How to pray salah step by step

To pray salah, prepare with purification, face the qiblah and intend your prayer. Begin with “Allāhu akbar,” stand and recite, bow, stand upright, then prostrate twice with a sitting between. Repeat for the prayer’s units, sit for the final recitations and finish with salam.

This beginner walkthrough follows the site’s Hanafi reference for a person praying alone. A rak‘ah is one unit of prayer. Fajr has two obligatory units; Dhuhr, Asr and Isha have four, and Maghrib has three. See prayer units and Fajr guidance. Other schools differ in some details, including hand placement, raising the hands and recitation behind an imam; compare the four Sunni schools.

Before you start

• Make sure the prayer time has entered. Find local prayer times and the qiblah direction.
• Have the required purification, including wudu (ritual ablution); ghusl (full ritual washing) is needed in some circumstances.
• Remove relevant impurities from your body, clothes and prayer place, and cover the required parts of your body with suitable clothing.
• Face the qiblah, the direction of the Ka‘bah in Makkah, and intend in your heart which prayer you are offering.

Work through the preparation lesson or read the Hanafi conditions of prayer. If standing or another posture is difficult, see prayer according to ability and ask a qualified teacher for guidance.

How to pray two rak‘ahs, step by step

This gives a complete two-unit example, such as the obligatory Fajr prayer. Settle calmly in each posture. The recitations below reuse the site’s existing Arabic, transliteration and explanatory meanings.

1. Stand and recite
2. Bow
3. Stand upright
4. First prostration
5. Sit
6. Second prostration

Illustrations show the broad movements. Follow the written guidance for posture details.

1. Begin standing: intention and opening takbir

   Intend the prayer in your heart. Raise your hands for the opening and say the takbir. Then place your right hand over your left according to the Hanafi posture guidance below.

   اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

   Allāhu akbar

   Allah is greater.

2. While standing, recite the opening supplication and seek refuge

   In the first unit, quietly recite the opening supplication, then seek refuge before reciting the Qur’an.

   سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

   Subḥānaka Allāhumma wa biḥamdika, wa tabārakasmuka, wa taʿālā jadduka, wa lā ilāha ghayruk.

   Glory and praise are Yours, O Allah. Blessed is Your name and exalted is Your majesty. There is no god but You.

   أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

   Aʿūdhu billāhi min ash-shayṭān ir-rajīm.

   I seek refuge in Allah from the rejected Satan.

3. Recite al-Fatihah and additional Qur’an

   Begin al-Fatihah with Bismillah, and say Amin quietly after it in this Hanafi walkthrough. In each of the first two obligatory units, recite additional Qur’an after al-Fatihah. Al-Ikhlas is an example, not the only chapter you may recite.

   Al-Fatihah

   بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ۝ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ۝ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ۝ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ۝ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ۝ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ۝ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

   Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm. Al-ḥamdu lillāhi Rabbil-ʿālamīn. Ar-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm. Māliki yawmid-dīn. Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn. Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm. Ṣirāṭal-ladhīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn.

   In Allah’s name, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all worlds, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us on the straight path: the path of those You have blessed, not those who have incurred anger, nor those who have gone astray.

   Al-Ikhlas: an example of additional recitation

   قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ۝ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ۝ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ۝ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

   Qul huwallāhu aḥad. Allāhuṣ-ṣamad. Lam yalid wa lam yūlad. Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan aḥad.

   Say: He is Allah, One. Allah, upon whom all depend. He neither begets nor is born, and none is comparable to Him.

4. Bow: ruku‘

   Say “Allāhu akbar” as you move into bowing. Settle in the posture and recite this praise three times as the reference recommends.

   سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

   Subḥāna Rabbiyal-ʿAẓīm.

   Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.

5. Rise and stand upright

   As a person praying alone, say the first phrase while rising, then the second while upright. Pause in a settled standing posture before prostrating. This transition uses these words rather than “Allāhu akbar.”

   سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ ۝ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

   Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah. Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd.

   Allah hears the one who praises Him. Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.

6. First prostration: sujud

   Say “Allāhu akbar” as you descend. Place your forehead and nose, hands, knees and toes on the ground as described in the detailed posture reference. Settle and recite this praise three times.

   سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

   Subḥāna Rabbiyal-Aʿlā.

   Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

7. Sit, then prostrate a second time

   Say “Allāhu akbar” as you rise into sitting. Pause calmly, then say “Allāhu akbar” as you prostrate again and repeat the prostration praise. There are two prostrations in every unit, with sitting between them.

