How to Pray

Before you begin

The five prayers

The rak’ahs in each prayer. The fard are obligatory; the emphasised (mu’akkadah) sunnah are shown alongside.

A rak’ah, step by step

One unit (rak’ah) of prayer. A two-rak’ah prayer such as Fajr repeats steps 2–8 for the second rak’ah, then closes with the final sitting.

1. 1

   Standingقِيَام

   Face the qibla, make the intention in your heart, and begin.

   Opening Takbirتَكْبِيرُ التَّحْرِيمَة

   Raise both hands to the earlobes, then say this and fold them below the navel.

   اللّٰهُAllahأَكْبَرis the Greatest

   Allāhu akbar

   Allah is the Greatest.

   Opening praise (Thana)الثَّنَاء

   Said silently while standing, straight after the opening Takbir.

   سُبْحَانَكَGlory be to YouاللّٰهُمَّO Allahوَبِحَمْدِكَand with Your praiseوَتَبَارَكَand blessed isاسْمُكَYour nameوَتَعَالٰىand exalted isجَدُّكَYour majestyوَلَاand there is noإِلٰهَgodغَيْرُكَother than You

   Subḥānaka-llāhumma wa bi-ḥamdika, wa tabāraka-smuka, wa taʿālā jadduka, wa lā ilāha ghayruk.

   Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise; blessed is Your name and exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god besides You.

   Seeking refuge (Taʿawwudh)

   Said silently, once, before Al-Fatiha in the first rak’ah.

   أَعُوذُI seek refugeبِاللّٰهِin AllahمِنَfromالشَّيْطَانِSatanالرَّجِيمِthe accursed

   Aʿūdhu billāhi mina-sh-shayṭāni-r-rajīm.

   I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

   In the name of Allah (Tasmiyah)

   Said silently before Al-Fatiha, and before the surah in each rak’ah.

   بِسْمِIn the nameاللّٰهِof Allahالرَّحْمٰنِthe Most Graciousالرَّحِيمِthe Most Merciful

   Bismi-llāhi-r-raḥmāni-r-raḥīm.

   In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

2. 2

   Standingقِيَام

   Recite the Opening of the Book. Say “Ameen” quietly at its end.

   Surah Al-Fatihaسُورَةُ ٱلْفَاتِحَةِ

   Open in the mushaf →

   بِسْمِIn the nameٱللَّهِof Allahٱلرَّحْمَٰنِthe Most Graciousٱلرَّحِيمِthe Most MercifulٱلْحَمْدُAll praiseلِلَّهِis for AllahرَبِّLordٱلْعَٰلَمِينَof all the worldsٱلرَّحْمَٰنِthe Most Graciousٱلرَّحِيمِthe Most MercifulمَٰلِكِMasterيَوْمِof the Dayٱلدِّينِof JudgementإِيَّاكَYou aloneنَعْبُدُwe worshipوَإِيَّاكَand You aloneنَسْتَعِينُwe ask for helpٱهْدِنَاGuide usٱلصِّرَٰطَ(to) the pathٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَthe straightصِرَٰطَthe pathٱلَّذِينَof thoseأَنْعَمْتَYou have blessedعَلَيْهِمْupon themغَيْرِnotٱلْمَغْضُوبِthose who earned angerعَلَيْهِمْupon themوَلَاand notٱلضَّآلِّينَthose who went astray

   In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, The Beneficent, the Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment, Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help. Show us the straight path, The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.

3. 3

   Standingقِيَام

   Say “Bismillah…” and recite a surah, or three or more verses.

   A short surah — e.g. Al-Ikhlasسُورَةُ الإِخۡلَاصِ

   Open in the mushaf →

   قُلْSayهُوَHe isٱللَّهُAllahأَحَدٌthe OneٱللَّهُAllahٱلصَّمَدُthe Eternal, Self-SufficientلَمْnotيَلِدْHe begetsوَلَمْand notيُولَدْis He begottenوَلَمْand notيَكُنthere isلَّهُۥfor Himكُفُوًاequalأَحَدٌۢany one

   Say: He is Allah, the One! Allah, the eternally Besought of all! He begetteth not nor was begotten. And there is none comparable unto Him.

4. 4

   Bowingرُكُوع

   Say “Allahu akbar” and bow, hands on the knees, back level.

   Glorification in bowing (Ruku)

   Three times (or five, or seven)

   Bow with hands on the knees and the back level, and say this quietly.

   سُبْحَانَGlory toرَبِّيَmy Lordالْعَظِيمِthe Most Great

   Subḥāna rabbiya-l-ʿaẓīm.

   Glory to my Lord, the Most Great.

5. 5

   Standing againقَوْمَة

   Rise fully upright from the bow.

   Rising from bowing (Tasmiʿ)

   Said while straightening up from the bow.

   سَمِعَhearsاللّٰهُAllahلِمَنْthe one whoحَمِدَهُpraises Him

   Samiʿa-llāhu liman ḥamidah.

   Allah hears the one who praises Him.

   One praying alone says both this and the words of praise that follow.

   Standing after bowing (Tahmid)

   Said once standing fully upright after the bow.

