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Prayer (salah) is the second pillar of Islam and the daily connection between a Muslim and Allah. If you are a new Muslim, a parent teaching a child, or someone who wants to make sure they pray correctly, this guide explains how to pray in Islam step by step, in simple language.
The five daily prayers
| Prayer | Time | Obligatory units (rak’ahs) |
|---|---|---|
| Fajr | Dawn, before sunrise | 2 |
| Dhuhr | After midday | 4 |
| Asr | Afternoon | 4 |
| Maghrib | Just after sunset | 3 |
| Isha | Night | 4 |
Before you pray
- Be in a state of purity: perform wudu.
- Make sure your body, clothes and place of prayer are clean.
- Cover the body appropriately.
- Face the qiblah, the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah.
- Make sure the time of the prayer has started.
How to pray: one unit (rak’ah) step by step
- Intention: intend in your heart the prayer you are about to pray.
- Opening takbir: raise your hands and say “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest).
- Standing (qiyam): place your hands on your chest or below it, recite Surah Al-Fatihah, then another short surah or some verses in the first two units.
- Bowing (ruku): say “Allahu Akbar”, bow with your back straight and hands on your knees, and say “Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great), usually three times.
- Rising: stand up saying “Sami Allahu liman hamidah”, then “Rabbana wa lakal hamd”.
- Prostration (sujood): say “Allahu Akbar” and prostrate with your forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes on the ground, saying “Subhana Rabbiyal A’la” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High), usually three times.
- Sitting: sit up briefly saying “Allahu Akbar”; it is Sunnah to say “Rabbighfir li” (My Lord, forgive me).
- Second prostration: prostrate again as before.
This completes one rak’ah. Stand up for the next one.
Ending the prayer
- After two units, sit and recite the Tashahhud. In a two-unit prayer such as Fajr, continue with the prayer upon the Prophet ﷺ and end the prayer.
- In three- and four-unit prayers, stand after the first Tashahhud, complete the remaining units, then sit for the final Tashahhud.
- Tasleem: turn your head to the right saying “As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah”, then to the left.
Learning the words of prayer
The prayer is recited in Arabic. New Muslims can start with Al-Fatihah and the basic phrases, and add more as they learn. Many people correct their recitation of Al-Fatihah in a few classes with a teacher, which makes the prayer far more meaningful. Our Noor Al-Bayan course teaches reading from the very beginning.
Common mistakes
- Rushing the bowing and prostration without being still.
- Reciting Al-Fatihah too quickly or with mistakes that change the meaning.
- Delaying the prayer until its time has nearly ended.
Learn to pray with a teacher
Details of prayer differ slightly between the schools of thought, and seeing the movements is easier than reading about them. In our one-to-one classes, the teacher demonstrates each position on camera, listens to your recitation and corrects it. Prayer is part of the Fiqh taught in our Islamic studies programs, and new Muslims can follow our new Muslim guide.
Frequently asked questions
What if I don’t know Al-Fatihah yet?
Begin learning it straight away. Until you can recite it, scholars advise saying phrases of remembrance such as “Subhan Allah” and “Alhamdulillah” while you learn.
At what age should children start praying?
The Prophet ﷺ advised teaching children to pray at seven, so parents usually begin gently around that age, or earlier by example.
How much do classes cost?
Classes cost $5 per 30-minute class, and your first class is a free trial. See our pricing page.
