Pillar 2 · Salah

How to Pray in Islam: Step-by-Step Salah Guide

Wudu, Niyyah, rakaat counts, Arabic recitations, and common beginner questions — all answered simply.

The first matter the slave will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer. If it is sound, then the rest of his deeds will be sound. And if it is bad, then the rest of his deeds will be bad.

Recorded by Al-Tabaraani

The Five Daily Prayers & Their Times

PrayerArabicTimeRakaat
FajrالفجرBefore sunrise2
DhuhrالظهرAfter midday4
AsrالعصرAfternoon4
MaghribالمغربAfter sunset3
IshaالعشاءNight4

How to Make Wudu (Ablution)

1

Intention (Niyyah)

Intend in your heart to perform Wudu for the purpose of prayer.

2

Say Bismillah & Wash Hands

Say “Bismillah” and wash both hands up to the wrists, three times each.

3

Rinse Mouth & Nose

Take water into your mouth and rinse, then sniff water into your nostrils and blow out. Three times each.

4

Wash Face

Wash your entire face from hairline to chin, ear to ear. Three times.

5

Wash Arms

Wash each arm from wrist to elbow, right arm first. Three times each.

6

Wipe Head & Ears

Wipe your entire head once with wet hands, then wipe the inner and outer ears.

7

Wash Feet

Wash each foot up to and including the ankles, right foot first. Three times each.

How to Pray Salah — Step by Step

1

Make Niyyah

Intend in your heart which prayer you are about to perform.

2

Face the Qiblah

Stand facing the Kaaba in Makkah. Use a compass or Qiblah app. This direction is called the Qiblah.

3

Takbir al-Ihram

Raise both hands to your earlobes and say: “Allahu Akbar”

اللَّهُ أَكْبَر
4

Recite Surah Al-Fatihah

Place right hand over left on your chest and recite Al-Fatihah. Obligatory in every rakaat.

5

Ruku — Bowing

Say “Allahu Akbar,” bow with hands on knees, back straight. Say “Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem” three times.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
6

Rise from Ruku

Stand back up saying “Sami‘Allahu liman hamidah”, then “Rabbana wa lakal hamd.”

7

Sujood — Prostration

Say “Allahu Akbar” and prostrate on seven body parts. Say “Subhana Rabbiyal A‘la” three times.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
8

Sit Between Prostrations

Rise briefly, then perform the second sujood exactly as the first.

9

Tashahhud — Final Sitting

After the last rakaat, sit and recite the Tashahhud and Salawat (sending peace upon the Prophet ﷺ).

10

Tasleem — End the Prayer

Turn head right saying “Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah”, then left. Your prayer is complete.

Beginner tip: Start with Fajr (2 rakaat) and learn one prayer at a time. Mistakes are forgiven while you are learning — consistency matters more than perfection.

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