How to Pray Salah

Namaz (Salah) is the second pillar of Islam and the most important act of worship after the declaration of faith. It is a direct connection between the believer and Allah, performed five times a day to purify the heart, bring peace to the soul, and strengthen one’s faith. Namaz shapes the daily rhythm of a Muslim’s life and is a source of guidance, discipline, and spiritual growth.

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1. Preparing for Salaah

Before beginning Salaah, perform Wudhu or Ghusl, whichever is required.

  • Ensure your clothes and the place of Salaah are clean.
  • Make sure your Satr is covered:
    • For women, the Satr in Salaah is everything except the hands, face, and feet.
  • Face the Qiblah (direction of prayer – Makkah).
  • Make your intention (niyyah) quietly or in the mind for the Salaah you wish to perform.
  • During Salaah:
    • Keep the eyes fixed on the spot where the head will be in Sajdah (prostration), unless otherwise mentioned.
    • Ensure the feet point towards the Qiblah.
    • Men should keep their feet a minimum of four fingers’ width apart.
    • Women should keep their feet together.

Takbeer

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ (Translation: Allaahu Akbar)

Translation

Allah is the Greatest

2. Takbeer e Tahreema

3. Preparing for Salaah

Hand Placement for Men (Qiyaam)

Place your right hand over your left hand, with the thumb and last finger of the right hand wrapped around the wrist of the left hand, and the middle three fingers of the right hand resting along the top of the left arm.

Position the hands below the navel, keeping the right hand palm over the back of the left hand and the fingers together.

Recitation

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ

Subhaanaka Allaahumma wa bihamdika wa tabaarakasmuka wa ta‘aala jadduka wa laa ilaaha ghayruka

Translation

Glory be to You, O Allah! and Praise be to You; Blessed is Your name, Exalted is Your Majesty, and there is none worthy besides You.

3.1 Qiyaam

While Remaining in Qiyaam

Recite Ta’awwuz and Tasmiyah silently while standing.

Ta’awwuz

أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A‘oodhu billaahi minash-Shayṭaanir-rajeem

Translation: I seek refuge in Allah from the rejected Satan.

Tasmiyah

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem

Translation: In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

Then Recite Surah Al-Fātiḥah:

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ، ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Alḥamdu lillaahi rabbil ‘aalameen; ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem

Translation: Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Beneficent, the Merciful.

مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ، إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

Maaliki yawmid-deen; iyyaaka na‘budu wa iyyaaka nasta‘een

Translation: Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help.

ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ، صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ

Ihdinas-siraatal mustaqeem; siraatal-ladheena an‘amta ‘alayhim

Translation: Guide us on the Straight Path, the path of those whom You have favoured,

غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

Ghayril-maghdubi ‘alayhim wa laḍ-ḍaaalleen

Translation: Not of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray.

3.2 Qiyaam

Qiyaam – Reciting Another Surah

Then recite any Surah, or a minimum of three short Aayats or one long Aayah.

Note: A Surah is recited after Surah Al-Fatihah in all units of any Sunnah and Nafl Salaah. It is required only in the first two units of any Fard Salaah. In the third and fourth units, only Surah Al-Fatihah is recited.
Note: Surahs read after Surah Al-Fatihah should be in the proper Qur’anic order—ascending, with the next Surah shorter than the previous.

Example Surah: Surah Al-Ikhlaas

قُلْ هُوَ ٱللّٰهُ أَحَدٌ، ٱللّٰهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ

Qul huwallaahu ahad, Allaahus-Samad

Translation: Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah, the eternally Besought of all!

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ، وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Lam yalid wa lam yoolad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.

Translation: He begetteth not, nor is He begotten. And there is none comparable unto Him.

Men should keep the back and arms straight and hold the knees with the fingers apart ensuring the arms do not touch the body. The knees should be bent and the back should not be straight like a man. Also ensuring the elbows touch the sides of the body.

Takbeer before Rukoo

ٱللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allaahu Akbar Translation: Allah is the Greatest

Rukoo Recitation (Repeat 3 Times)

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

Subhaana Rabbi-yal Azeem

Translation: Glory is to my Lord, the Most Great

4. Rukoo (Bowing Down)

5. Qaumah (Standing After Rukoo)

Instructions: Qaumah is the position of standing up straight after Rukoo, returning to the Qiyaam posture with your arms placed straight by your sides.

While rising from Rukoo, recite the Tasmee. Once fully standing, recite the Tamheed.

Tasmee (While Rising)

سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

Sami‘a Allaahu liman ḥamidah

Translation: Allah hears all those who praise Him.

Tamheed (When Fully Standing)

رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Rabbanaa lakal ḥamd

Translation: Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.

