
Step 10 – Tashahhud
Sit back briefly after the prostration and recite the Tashahhud, a testimony of faith as follows:
التَّحِيَّاتُ للهِ، وَالصَّلَوَاتُ، وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِينَ. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Transliteration: At-tahiyyatu lillah, was-salawaatu wat-tayyibaat. As-salaamu ’alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmat-Ullahi wa barakaatu. As-salaamu ’alayna, wa ’alaa ‘ibaadi-llahis saaliheen. Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu.
Translation: All compliments are for Allah, and prayers and goodness. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and on the righteous servants of Allah. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and I also testify that Muhammad is Allah’s slave and His Apostle.
In the Hanafi madhab it is common to raise your right index finger while clasping the other fingers on your right hand when you get to the Shahadah (Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu).
People who follow the Hanafi Madhab raise their right index finger while clasping the other fingers on their right hand when they recite the Shahadah as part of Tashahhud.
Lower your finger once you are done.
Step 11 – Repeat the steps to complete your Rak’ahs
If you are praying the two Fardh Rak’ahs of Fajr, skip to step 12.
For the Fardh Rak’ahs for Dhuhr, ’Asr, Maghrib or ’Isha, you must rise to a standing position once more while saying “Allahu Akbar” and repeat step 5 and recite Surah al-Fatihah while standing. Then, repeat steps 7-8 (performing Ruk’ah and Sujood).
If you are praying the 3 Fardh Rak‘ahs of Maghrib, now skip to step 12.
For the other prayers, repeat step 5 again and then steps 7-8, sitting after you have performed Sujood to complete your 4 Rak’ahs.
Step 12 – Recite Salawat
Once sat, recite Tashahhud (which you performed in step 10) then, continue sitting and recite:
ٱللَّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ ٱللَّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Transliteration: Allahumma Salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin, kama sallaita ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahima innaka Hamidum-Majeed. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahima innaka Hameedum-Majeed.
Translation: O Allah, send your grace, honour and mercy upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your grace, honour and mercy upon Ibrahim, You are indeed Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your blessings upon Ibrahim, You are indeed Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.
Step 13 – Recite supplications
It is highly recommended to recite some Sunnah du’as (supplications) at this point. This is a very common example:
اللهم إني ظلمت نفسي ظلمًا كثيرًا، ولا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت، فاغفر لي مغفرة من عندك، وارحمني، إنك أنت الغفور الرحيم
Transliteration: Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathiran, wa la yaghfirudh- dhunuba illa Anta, faghfir li maghfiratan min ‘indika, warhamni, innaka Antal-Ghafur-ur-Rahim.
Translation: O Allah! I have considerably wronged myself. There is none to forgive the sins but You. So grant me pardon and have mercy on me. You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Compassionate.
Step 14 – Tasleem
Turn your head to the right, saying:
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله
Transliteration: Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah.
Translation: Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.
Then turn your head to the left and repeat like so:
Turn your head to the right, and then to the left, saying “Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah” each time.
Your prayer is now complete, Alhamdulillah!