First steps

How to pray

Salah is the ritual prayer practiced by Muslims five times a day. Here are the basic steps.

1. Intention (Niyyah) & Takbir

   Stand facing the Qibla (direction of Kaaba). Make your intention in your heart. Raise your hands to your ears and say "Allāhu Akbar" (God is the Greatest).

   In the short pause before the recitation, the Prophet ﷺ would say:

   اَللَّهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِيْ وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَايَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ، اَللَّهُمَّ نَقِّنِيْ مِنَ الْخَطَايَا كَمَا يُنَقَّى الثَّوْبُ الْأَبْيَضُ مِنَ الدَّنَسِ، اَللَّهُمَّ اغْسِلْ خَطَايَايَ بِالْمَاءِ وَالثَّلْجِ وَالْبَرَدِ

   Allaahumma baa'id baynee wa bayna khataayaaya kamaa baa'adta baynal-mashriqi walmaghrib, Allaahumma naqqinee minal khataayaa kamaa yunaqqath-thawbul-'abyadhu minad-danas, Allaahummaghsil khataayaaya, bil maa'i wath-thalji wal-barad

   O Allah! separate me from my sins as You have separated the East from the West. O Allah, cleanse me of my transgressions as the white garment is cleansed of stains. O Allah! wash away my sins with ice and water and frost.

   Source: Bukhari: 744

2. Recitation (Qiyam)

   Place your right hand over your left on your chest. Recite Surah Al-Fatiha.

   Surah Al-Fatihah

   بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

   In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful (Al-Fatihah 1:1)

   ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

   [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds (Al-Fatihah 1:2)

   ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

   The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful (Al-Fatihah 1:3)

   مَٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ

   Sovereign of the Day of Recompense (Al-Fatihah 1:4)

   إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُ

   It is You we worship and You we ask for help (Al-Fatihah 1:5)

   ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ

   Guide us to the straight path (Al-Fatihah 1:6)

   صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ غَيۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

   The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray (Al-Fatihah 1:7)

3. Bowing (Ruku)

   Say "Allāhu Akbar" and bow down, placing hands on knees. Keep back straight. Say "Subḥāna Rabbiyal ʿAdheem" (Glory be to my Lord the Great) three times.

   Listen: Subḥāna Rabbiyal ʿAdheem

   سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

   Subhaana Rabbiyal-'Adheem

   Glory to my Lord the Exalted.

   Source: Sahih (Albani). Tirmidhi: 262

4. Rising from Ruku (I'tidal)

   Rise back to standing saying "Sami Allahu liman hamidah" (Allah hears those who praise Him). Then say "Rabbana lakal hamd" (Our Lord, to You is praise).

   Listen: Sami Allahu liman hamidah

   سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

   Sami'Allahu liman hamidah

   Allah hears whoever praises Him.

   Source: Bukhari: 796

   (اَللَّهُمَّ) رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ

   (1) Rabbanaa lakal-hamd (2) Allaahumma Rabbanaa lakal-hamd

   [1] Our Lord, to You be the praise. [2] O Allah, our Lord, to You be the praise.

   Source: Bukhari: 796

5. Prostration (Sujud)

   Say "Allāhu Akbar" and go down to the floor. Forehead, nose, palms, knees, and toes should touch the ground. Say "Subḥāna Rabbiyal A'la" (Glory be to my Lord the Most High) three times.

   Listen: Subḥāna Rabbiyal A'la

   سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

   Subhaana Rabbiyal-A'laa

   Glory is to my Lord, the Most High.

   Source: Muslim: 772

6. Sitting (Jalsa)

   Say "Allāhu Akbar" and sit up. Say "Rabbighfir li" (My Lord, forgive me). Then go into the second Sujud just like the first.

   Listen: Rabbighfir li

   رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

   Rabbighfir lee, Rabbighfir lee

   O My Lord, forgive me. My Lord, forgive me.

   Source: Sahih (Albani). Abu Dawud: 874

7. Sitting for Tashahhud

   In the final sitting, recite the Tashahhud (Attahiyat). Point with your index finger when declaring the Shahada.

   Listen: At-Tahiyyat

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

   Attahiyyaatu lillaahi wassalawaatu, wattayyibaatu, assalaamu 'alayka 'ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu, assalaamu 'alaynaa wa 'alaa 'ibaadillaahis-saaliheen. 'Ash-hadu 'an laa 'ilaaha 'illAllahu wa 'ash-hadu 'anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa Rasooluhu

   All greetings of humility are for Allah, and all prayers and goodness. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous slaves of Allah. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.

   Source: Bukhari: 7381

8. Prayers on the Prophet (Salawat)

   After the Tashahhud, recite the Salawat Ibrahimiyyah: "Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad..." asking Allah to bless Prophet Muhammad and his family.

   Listen: Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad

   اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ اَللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ

   Allaahumma salli 'alaa Muhammadin wa 'alaa 'aali Muhammadin, kamaa sallayta 'alaa 'Ibraaheema wa 'alaa 'aali 'Ibraaheema, 'innaka Hameedun Majeed. Allaahumma baarik 'alaa Muhammadin wa 'alaa 'aali Muhammadin, kamaa baarakta 'alaa 'Ibraaheema wa 'alaa 'aali 'Ibraaheema, 'innaka Hameedun Majeed

   O Allah, bestow Your favor on Muhammad (ﷺ) and on the family of Muhammad as You have bestowed Your favor on Ibrahim and on the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad (ﷺ) and the family of Muhammad as You have blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.

   Source: Bukhari: 3370

9. Conclusion (Taslim)

   To end the prayer, turn your face to the right saying "Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah" (Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah). Then repeat to the left.

   Listen: Assalamu alaikum

10. After the prayer (Dhikr)

    Before you get up, remember Allah with the words the Prophet ﷺ said after the obligatory prayers.

    Say three times:

    أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ

    Astaghfirullaah

    I ask Allah for forgiveness.

    Source: Sahih Muslim: 591

    Then say:

    اَللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلَامُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلَامُ تَبَارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ

    Allaahumma 'Antas-Salaam wa minkas-salaam, tabaarakta yaa Dhal-Jalaali wal-'Ikraam

    O Allah, You are Peace and from You comes peace. Blessed are You, O Owner of majesty and honor.

    Source: Muslim: 591

    Say thirty-three times each:

    سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ، وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ، وَاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

    SubhaanAllahi, walhamdu lillaahi wAllahu 'Akbar

    How perfect Allah is, all praise is for Allah, and Allah is the greatest.

    Source: Muslim 1/418, no.597

Before you pray, make wudu. For the words to say through the day, see duas for every day.