Recitation (Takbeer)

ٱللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allaahu Akbar

Translation: Allah is the Greatest

Sujood (Prostration)

Instructions: Go into prostration in the following order:

  • Lower the knees to the ground first (try to keep the back straight).
  • Then the palms of both hands.
  • Followed by the nose and finally the forehead.

Focus your eyes toward the nose. The arms should not touch the floor. Both feet should be raised and rest on the toes.

Women: Keep all limbs close together and close to the ground, including the arms, elbows, bottom, and feet. Both feet should point out to the right and the toes should point toward the Qiblah.

Sajdah Recitation (First Prostration)

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Subhaana Rabbiyal A‘laa

Translation: Glory to my Lord, the Highest

Rising to Jalsa (Sitting Position)

Get up from the floor in the order of: forehead, then nose, and then hands—while reciting:

ٱللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allaahu Akbar

Translation: Allah is the Greatest

Sit upright (Jalsa) and place the palms on the lower thighs (not on the knees).

Women: Sit resting on the floor with feet pointing out to the right. In Qa‘dah, keep your eyes focused between the hands in your lap. Rest briefly.

Second Sajdah

Then say:

ٱللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allaahu Akbar

Translation: Allah is the Greatest

Now perform the second Sajdah in the same way and recite three times:

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Subhaana Rabbiyal A‘laa

Translation: Glory to my Lord, the Highest

6. Sajdah (Prostration)

7. Quood (Qa'dah – Sitting Position)

Second Rak‘ah & Tashahhud (Qa‘dah)

After completing the second Sajdah, stand up and return to the Qiyaam position. This completes one Rak‘ah (unit) of prayer.

The second Rak‘ah is performed the same way, except do not recite Thanaa and Ta‘awwuz. Begin directly with Tasmiyah (Bismillah).

After the second prostration in the second Rak‘ah, remain seated (Qa‘dah) and recite the Tashahhud quietly:

At-Tashahhud

ٱلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَٱلصَّلَوَاتُ وَٱلطَّيِّبَاتُ، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ

Attahiyyaatu lillaahi was-salawaatu wat-tayyibaatu. Assalaamu ‘alaika ayyuhan-nabiyyu

Translation: All prayers and acts of worship through words and actions are for Allah alone. Peace be upon you, O Prophet.

وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ ٱللّٰهِ ٱلصَّالِحِينَ

Wa raḥmatullaahi wa barakaatuhu. Assalaamu ‘alainaa wa ‘alaa ‘ibaadillaahis-saaliheen

Translation: And the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be on us and on the righteous servants of Allah.

Finger Movement Instruction: When you recite the words “Ash-hadu allaa ilaaha”, form a circle with your thumb and middle finger, and raise your index finger pointing toward the Qiblah. Lower the finger after saying “illallaah”.

Shahadah (Declaration of Faith)

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Ash’hadu allaa ilaaha illallaahu wa ash’hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhoo wa rasooluh

Translation: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

Durood Shareef

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

Allaahumma ṣalli ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa aali Muhammadin kamaa ṣallayta ‘alaa Ibraaheema wa ‘alaa aali Ibraaheem

Translation: O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim.

إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

Innaka ḥameedum majeed. Allaahumma baarik ‘alaa Muhammadin wa ‘alaa aali Muhammadin

Translation: You are indeed Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad.

كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Kamaa baarakta ‘alaa Ibraaheema wa ‘alaa aali Ibraaheem. Innaka ḥameedum majeed

Translation: As You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.

Note: If you are praying three Rak‘ahs (e.g., Maghrib) or four Rak‘ahs (e.g., Zuhr, Asr, Isha), stand up after Tashahhud to continue. After Durood Shareef, you may also recite any Sunnah Du‘as of your choice.

رَبِّ ٱجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَاةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي ۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ

(Allaahumma) Rabbij ‘alni muqeemaṣ-ṣalaati wa min dhurriyati, Rabbanaa wa taqabbal du‘aa

Translation: O Lord! Make me one who establishes regular prayer and also from my offspring. O our Lord! Accept my prayer.

رَبَّنَا ٱغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْحِسَابُ

Rabbana’ghfir li wa li-waalidayya wa lil-mu’mineena yawma yaqoomul-hisaab

Translation: O Lord! Forgive me, my parents, and all believers on the Day the Reckoning is established.

Salaam (Ending the Prayer)

Instructions: Now turn your face to your right shoulder while saying the first Salaam. Then turn to the left shoulder and repeat. After completing the Salah, it is a great Sunnah and a blessing to make Du‘aa by raising your hands in supplication.

Salaam to the Right

ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللّٰهِ

Assalaamu ‘alaikum wa raḥmatullah

Translation: Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy

Salaam to the Left

ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللّٰهِ

Assalaamu ‘alaikum wa raḥmatullah

Translation: Peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy

8. Du'a After Tashahhud & Durood