8. Stand for the second rak‘ah

   Rise with “Allāhu akbar.” Repeat al-Fatihah, additional Qur’an, bowing, standing upright, and the two prostrations with their sitting. In this Hanafi sequence, do not repeat the opening supplication or seeking refuge, and do not raise the hands at these transitions.

9. Sit after the second unit and recite tashahhud

   After the second prostration of this unit, remain sitting and recite the testimony. For a two-unit prayer this is the final sitting.

   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-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu al-lā ilāha illallāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh.

   All greetings, prayers, and good things belong to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah’s mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and Allah’s righteous servants. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

10. Complete the final sitting with blessings and a supplication

    Send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ, then make a supplication. The following Qur’anic supplication is one example.

    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

    Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdum-Majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka Ḥamīdum-Majīd.

    O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, grant blessing to Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You granted blessing to Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.

    رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

    Rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ʿadhāban-nār.

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

11. End with salam

    Turn your head to the right and say the salam, then turn to the left and say it again. This ends the prayer.

    السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

    As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh.

    Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy.

What changes for three or four rak‘ahs?

In Maghrib, Dhuhr, Asr and Isha, sit after the second unit for tashahhud, then stand for the remaining unit or units. In this Hanafi obligatory-prayer walkthrough, recite al-Fatihah in the third and fourth units without the additional chapter used in the first two. Bow, rise and prostrate twice in each unit. Complete the final sitting with tashahhud, blessings and supplication, then salam. Check the prayer types and unit counts. Witr has its own sequence.

Learn the words, then rehearse

Use the recitation lesson to study one phrase at a time, or open the complete recitation reference. Transliteration helps you begin; learn Arabic pronunciation with a qualified teacher. If you do not know the words yet, see guidance for starting to learn.

Rehearse two units in the Prayer Studio →

The studio is for practice outside prayer. When praying with others, use the Hanafi congregation reference; its recitation rules differ from this example of praying alone.

