Make the intention silently to perform the specific prayer (e.g. Fajr, 2 rak'ah). The Prophet ﷺ taught: "Actions are by intentions" (Bukhari 1). The intention is in the heart — no need to say it aloud.
2
Takbiratul-Ihram · Opening Takbir
Standing, facing the qiblah. Raise both hands to ear-level (men) or shoulder-level (women), palms forward.
Begin the prayer by saying the opening Takbir. From this moment, you are in the state of prayer — no speaking, no looking around.
Say
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu Akbar
"Allah is the Greatest."
Hanafi: hands raised to ear-level for men; right hand placed over left below the navel.
Shafi'i / Maliki / Hanbali: hands raised to shoulder-level; right hand over left on the chest.
3
Qiyam · Standing Recitation
Place your right hand over your left, on the chest (or below navel — Hanafi). Eyes lowered to where you'll prostrate.
Now recite — silently in Dhuhr and Asr; aloud in Fajr (rak'ah 1 + 2), Maghrib (1 + 2), Isha (1 + 2). Order of recitation:
"All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds. The Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship; You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path. The path of those You have blessed — not of those condemned, nor of those who go astray. Ameen."
Then — any other surah or short verses (e.g. Al-Ikhlas)
Qul huwa Llāhu aḥad. Allāh uṣ-ṣamad. Lam yalid wa lam yūlad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan aḥad.
"Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
4
Ruku · Bowing
Say "Allāhu Akbar" while bending forward. Place hands on knees, back parallel to the floor. Eyes look toward the ground in front of you.
In the bowed position, recite three times (or more, in odd numbers):
Say (×3)
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subḥāna rabbī al-ʿaẓīm
"Glory is to my Lord, the Most Great."
5
Iʿtidāl · Standing back up
Rise from ruku to standing, raising hands to ear/shoulder level (depending on madhab).
As you rise, say:
When rising
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Samiʿa-Llāhu liman ḥamidah
"Allah hears the one who praises Him."
Once standing fully
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Rabbanā wa laka l-ḥamd
"Our Lord, and to You is all praise."
6
Sujood · Prostration
Say "Allāhu Akbar" and lower yourself to the ground. Forehead, nose, both hands, both knees, and toes touching the floor — seven points of contact (Bukhari 812).
In sujood — the closest a servant is to their Lord (Muslim 482) — recite three times (or more):
Say (×3)
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subḥāna rabbī al-aʿlā
"Glory is to my Lord, the Most High."
Du'a in sujood is highly encouraged. Whatever you ask Allah for here, in your own language too, is loved. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Closest the servant is to his Lord is when he is in sujood, so increase your supplication therein" (Muslim 482).
7
Jalsa · Sitting between the two prostrations
Say "Allāhu Akbar", rise to a sitting position. Sit on the left foot with right foot upright, hands resting on thighs.
In the brief sitting between the two sujoods, say:
Say
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbi ghfir lī, rabbi ghfir lī
"My Lord, forgive me. My Lord, forgive me."
Then say "Allāhu Akbar" and return to sujood, repeating step 6 for the second prostration.
One rak'ah is now complete. Stand back up (saying "Allāhu Akbar") and repeat steps 3–7 for rak'ah 2.
8
Tashahhud · Sitting Witness
After the second rak'ah's two prostrations, sit back on the left foot. Right index finger may be pointed during the testimony of faith (sunnah).
At-taḥiyyātu li-Llāh, waṣ-ṣalawāt, waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuha n-nabiyyu wa raḥmatu-Llāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādi-Llāh iṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu an lā ilāha illa-Llāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh.
"All greetings, prayers, and pure words 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."
Then — Salawat (sending blessings on the Prophet ﷺ)
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīm wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammad wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīm wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd.
"O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim — indeed, You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. O Allah, send Your peace upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent Your peace upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim — indeed, You are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious."
9
Salām · The Closing Greeting
Turn your face to the right, then to the left, giving salutations.
This ends the prayer. Both turns:
Right shoulder, then left shoulder
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatu-Llāh
"Peace and the mercy of Allah be upon you."
Mā shā Allāh — your prayer is complete. Recommended after each prayer: Astaghfirullāh ×3, then "Allāhumma anta s-salām, wa minka s-salām, tabārakta yā dhā l-jalāli wa l-ikrām" + the daily-prayer adhkar (SubḥānAllāh ×33, Alḥamdulillāh ×33, Allāhu Akbar ×34) — see Azkar tab.
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The 5 Daily Prayers — Rak'ah Counts
All 5 prayers are built from this 2-rak'ah pattern. Some add a 3rd or 4th rak'ah:
Fajr (dawn)2 rak'ah · aloud
Dhuhr (noon)4 rak'ah · silent
ʿAsr (afternoon)4 rak'ah · silent
Maghrib (sunset)3 rak'ah · aloud (1+2)
ʿIshāʾ (night)4 rak'ah · aloud (1+2)
In 3 and 4 rak'ah prayers, the tashahhud is recited at rak'ah 2 (without the salām — you stand back up), and again at the final rak'ah (with the salām).
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You're learning. May Allah accept it.
Don't worry about perfection — the Prophet ﷺ taught a Bedouin who prayed badly multiple times, and was patient with him. Allah loves the one who returns and tries.