How to pray Salah (Namaz) step by step

Before you pray

• Wudu — be in a state of purity (ablution).
• Clean clothes and place — a prayer mat is helpful but not required.
• Cover the awrah — appropriate clothing for men and women.
• Face the Qiblah — the direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah (from the UK, roughly south-east).
• Know the time — each prayer has its own time window.

The five daily prayers and their rak'ahs

Sunnah prayers and Witr are prayed in addition; your teacher or local imam can explain the details of your madhab.

Salah step by step

1. Make your intention (Niyyah)

   Stand facing the Qiblah and intend in your heart which prayer you are praying, for example two rak'ahs of Fajr.

2. Opening Takbir

   Raise your hands and say:

   اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

   Allah is the Greatest.

3. Opening supplication (Thana)

   Place your hands and recite:

   سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالٰى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ

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

4. Recite Al-Fatiha and a short surah

   Say 'A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim' and 'Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim', then recite Surah Al-Fatiha, followed by another short surah such as Al-Ikhlas in the first two rak'ahs.

5. Bow — Ruku

   Say 'Allahu Akbar', bow with your hands on your knees and back straight, and say three times:

   سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْمِ

   Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.

6. Stand up from Ruku

   Rise saying 'Sami'allahu liman hamidah', then standing straight:

   رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

   Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.

7. Prostrate — Sujood

   Say 'Allahu Akbar' and prostrate with forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes on the ground. Say three times:

   سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلٰى

   Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

8. Sit briefly, then the second Sujood

   Sit up saying 'Allahu Akbar' (you may say 'Rabbighfir li' — My Lord, forgive me), then make a second Sujood exactly like the first. This completes one rak'ah. Stand up for the next rak'ah and repeat steps 4–8.

9. Sit for Tashahhud

   After every second rak'ah, and in the final rak'ah, sit and recite:

   اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهٗ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلٰى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهٗ وَرَسُوْلُهٗ

   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.

10. Durood and Salam to finish

    In the final sitting, add the Durood Ibrahimi, then turn your head to the right and to the left, saying each time:

    اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ

    Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.

    Durood Ibrahimi

    اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ

    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.

A note on differences between schools

Muslims follow different schools of thought (madhabs), so small details vary — for example where the hands are placed when standing, or whether the hands are raised before Ruku. All are based on evidence. This guide follows a widely taught method; follow the method your family or local mosque teaches. In our Nimaz & Deen classes we teach the method your family follows.

Tips for teaching children to pray

• Let young children pray beside you and copy — that is how most learn.
• Teach one recitation at a time, starting with Al-Fatiha.
• Use a prayer chart and praise effort.
• The Prophet ﷺ told parents to teach prayer from age seven (Sunan Abi Dawud 495), with gentleness.

References & sources

1. Sahih al-Bukhari 631
2. Sunan Abi Dawud 775
3. Sahih Muslim 772
4. Sahih al-Bukhari 795
5. Sunan Abi Dawud 874
6. Sahih al-Bukhari 831
7. Sahih al-Bukhari 3370
8. Sunan Abi Dawud 996
9. Sunan Abi Dawud 495

Quran references link to Quran.com and hadith references to Sunnah.com, so you can check every source. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us and we will correct it.