Salah (prayer) is the second pillar of Islam and the most important act of worship after the declaration of faith. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The first matter that the servant will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgment is the prayer." (Ahmad, Nasa'i)
Step 1: Make Wudu (Ablution)
Before prayer, you must be in a state of ritual purity (wudu). The steps of wudu are:
- Make intention in your heart
- Say Bismillah and wash both hands to the wrist (3 times)
- Rinse the mouth (3 times)
- Sniff water into the nose and blow it out (3 times)
- Wash the face from hairline to chin (3 times)
- Wash the right arm to the elbow, then the left (3 times each)
- Wipe the head (once, front to back and back to front)
- Wipe the ears with wet fingers
- Wash the right foot to the ankle, then the left (3 times each)
Step 2: Face the Qibla
Stand facing the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. Use the DuaSalaam Qibla Finder to determine the correct direction from your location.
Step 3: Make the Niyyah (Intention)
The intention is made in the heart — you do not need to say it aloud. Simply intend in your heart which prayer you are performing (e.g., "I intend to pray 2 rakats of Fajr for the sake of Allah").
Step 4: Opening Takbeer
Raise both hands to your earlobes (men) or shoulders (women) and say:
Allahu Akbar — "Allah is the Greatest"
Then place your right hand over your left on your chest (or below the navel, depending on madhab).
Step 5: Qiyam — Standing
Recite the opening supplication (Thana), then Surah Al-Fatiha:
After Al-Fatiha, recite any other surah from the Quran (in the first two rakats).
Step 6: Ruku — Bowing
Say Allahu Akbar and bow with your back flat and hands on your knees. In this position, say:
Subhana Rabbiyal-Azeem — "Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent" (3 times)
Then rise saying Sami'allahu liman hamidah and respond Rabbana lakal-hamd.
Step 7: Sujood — Prostration
Say Allahu Akbar and prostrate with 7 body parts touching the ground: forehead (with nose), both palms, both knees, and both feet. Say:
Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la — "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High" (3 times). Rise, sit briefly, then prostrate again.
Step 8: Tashahhud (At the End)
After the final rakat, sit and recite the Tashahhud:
Then recite Durood Ibrahim (sending blessings upon the Prophet) and any dua.
Step 9: Closing Salaam
Turn your head to the right and say Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah, then to the left and repeat. This completes the prayer.
The Five Daily Prayers
- Fajr — 2 fard rakats (before sunrise)
- Dhuhr — 4 fard rakats (midday)
- Asr — 4 fard rakats (afternoon)
- Maghrib — 3 fard rakats (after sunset)
- Isha — 4 fard rakats (night)
Check the DuaSalaam Prayer Times page for accurate Salah times at your location today.