How to Pray Salah Step by Step, With Words and Translation

To pray salah, a Muslim makes wudu, faces the Kaaba in Makkah, and makes the intention for the prayer. Each prayer is made of units called rak'ahs. In every rak'ah you stand and recite Surah al-Fatihah, bow, stand up, prostrate twice, and after every two rak'ahs sit to recite the tashahhud. The prayer ends by turning the head right and left with a greeting of peace.

Salah (salah, صلاة) is the ritual prayer Muslims perform five times a day. It is the second pillar of Islam, and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught it by example, telling his companions to "pray as you have seen me praying" (Sahih al-Bukhari 631). This guide walks through a full two-rak'ah prayer with every recitation in Arabic, transliteration and English, then explains how longer prayers work and where the four Sunni schools of law differ.

Key takeaways

• Wudu is a condition of prayer: the Prophet said no prayer is accepted without purification (Sahih Muslim 224).
• Surah al-Fatihah is recited in every rak'ah; the Prophet said there is no prayer for one who does not recite it (Sahih al-Bukhari 756).
• The five daily prayers have 17 obligatory rak'ahs in total: Fajr 2, Dhuhr 4, Asr 4, Maghrib 3 and Isha 4.
• Calm and stillness in each position are part of a valid prayer, as the Prophet taught a man who prayed in a hurry (Sahih al-Bukhari 757).
• The four Sunni schools agree on the main structure of salah and differ on smaller details such as where the hands are placed.

What do you need before you pray?

Before starting, six conditions should be in place. Scholars of all four schools list them in similar terms.

1. Purity. You must be in a state of wudu, the washing described in Quran 5:6. If you have had sexual intercourse or (for women) finished a menstrual period, a full bath (ghusl) is needed first. Our guide on how to perform wudu explains every step.
2. Clean body, clothes and place. A prayer mat is common but not required; any clean surface will do.
3. Covering. Men cover at least from the navel to the knees. Women cover the whole body except the face and hands, with the Hanafi school also excusing the feet.
4. The right time. Each of the five prayers has its own window, explained in why Muslims pray five times a day.
5. Facing the qibla. Muslims face the Kaaba in Makkah. Read more in our guide to what the Kaaba is.
6. Intention. The intention (niyyah) is made in the heart. You know which prayer you are about to pray; it does not need to be said aloud.

How many rakats are in each prayer?

"Recited aloud" applies to the imam leading a group and, in most schools, to a man praying alone if he wishes. Women praying alone recite at a level they can hear themselves. Fajr and the sunnah prayers are the easiest place for beginners to start, because they are two rak'ahs.

How to pray salah step by step (two rak'ahs)

This walkthrough follows a two-rak'ah prayer such as Fajr. Every other prayer uses the same building blocks.

Step 1: Stand and say the opening takbir

Stand facing the qibla. Raise your hands to your shoulders or ears and say:

Arabic: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Say: Allahu akbar

Meaning: God is the Greatest.

This first takbir begins the prayer. From now on you do not talk, eat or turn away until the prayer ends. Place your hands on your chest or stomach (see the madhhab table below for differences), and look at the place where you will prostrate.

Step 2: Recite the opening supplication

Many worshippers begin with this short praise, recorded in Sunan Abi Dawud 775 and graded authentic by al-Albani, though some early critics questioned its chain:

Arabic: سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

Say: Subhanaka-llahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabaraka-smuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk.

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

This is recommended, not required. The Shafi'i school commonly uses a different authentic opening, and the Maliki school does not recite an opening supplication in obligatory prayers.

Step 3: Seek refuge and recite Surah al-Fatihah

Say quietly A'udhu bi-llahi mina-sh-shaytani-r-rajim ("I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the outcast"), following Quran 16:98, and Bismi-llahi-r-rahmani-r-rahim. Then recite Surah al-Fatihah:

Say: Al-hamdu li-llahi rabbi-l-'alamin. Ar-rahmani-r-rahim. Maliki yawmi-d-din. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in. Ihdina-s-sirata-l-mustaqim. Sirata-lladhina an'amta 'alayhim, ghayri-l-maghdubi 'alayhim wa la-d-dallin.

[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds - The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. It is You we worship and You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path - The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.

— Quran 1:2–7

Then say Amin ("O God, answer"). Our guide to the meaning of Surah al-Fatihah explains it line by line.

Step 4: Recite another passage

In the first two rak'ahs, recite any further passage of the Quran you know. Beginners often use Surah al-Ikhlas:

Say: Qul huwa-llahu ahad. Allahu-s-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.

Meaning: Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, Nor is there to Him any equivalent." (Quran 112:1–4)

The other short surahs in our guide to the four Quls work well here too.

Step 5: Bow (ruku')

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

Arabic: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

Say: Subhana rabbiya-l-'azim

Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent. (Sahih Muslim 772)

Step 6: Rise from bowing

Stand up straight, saying:

Arabic: سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ ... رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Say: Sami'a-llahu liman hamidah ... Rabbana laka-l-hamd

Meaning: God hears the one who praises Him ... Our Lord, to You belongs all praise. (Sahih al-Bukhari 789)

Stand still for a moment before moving on.

Step 7: Prostrate (sujud)

Say Allahu akbar and go down into prostration, with seven parts touching the ground: forehead and nose, both palms, both knees and the toes of both feet. Say three times:

Arabic: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Say: Subhana rabbiya-l-a'la

Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High. (Sahih Muslim 772)

Step 8: Sit, then prostrate again

Say Allahu akbar and sit up briefly. Between the two prostrations, the Prophet would say:

Arabic: رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

Say: Rabbi-ghfir li

Meaning: My Lord, forgive me. (Sunan Abi Dawud 874, graded authentic by al-Albani)

Then say Allahu akbar and make a second prostration exactly like the first. This completes the first rak'ah.