Detailed Hanafi instructions and legal categories

1. Stand, with your feet slightly apart, and utter the opening invocation. This is obligatory. It is mandatory (wājib) to say “Allāhu Akbar” (Allāh is the greatest). This invocation (“Allāhu Akbar”) is repeated, without raising the hands, with each movement of the prayer except when rising from the bowing (rukū’) position. The one leading others utters it aloud. It is recommended to keep one’s gaze lowered through the prayer, in order to avoid distraction. When standing this entails looking at your place of prostration.
2. Raise your hands (until level with the ears for men and to the shoulders for women) just before uttering the opening invocation (takbīr taḥrīmah), keeping the head upright throughout, and lower the hands as one pronounces the invocation. It is recommended to keep one’s hands normally open, with the palms facing the qiblah.
3. Place your right hand over your left hand (under the navel for men and on the chest for women, below the breasts).
4. In the first rak’ah only, quietly recite the opening supplication (thanā’).
5. Seek refuge from the devil (ta’awwudh) quietly, in the first rak’ah alone, if reciting the Qur’ān in prayer. The one leading others and the one praying alone do so, as they must recite. When praying in congregation do not recite this, as one does not recite Qur’ān behind the imām, unless one has missed one or more rak’āt, in which case one recites this when one gets up to make up the missed rak’āt.
6. Recite at least one verse of the Qur’ān when leading others or praying alone. This is obligatory. When praying behind an imām, one does not recite any Qur’ān [not even the Fātiḥah] in both loud and silent prayers.
   It is mandatory (wājib) for the one reciting to recite the Fātiḥah, in two rak’āt of obligatory prayers and in all rak’āt of other prayers; to recite at least the equivalent of three short verses of the Qur’ān, in two rak’āt of obligatory prayers, and in all rak’āt of other prayers; and to make the above recitation (of the Fātiḥah and verses of the Qur’ān) in the first two rak’āt of obligatory prayers.
7. When leading others, recite quietly in Dhuhr and Asr, the third unit of Maghrib and the last two units of Isha. Recite aloud in both units of Fajr and the first two units of Maghrib and Isha.
8. Recite “Bismillaah hir-Rahmaan nir-Raheem” [In the name of Allāh, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate] quietly before the Fātiḥah and say “Amīn” quietly after the Fātiḥah.
9. Bow (ruku‘). This is obligatory. The minimum bowing is that one’s outstretched hands reach one’s knees. It is mandatory (wājib) to remain motionless therein, at least for a moment. It is sunnah for men to grip their knees with fingers spread out and pointing down, keeping legs and back straight and the head level with the lower back. It is recommended to keep one’s gaze on the top of one’s feet.
10. Recite the invocation of bowing three times. This is to say “Subhaana Rabbiyal adheem” (“Glory be to my Tremendous Lord”).
11. Stand after the bowing. This is mandatory (wājib), as is remaining motionless for a moment. It is sunnah to say “Sami Allāh huleeman hameedah” (“Allāh hears those who praise Him”) as you begin to rise from bowing, if leading others or praying alone – followers do not say this. This is followed by saying “Rabbana wa lakal hamd” (“Our Lord, all praise is due to You”), which is said silently by the one following or praying alone – the imām may choose to say it silently as well.
12. Prostrate (sujud). This is obligatory. It is mandatory that one make sure to place most of one’s forehead on the ground and also the nose, both hands, knees, and at least one toe of each foot. It is also mandatory to remain motionless therein for at least a moment. It is sunnah to say “Allāhu Akbar” (God is the greatest) as one begins to descend into prostration; to place one’s knees on the ground first, then hands, and then the face and nose. It is recommended for men to have their hands at head level in prostration, and for women to have them at shoulder level. It is sunnah for men to separate their abdomen from their thighs, elbows from the sides, and forearms from the ground. Women do the opposite, by keeping their abdomen close to their thighs, elbows close to their sides, and forearms on the ground, while keeping as low as comfortably possible. It is recommended to gaze toward the top of the nose.
13. Recite the invocation of prostration three times, saying “Subhaana Rabbiyal a’laa” (“Glory be to my Exalted Lord”). This is a highly emphasized sunnah.
14. After prostrating, sit up. It is minimally obligatory to raise the head from the prostration and mandatory to sit up such that you are closer to sitting than to prostration, while remaining motionless for at least a moment. The Sunnah is for men to sit on their left foot with the right foot propped up on the toes which face the direction of prayer. Women sit on their left buttock with right thigh on the left thigh and both feet coming out from the right side. It is sunnah to place the hands on the thighs, with the tops of the fingers ending at the beginning of the knee without bending. It is recommended to keep your gaze on your thighs.
15. Prostrate a second time (as before). This is also obligatory for each rak’ah.
16. Stand from prostration, for the next rak’ah. This is obligatory. It is sunnah to raise one’s face first, then hands, and then knees. Rise on the tops of your toes without sitting after the prostration and without support of one’s hands (unless out of physical need).
17. The subsequent rak’āt are the same as the first, except that one does not raise one’s hands; one does not recite the opening supplications; nor does one seek refuge from the devil.
18. After the two prostration of the second rak’ah, sit for the first sitting, as described above. This is mandatory (wājib). It is also mandatory to recite the testification of faith (tashahhud). It is sunnah to clasp one’s fingers when reciting “Ashhadu al laa ilaaha,” with the thumb on the side of one’s middle finger, and to raise the index finger; then lower the index finger when saying “illallah.”
19. Stand (as explained above) for the third and fourth rak’āt in the Ẓuhr, ‘Aṣr, and ‘Īsha’ prayers, and only the third rak’ah in the Maghrib prayer. It is mandatory (wājib) to stand up without undue delay after reciting the testification of faith (tashahhud).
20. All actions in the third and fourth rak’āt are the same as the first two rak’āt. It is sunnah to recite the Fātiḥah or to say “SubhanAllāh” three times in obligatory prayers when standing. In other prayers, it is mandatory (wājib) to recite both the Fātiḥah and at least the equivalent of three short verses.
21. After the prostrations in one’s final rak’ah, it is obligatory to sit for the final sitting to the extent of reciting the testification of faith (tashahhud) normally. It is mandatory to actually recite the testification of faith completely. It is sunnah to raise the finger (as noted in the previous steps).
22. After this send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ by reciting the Ṣalātul Ibrahīmiyya.
23. Before giving the final salāms, it is sunnah to supplicate. Any short supplication fulfills the sunnah, though it is best to choose a supplication from the Qur’ān or Sunnah.
24. End the prayer by giving salāms twice. This is mandatory (wājib). The sunnah is to say “Assalamu Alaykum waRahmatullah” (“May the Peace and Mercy of Allāh be upon you”) twice, while turning the head (only) to the right for the first and to the left for the second, intending to greet those in prayer with one (even when alone), while specifying the imām in one’s salāms in the direction he is in. It is recommended to turn such that the cheek is visible from behind, and to look at the shoulders each time.