How to Pray Salah: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Salah (the ritual prayer) is the second pillar of Islam and the most important daily act of worship for a Muslim. If you are new to Islam or returning to prayer, the sequence can feel overwhelming at first — but it follows a simple, repeating pattern that becomes natural within days. This guide walks through everything you need, from preparation to the closing salam.

Before you pray: the conditions

• Purity: perform wudu (ablution) — wash the hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, wipe the head, and wash the feet.
• Clean place and clothing: pray on a clean surface wearing clean clothes that cover the awrah.
• Facing the Qibla: face the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca. Use our Qibla finder to get the exact angle from your location.
• Correct time: each prayer has a window. Check today's window for your city with our prayer times.
• Intention (niyyah): know in your heart which prayer you are about to perform.

The five daily prayers and their rak'ahs

• Fajr (dawn): 2 rak'ahs
• Dhuhr (midday): 4 rak'ahs
• Asr (afternoon): 4 rak'ahs
• Maghrib (sunset): 3 rak'ahs
• Isha (night): 4 rak'ahs

Step by step: one rak'ah

1. Standing (qiyam): raise your hands to your ears and say "Allahu Akbar" (the opening takbir). Place your right hand over your left on your chest. Recite Surah Al-Fatihah, then any other short surah (for example Surah Al-Ikhlas).

2. Bowing (ruku): say "Allahu Akbar" and bow with your back straight, hands on knees. Say "Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem" (Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent) three times. Rise saying "Sami' Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal hamd."

3. Prostration (sujud): say "Allahu Akbar" and prostrate with forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes touching the ground. Say "Subhana Rabbiyal A'la" (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) three times. Sit up briefly, then prostrate a second time. That completes one rak'ah.

Finishing the prayer

After every second rak'ah (and in the final rak'ah), sit for the tashahhud and recite "At-tahiyyatu lillahi...". In the final sitting, add salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ, then end the prayer by turning your head to the right and left, saying "Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah" each time.

Practical tips for beginners

• Consistency beats perfection: pray on time even if you only know Al-Fatihah — you can learn more surahs gradually with our Quran reader.
• Use a tracker: marking each prayer builds the habit. Noor's prayer times page includes a daily prayer tracker.
• Don't miss Fajr: sleep early and set an alarm 20 minutes before the Fajr time in your city.
• Learn the meaning: understanding what you recite transforms the prayer from routine to conversation.

May Allah accept your prayers. For accurate, free prayer times in more than 600 cities worldwide — with Sehri, Iftar and a weekly timetable — visit our prayer times page.