The Prophet ﷺ said: “Pray as you have seen me praying” (Sahih al-Bukhari 631). When a man prayed hastily, he taught him: say the takbir, recite what you know of the Quran, bow until you are at ease, stand up straight, prostrate until you are at ease, sit until you are at ease, “and do the same in all your prayer” (Sahih al-Bukhari 757). Calmness in every position is part of the prayer.
Before you pray
- Wudu: see our step-by-step wudu guide.
- Time: each prayer has its time. Check prayer times for your city.
- Face the Qibla, the Kaaba in Makkah (Quran 2:144).
- Clean clothes and place, with the body covered.
- Intention: intend in your heart which prayer you are praying. Nothing needs to be said aloud.
How many rak’ahs in each prayer?
| Prayer | Obligatory (fard) rak’ahs | Recitation |
|---|---|---|
| Fajr | 2 | Aloud |
| Dhuhr | 4 | Silent |
| Asr | 4 | Silent |
| Maghrib | 3 | First two aloud |
| Isha | 4 | First two aloud |
The recitation is aloud for the imam in congregation; when praying alone, many scholars say you may recite at a normal or low voice.
Step by step: one rak’ah
- Opening takbir. Raise your hands and say:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu akbar: “Allah is the Greatest.” The prayer begins with the takbir and ends with the salam (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3). - Stand and recite Al-Fatiha. “Whoever does not recite Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid” (Sahih al-Bukhari 756). In the first two rak’ahs, then recite any other surah or verses you know, such as Al-Ikhlas.
- Bow (ruku’). Say Allahu Akbar, bend with your back straight and hands on your knees, and say three times:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subḥāna Rabbiyal-ʿAẓīm: “Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great” (Sahih Muslim 772). - Rise and stand straight. Say:
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah: “Allah hears whoever praises Him.” Then, standing, say Rabbanā laka l-ḥamd: “Our Lord, to You belongs all praise” (Sahih al-Bukhari 796). - Prostrate (sujud). Say Allahu Akbar and prostrate on seven bones: forehead with nose, both hands, both knees and the toes of both feet (Sahih al-Bukhari 812). Say three times:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subḥāna Rabbiyal-Aʿlā: “Glory be to my Lord, the Most High” (Sahih Muslim 772). - Sit briefly, saying Allahu Akbar, until you are at ease.
- Prostrate a second time, the same way. This completes one rak’ah.
- Stand for the next rak’ah with Allahu Akbar, and repeat from step 2.
The sitting (Tashahhud)
After the second rak’ah, sit and recite the Tashahhud the Prophet ﷺ taught (Sahih al-Bukhari 831):
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 an lā ilāha illallāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh.
“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.”
In a 3 or 4 rak’ah prayer, stand up after this first Tashahhud and continue. In the final sitting, after the Tashahhud, send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ (Sahih al-Bukhari 3370):
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
“O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.”
Ending the prayer (salam)
Turn your head to the right, then to the left, saying each time (Sahih Muslim 582):
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh: “Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.” After the prayer, say the 33 · 33 · 33 dhikr.
Details that differ between schools
The four Sunni schools agree on everything above. Some details differ, such as where the hands are placed while standing, when the hands are raised, and how one sits. All are based on evidence, so follow what your local mosque or teacher follows and don’t worry about small differences. New Muslims are not expected to learn everything at once: start with Al-Fatiha and Allahu Akbar, and build up.