How to Pray Salah
كيفية الصلاة
Salah (prayer) is the second pillar of Islam and the most important act of worship after believing in Allah. Muslims pray five times a day at specific times. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Pray as you have seen me praying.' This guide follows exactly how he ﷺ prayed.
“Pray as you have seen me praying.”
Before you pray
- •Be in a state of wudu (ablution)
- •Wear clean, modest clothing (men: navel to knees minimum; women: entire body except face and hands)
- •Pray in a clean place
- •Face the Qibla (direction of the Kaaba in Makkah)
- •Pray within the designated time for that prayer
The five daily prayers
| Prayer | Time | Fardh | Sunnah before | Sunnah after |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fajrالفجر | Dawn (before sunrise) | 2 | 2 | - |
Dhuhrالظهر | After the sun passes its zenith (midday) | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Asrالعصر | Afternoon | 4 | - | - |
Maghribالمغرب | Just after sunset | 3 | - | 2 |
Ishaالعشاء | Night (after twilight disappears) | 4 | - | 2 |
Steps of one rakah
Each unit of prayer follows these steps. The number of rakaat varies by prayer; see the table above.
Step 1 of 11: Standing and Intention (Qiyam & Niyyah)
Stand upright facing the Qibla. Make the intention in your heart for the specific prayer you are about to perform. The intention is NOT spoken aloud.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1Rising from Bowing (I'tidal): Additional recitations
While rising:
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Sami'Allahu liman hamidah
Allah hears those who praise Him
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 795Once standing:
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Rabbana wa lakal-hamd
Our Lord, to You belongs all praise
Tashahhud (Testimony of Faith in Prayer)
التشهد
When: Recited while sitting after every 2 rakaat and in the final sitting of the prayer.
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. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.
All greetings, prayers, and good things 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.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 831When you reach the shahada part ('Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah'), raise your right index finger. This symbolizes the Oneness of Allah (Tawhid).
Salawat (Sending blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ)
الصلاة الإبراهيمية
When: Recited in the final sitting of the prayer, after the Tashahhud.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 3370اللَّهُمَّ 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 Muhammadin, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidun Majid.
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed Praiseworthy, Glorious.
Ending the Prayer (Tasleem)
التسليم
To end the prayer, turn your head to the right and say 'As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah', then turn your head to the left and say it again.
Hadith: Sahih Muslim 582السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah
The conditions (shurut)
- 1
The time for that prayer has entered.
Quran: Quran 4:103 - 2
Being in a state of purity, with wudu or ghusl as required.
Quran: Quran 5:6 - 3
The body, clothing, and place of prayer being free of impurity.
Quran: Quran 74:4 - 4
Covering the awrah: for men at least from the navel to the knees, for women the whole body except the face and hands.
Quran: Quran 7:31 - 5
Facing the qibla.
Quran: Quran 2:144 - 6
The intention, held in the heart.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1
The pillars (arkan)
- 1
Standing for the obligatory prayer, if able.
Quran: Quran 2:238 - 2
The opening takbir, saying Allahu akbar.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 6251 - 3
Reciting Surah Al-Fatiha in every rakah.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 756 - 4
Bowing (ruku).
Quran: Quran 22:77 - 5
Rising from bowing and standing upright.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 793 - 6
Prostrating on the seven limbs.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 812 - 7
Rising from prostration and sitting between the two prostrations.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 793 - 8
Stillness (tuma'ninah) in each of these positions.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 793 - 9
The final tashahhud, and sitting for it.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 831 - 10
Sending blessings upon the Prophet in the final sitting.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 3370 - 11
The closing tasleem.
Hadith: Sunan Abu Dawud 61 - 12
Performing the pillars in their proper order.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 793
The required duties (wajibat)
- 1
All the takbirs other than the opening takbir.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 789 - 2
Saying sami' Allahu liman hamidah when rising from bowing.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 789 - 3
Saying rabbana wa lakal-hamd once standing.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 789 - 4
Saying subhana rabbiyal-azim once in bowing.
Hadith: Sahih Muslim 772 - 5
Saying subhana rabbiyal-a'la once in prostration.
Hadith: Sahih Muslim 772 - 6
Asking forgiveness between the two prostrations.
Hadith: Sunan Abu Dawud 874 - 7
The first tashahhud, and sitting for it.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 829
The recommended acts (sunan)
- 1
The opening supplication after the first takbir.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 744 - 2
Seeking refuge from Shaytan before reciting.
Quran: Quran 16:98 - 3
Reciting an additional surah after Al-Fatiha in the first two rakaat.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 776 - 4
Raising the hands at the opening takbir, at bowing, and on rising.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 735 - 5
Placing the right hand over the left forearm.
The narration says the forearm. Placing the hands on the chest is the most common Sunni practice, and the schools differ on the exact place.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 740 - 6
Keeping the gaze low and not raising it toward the sky.
Hadith: Sunan an-Nasa'i 1194 - 7
Saying ameen aloud after Al-Fatiha in the audible prayers.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 782 - 8
Raising the index finger during the tashahhud.
Hadith: Sahih Muslim 580 - 9
Making personal supplication while prostrating.
Hadith: Sahih Muslim 482
When you make a mistake (sujud as-sahw)
- 1
If you add an extra bowing, prostration, standing, or sitting by mistake.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1226 - 2
If you leave out one of the required duties, such as the first tashahhud.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1224 - 3
If you are uncertain how many rakaat you have prayed, build on what you are sure of.
Hadith: Sahih Muslim 571 - 4
The prostration itself is two prostrations, made before or after the tasleem, then you say the tasleem.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 1224
What invalidates the prayer
- 1
Losing your wudu during the prayer.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 135 - 2
Speaking deliberately, other than the words of the prayer.
Hadith: Sahih Muslim 537 - 3
Turning away from the qibla without an excuse.
Quran: Quran 2:144 - 4
Eating or drinking during the prayer.
Scholarly consensus - 5
Leaving out one of the pillars deliberately.
Hadith: Sahih al-Bukhari 793 - 6
Excessive movement unrelated to the prayer.
Scholarly consensus
The three groupings below follow the Hanbali arrangement, which is the one most beginner texts in English and French use because it separates the acts clearly. The Shafi'i school counts pillars and recommended acts but has no middle category; the Hanafi school divides them as obligations and required duties on a different count. The acts themselves are agreed on. Only the labelling differs, so follow whichever school your local mosque teaches.