How to pray, step by step

Before you start

• The time has begun. Each prayer has its time (Qur'an 4:103). Check today's prayer times for your city.
• You have wudu. “Allah does not accept the prayer of any of you who has broken wudu until he makes wudu” (Sahih al-Bukhari 135, Sahih Muslim 225). See how to make wudu, and ghusl if a full bath is due.
• Body, clothes and place are clean, and your body is covered as the prayer requires.
• You face the qibla, the direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah (Qur'an 2:144). Use the qibla finder.

How to pray two rak'ahs, step by step

A rak'ah is one cycle of standing, bowing and two prostrations. Fajr is two rak'ahs, so the steps below are a complete Fajr prayer. Longer prayers repeat the same cycle.

1. Make the intention (niyyah)

   Intend in your heart which prayer you are about to pray, for example the two fard rak'ahs of Fajr. The intention is in the heart; you do not need to say it aloud. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Actions are only by intentions” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1, Sahih Muslim 1907).

2. Say the opening takbir

   Raise your hands to your ears or shoulders and say:

   اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

   Allahu akbar

   Allah is the Greatest.

   The takbir enters you into the prayer · Sunan Abi Dawud 61, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3

   From now on, look at the place where your forehead will rest, and keep still.

3. Fold your hands and say the opening dua

   Place your right hand over your left and say the opening supplication quietly:

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

   Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdik, wa tabarakasmuk, wa ta'ala jadduk, wa la ilaha ghayruk

   Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.

   Sunan Abi Dawud 775, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 243

4. Seek refuge, say Bismillah and recite al-Fatiha

   Say quietly:

   أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

   A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim

   I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast.

   Qur'an 16:98

   Then recite Surah al-Fatiha. It is recited in every rak'ah: “There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book” (Sahih al-Bukhari 756, Sahih Muslim 394).

   بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (1)

   Bismillahir-rahmanir-rahim

   In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind.

   ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ (2)

   Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil-'alamin

   All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds,

   ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (3)

   Ar-rahmanir-rahim

   the Most Merciful, the Most Kind,

   مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ (4)

   Maliki yawmid-din

   Master of the Day of Judgement.

   إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ (5)

   Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in

   You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.

   ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ (6)

   Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim

   Guide us on the straight path,

   صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ (7)

   Siratal-ladhina an'amta 'alayhim, ghayril-maghdubi 'alayhim wa lad-dallin

   the path of those You have blessed, not of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray.

   Qur'an 1:1-7 · read al-Fatiha with audio. Then say Amin (O Allah, accept).

5. Recite another surah

   In the first two rak'ahs, recite any surah or some verses after al-Fatiha. A short one to start with is Surah al-Ikhlas:

   قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ (1) ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ (2) لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ (3) وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ (4)

   Qul huwallahu ahad. Allahus-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.

   Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Self-Sufficient on whom all depend. He does not beget, nor was He begotten. And there is none like Him.

   Qur'an 112:1-4 · Surah al-Ikhlas

6. Bow (ruku')

   Say Allahu akbar and bow, with your back straight and your hands on your knees. Say three times:

   سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

   Subhana rabbiyal-'azim

   Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.

   Sahih Muslim 772 (Hudhayfah)

7. Rise from bowing

   Stand up straight, saying:

   سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

   Sami'allahu liman hamidah

   Allah hears the one who praises Him.

   Then, standing still:

   رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

   Rabbana wa lakal-hamd

   Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise.

   Sahih al-Bukhari 789

8. Prostrate (sujud)

   Say Allahu akbar and go down into prostration. Seven parts touch the ground: the forehead with the nose, both hands, both knees and the toes of both feet (Sahih al-Bukhari 812, Sahih Muslim 490). Say three times:

   سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

   Subhana rabbiyal-a'la

   Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

   Sahih Muslim 772 (Hudhayfah)

   Sujud is the closest a servant is to his Lord, so make dua here too (Sahih Muslim 482).

9. Sit between the two prostrations

   Say Allahu akbar and sit up, still and calm. Say:

   رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

   Rabbighfir li, rabbighfir li

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

   Sunan Ibn Majah 897, Sunan Abi Dawud 874

10. Prostrate a second time

    Say Allahu akbar and make a second prostration, just like the first, saying Subhana rabbiyal-a'la three times. This completes the first rak'ah.

11. Stand for the second rak'ah

    Say Allahu akbar and stand up. Repeat steps 4 to 10: al-Fatiha, another surah, ruku', standing, two prostrations and the sitting between them. You do not repeat the opening dua.

12. Sit and recite the tashahhud

    After the second prostration of the second rak'ah, stay sitting and recite the tashahhud. Many raise the right index finger at the words of testimony.

    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 was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-salihin. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.

    All greetings, prayers and good words belong to 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.

    The tashahhud of Ibn Mas'ud · Sahih al-Bukhari 831, Sahih Muslim 402

13. Send blessings on the Prophet

    In the final sitting, continue with the prayer on the Prophet ﷺ:

    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 prayers on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers on Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.

    Sahih al-Bukhari 3370 (Ka'b ibn 'Ujrah)

14. Make a short dua

    Before the salam, ask Allah for anything good. A dua from the Qur'an many people use:

    رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

    Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah, wa fil-akhirati hasanah, wa qina 'adhaban-nar

    Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

    Qur'an 2:201 · read the verse

15. End with the salam

    Turn your face to the right and say the salam, then turn to the left and say it again (Sahih Muslim 582). Your prayer is complete.

    السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

    As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah

    Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.

Three- and four-rak'ah prayers

For Maghrib (3), and Dhuhr, Asr and Isha (4), pray the first two rak'ahs as above. After the tashahhud in the second rak'ah, do not say the salawat or the salam. Say Allahu akbar and stand up for the third rak'ah.

In the third and fourth rak'ahs of a fard prayer, recite al-Fatiha only, with no extra surah. After the last rak'ah, sit and recite the tashahhud, the salawat and a dua, then end with the salam.

Fajr, and the first two rak'ahs of Maghrib and Isha, are recited aloud by the imam (and by a man praying alone, in most schools). Dhuhr and Asr are recited quietly.

Rak'ahs in each prayer

The five daily prayers have 17 fard rak'ahs in total. The sunnah prayers around them are the ones the Prophet ﷺ kept regularly: “Whoever prays twelve rak'ahs in a day and night, a house will be built for him in Paradise” (Sahih Muslim 728; the twelve are listed in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 415).

Full details, including Jumu'ah, Eid, Taraweeh and Tahajjud: how many rakats in each prayer.

Small differences between the schools

All four Sunni schools pray the same prayer. They differ on some details, and each follows evidence. None of these differences makes a prayer invalid.

• Hands: Hanafis place them below the navel; Shafi'is and Hanbalis on or just below the chest; many Malikis leave them at the sides.
• Raising the hands: Hanafis raise them only at the opening takbir; Shafi'is and Hanbalis also raise them before and after ruku' (Sahih al-Bukhari 735).
• Opening dua: Hanafis and Hanbalis usually say Subhanakallahumma; Shafi'is often say Wajjahtu wajhiya (Sahih Muslim 771). Malikis do not say an opening dua in the fard prayer.
• Amin: said aloud after al-Fatiha in loud prayers by Shafi'is and Hanbalis; said quietly by Hanafis.

Follow what you were taught or what your local mosque follows. Consistency matters more than which of these you choose.

Frequently asked questions

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