Step 9: Stand for the second rak'ah

Say Allahu akbar and stand. Repeat steps 3 to 8, without the opening supplication.

Step 10: Sit for the tashahhud

After the second prostration of the second rak'ah, stay seated and recite the tashahhud, taught by the Prophet to Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (Sahih al-Bukhari 831):

Arabic: 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

Say: At-tahiyyatu li-llahi wa-s-salawatu wa-t-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuha-n-nabiyyu wa rahmatu-llahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadi-llahi-s-salihin. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa-llah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.

Meaning: All greetings, prayers and good things are for God. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of God and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon God's righteous servants. I bear witness that there is no god but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

The last line is the shahada. The Shafi'i and Maliki schools prefer slightly different, equally authentic wordings of the tashahhud, narrated by Ibn Abbas and Umar.

Step 11: Send blessings on the Prophet

In the final sitting, continue with the salat Ibrahimiyyah (Sahih al-Bukhari 3370):

Arabic: 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

Say: 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.

Meaning: O God, send prayers on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers on Abraham and the family of Abraham; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O God, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Abraham and the family of Abraham; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.

You may then add a short personal dua.

Step 12: End with the taslim

Turn your head to the right and say, then turn to the left and say again:

Arabic: السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

Say: As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatu-llah

Meaning: Peace be upon you and the mercy of God. (Sunan Abi Dawud 996)

Your prayer is complete.

How to pray three- and four-rak'ah prayers

For Maghrib (3), and for Dhuhr, Asr and Isha (4), pray the first two rak'ahs as above, but in the sitting after the second rak'ah recite only the tashahhud. Then say Allahu akbar and stand for the third rak'ah.

In the third and fourth rak'ahs, recite only Surah al-Fatihah, silently, with no extra passage. After the last rak'ah, sit for the full tashahhud, the blessings on the Prophet and the taslim.

Where do the four madhhabs differ?

The Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali schools all teach a valid prayer. Their differences come from different readings of the hadith evidence, and scholars of each school accept the others' prayers. Follow the school taught at your mosque or by your teacher.

How to pray salah for women

Women pray the same prayers, with the same words and the same number of rak'ahs. The differences are mainly about modesty in posture. The Hanafi school sets out the most detail: a woman folds her hands on her chest and keeps her arms close to her body, and in prostration she draws her limbs together with her forearms on the ground. The Shafi'i school, the preferred Maliki view and Hanbali texts also have women keep the limbs closer together in bowing and prostration. Some scholars, including the 20th-century hadith scholar al-Albani, held that there is no difference between men's and women's postures.

Women do not pray during menstruation or postnatal bleeding, and they do not make up those prayers afterward, as Aisha explained (Sahih Muslim 335).

Common mistakes beginners make

• Rushing. The Prophet told a man who hurried through his prayer, "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed," and taught him to be still in each position (Sahih al-Bukhari 757).
• Lifting the feet in prostration. The toes should stay on the ground, along with the forehead, nose, palms and knees.
• Saying the intention aloud as a fixed formula. The intention is in the heart.
• Reciting so quietly the lips do not move. Even silent recitation should move the tongue and lips.
• Giving up because of mistakes. If you forget a part, scholars teach the "prostration of forgetfulness" (sujud al-sahw): two extra prostrations near the end of the prayer.

Read Surah al-Fatihah on Quran Universe

Because al-Fatihah is recited in every rak'ah, it is worth knowing well. Read Surah al-Fatihah on Quran Universe with the Arabic text, word-by-word meaning and transliteration, then the short surahs you plan to recite after it. For the larger picture of prayer in Muslim life, see the five pillars of Islam, and once the five daily prayers feel familiar, try the voluntary Tahajjud night prayer.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pray salah step by step?

Make wudu, face the qibla and form your intention. Say Allahu akbar, recite Surah al-Fatihah and a short passage, bow, stand, prostrate twice, and repeat for the next rak'ah. After every two rak'ahs sit for the tashahhud. In the final sitting add blessings on the Prophet, then end by saying As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatu-llah to the right and left.

What do you say in salah?

You say Allahu akbar at each movement, recite Surah al-Fatihah in every rak'ah, and add another passage in the first two. In bowing say Subhana rabbiya-l-'azim, and in prostration Subhana rabbiya-l-a'la. In the sitting you recite the tashahhud and, at the end, blessings on the Prophet, then the closing greeting of peace.

How should a beginner learn to pray salah?

Start with wudu and the movements, then memorize Surah al-Fatihah, then the short phrases for bowing and prostration, then the tashahhud. Pray the five prayers from the beginning even if you are still learning. A hadith in Sunan Abi Dawud 832 shows the Prophet teaching a man simple phrases of praise to say while he could not yet recite the Quran.

Is salah different for women?

Women pray the same prayers, with the same words and rak'ahs as men. Most schools, especially the Hanafi school, recommend that women keep their limbs closer together in bowing and prostration for modesty. Women cover everything except the face and hands. They do not pray during menstruation and do not make up those missed prayers.

How many rakats are in the five daily prayers?

There are 17 obligatory rak'ahs each day: Fajr has 2, Dhuhr 4, Asr 4, Maghrib 3 and Isha 4. Many Muslims also pray regular sunnah prayers, such as 2 rak'ahs before Fajr and 2 after Maghrib, and the witr prayer after Isha, which the Hanafi school regards as necessary.