   رَبَّنَاOur Lordلَكَto You belongsالْحَمْدُall praise

   Rabbanā laka-l-ḥamd.

   Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.

6. 6

   Prostratingسُجُود

   Say “Allahu akbar” and go down into the first prostration.

   Glorification in prostration (Sujood)

   Three times (or five, or seven)

   In each of the two prostrations, with forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes on the ground.

   سُبْحَانَGlory toرَبِّيَmy Lordالْأَعْلٰىthe Most High

   Subḥāna rabbiya-l-aʿlā.

   Glory to my Lord, the Most High.

7. 7

   Sittingجَلْسَة

   Say “Allahu akbar”, sit up briefly, calm and still.

8. 8

   Prostratingسُجُود

   Say “Allahu akbar” and go into the second prostration, as before.

   Glorification in prostration (Sujood)

   Three times (or five, or seven)

   In each of the two prostrations, with forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes on the ground.

   سُبْحَانَGlory toرَبِّيَmy Lordالْأَعْلٰىthe Most High

   Subḥāna rabbiya-l-aʿlā.

   Glory to my Lord, the Most High.

9. 9

   Final sittingقَعْدَة

   After the second rak’ah's prostrations, sit and say the testification, the blessings, and a supplication — then give the salaam to end.

   The testification (At-Tahiyyat / Tashahhud)التَّشَهُّد

   Said sitting, after every two rak’ahs and in the final sitting.

   التَّحِيَّاتُAll complimentsلِلّٰهِare for Allahوَالصَّلَوَاتُand prayersوَالطَّيِّبَاتُand pure wordsالسَّلَامُPeaceعَلَيْكَbe upon youأَيُّهَاOالنَّبِيُّProphetوَرَحْمَةُand the mercyاللّٰهِof Allahوَبَرَكَاتُهُand His blessingsالسَّلَامُPeaceعَلَيْنَاbe upon usوَعَلٰىand uponعِبَادِthe servantsاللّٰهِof Allahالصَّالِحِينَthe righteousأَشْهَدُI bear witnessأَنْthatلَّا(there is) noإِلٰهَgodإِلَّاexceptاللّٰهُAllahوَأَشْهَدُand I bear witnessأَنَّthatمُحَمَّدًاMuhammadعَبْدُهُis His servantوَرَسُولُهُand His Messenger

   At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuha-n-nabiyyu wa raḥmatu-llāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādi-llāhi-ṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illa-llāh, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh.

   All compliments, prayers and pure words 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 the Hanafi way: at “lā ilāha” raise the right index finger, and lower it at “illa-llāh”.

   Blessings on the Prophet (Durood Ibrahim)الصَّلَاة الإِبْرَاهِيمِيَّة

   Said in the final sitting, straight after At-Tahiyyat.

   اللّٰهُمَّO Allahصَلِّsend graceعَلٰىuponمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadوَّعَلٰىand uponآلِthe familyمُحَمَّدٍof MuhammadكَمَاasصَلَّيْتَYou sent graceعَلٰىuponإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimوَعَلٰىand uponآلِthe familyإِبْرَاهِيمَof Ibrahimإِنَّكَindeed You areحَمِيدٌPraiseworthyمَّجِيدٌGloriousاللّٰهُمَّO Allahبَارِكْsend blessingsعَلٰىuponمُحَمَّدٍMuhammadوَّعَلٰىand uponآلِthe familyمُحَمَّدٍof MuhammadكَمَاasبَارَكْتَYou blessedعَلٰىuponإِبْرَاهِيمَIbrahimوَعَلٰىand uponآلِthe familyإِبْرَاهِيمَof Ibrahimإِنَّكَindeed You areحَمِيدٌPraiseworthyمَّجِيدٌGlorious

   Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd.

   O Allah, send grace upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent grace upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; indeed You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; indeed You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.

   Supplication before the salaam

   A short dua in the final sitting, after the Durood. This one is from the Quran.

   رَبَّنَاOur Lordآتِنَاgive usفِيinالدُّنْيَاthis worldحَسَنَةًgoodوَّفِيand inالْآخِرَةِthe Hereafterحَسَنَةًgoodوَّقِنَاand protect usعَذَابَ(from) the punishmentالنَّارِof the Fire

   Rabbanā ātinā fi-d-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fi-l-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ʿadhāba-n-nār.

   Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

   Qur’an 2:201. Any supplication from the Quran or the Sunnah may be said here.

   Closing the prayer (Salaam)التَّسْلِيم

   Turn the face to the right shoulder, then to the left, saying this each time.

   السَّلَامُPeaceعَلَيْكُمْbe upon youوَرَحْمَةُand the mercyاللّٰهِof Allah

   As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatu-llāh.

   Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.

Three- and four-rak’ah prayers

• After the first two rak’ahs you sit for At-Tahiyyat only — not the Durood — then stand for the next rak’ah.
• In the third and fourth rak’ahs of a fard prayer, recite only Al-Fatiha (no surah after it).
• The last sitting of any prayer always has At-Tahiyyat, the Durood, a supplication, and the salaam.