Prayer Guide
Step-by-step guidance on performing Wudu and Salah according to the Sunnah, providing options for all major schools of thought.
Prayer Structure (Rakahs)
Detailed breakdown of units for each prayer.
| Prayer | Sunnah (M) | Fard | Sunnah (GM) | Witr / Nafl | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr | 2 | 2 | - | - | 4 |
| Dhuhr | 6 | 4 | - | 2 | 12 |
| Asr | - | 4 | 4 | - | 8 |
| Maghrib | 2 | 3 | - | 2 | 7 |
| Isha | 2 | 4 | 4 | 7 | 17 |
Recitation Rules
What to read in each Rakah.
Fard Prayers
- 11st & 2nd Rakah: Surah Al-Fatiha + Another Surah
- 23rd & 4th Rakah: Surah Al-Fatiha Only (Silent)
Sunnah & Nafl
All Rakahs: Surah Al-Fatiha + Another Surah
Select School of Thought
Adjust the guide to your Madhab
Takbiratul Ihram (Opening)
Stand straight, facing the Qibla (direction of Ka'bah), raise your hands to your earlobes or shoulders, and proclaim the opening Takbir with complete intention in your heart.
General Step
Raise hands and then place your right hand over your left hand on your chest or below your navel.
hanafi View
Raise hands to earlobes (thumbs touching earlobes), then place hands below the navel, right hand gripping the left wrist.
ٱللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar
"Allah is the Greatest"
Opening Supplication (Dua Al-Istiftah)
Recite the opening supplication silently to start your prayer, glorifying Allah.
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabaraka ismuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghairuk.
"Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praises are due unto You, and blessed is Your name and high is Your majesty and none is worthy of worship but You."
Recitation of Surah Al-Fatiha
Recite the opening chapter of the Quran. Reciting Surah Al-Fatihah is an essential pillar (Rukn) of the Salah, and the prayer is invalid without it.
General Step
Conclude by saying 'Ameen' (O Allah, accept). After this, in the first two Rakahs of Fard prayers, recite any other portion or Surah of the Quran.
hanafi View
Say 'Ameen' silently. The congregation does not recite Al-Fatiha behind the Imam.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim. Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil-'alamin. Ar-Rahmanir-Rahim. Maliki yawmid-din. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in. Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim. Siratal-ladhina an'amta 'alayhim, ghayril-maghdubi 'alayhim walad-dallin.
"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path. The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned Your anger or of those who are astray."
Ruku (Bowing)
Say 'Allahu Akbar' and bow down. Place your hands on your knees with fingers spread, keeping your back straight and parallel to the floor, looking down at the place of prostration.
hanafi View
Raise hands (Raf-al-Yadayn) only at the start of prayer, not before bowing.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem
"Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent"
Rising from Ruku (I'tidal)
Rise up from bowing to a fully standing position. Stand straight and calm.
hanafi View
Do not raise hands when rising from bowing. Stand with hands at your sides.
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ. رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ
Sami' Allahu liman hamidah. Rabbana wa lakal-hamd, hamdan kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fih.
"Allah hears those who praise Him. Our Lord, and to You is all praise, a praise that is abundant, beautiful, and full of blessings."
First Sujood (Prostration)
Proclaim 'Allahu Akbar' and go down into prostration. Ensure seven body parts touch the ground: forehead & nose, two palms, two knees, and the toes of both feet. Keep your elbows away from your sides and off the floor.
General Step
Ensure the toes are pointing forward towards the Qibla.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal A'la
"Glory be to my Lord, the Most High"
Sitting between Two Sujoods (Jalsah)
Rise from Sujood saying 'Allahu Akbar' and sit down calmly on your left foot with your right foot upright, placing your hands on your thighs near the knees.
General Step
Achieve complete tranquility in this sitting posture before going for the second prostration.
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbighfir li, Rabbighfir li
"My Lord forgive me, My Lord forgive me"
Second Sujood
Proclaim 'Allahu Akbar' and perform the second prostration exactly like the first one, repeating the glorification.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal A'la
"Glory be to my Lord, the Most High"
Tashahhud (Sitting)
In the second and final Rak'ah, sit down after the second Sujood to recite the Tashahhud testimony. Sit flat on the left foot (Iftirash) or on the ground with feet to the right (Tawarruk in final Rak'ah).
General Step
Point your right index finger to testify the oneness of Allah.
hanafi View
Raise the index finger when saying 'La ilaha' (No god) and lower it when saying 'ill-Allah' (except Allah).
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibatu, as-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu, as-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-salihin. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.
"All compliments, prayers, and pure words are due to 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."
Durood Ibrahim (Blessings on the Prophet)
Recite the Durood Ibrahim immediately following the Tashahhud in the final sitting unit of the prayer.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ. اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahima, innaka Hamidun Majid.
"O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Abraham and upon the family of Abraham; indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Full of Glory. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Abraham and upon the family of Abraham; indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Full of Glory."
Taslim (Salam - Concluding)
Turn your face to the right, looking over your shoulder, and say the Salam. Then turn your face to the left and repeat it to complete your prayer.
hanafi View
Both Salams are mandatory to fully exit the prayer.
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah
"Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you"
Common Short Surahs
Useful Quranic chapters to recite in the first and second Rakahs after Surah Al-Fatihah.
Surah Al-Ikhlas (The Sincerity)
Recitation Optionقُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
Qul huwallahu ahad. Allahus-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan ahad.
"Say, 'He is Allah, [who is] One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to Him any equivalent.'"
Surah Al-Kawthar (The Abundance)
Recitation Optionإِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ
Inna a'taynakal-kawthar. Fasalli li-Rabbika wanhar. Inna shani'aka huwal-abtar.
"Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muhammad], al-Kawthar. So pray to your Lord and sacrifice [to Him alone]. Indeed, your enemy is the one cut off."
Surah Al-Asr (The Declining Day)
Recitation Optionوَالْعَصْرِ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ
Wal-'asr. Inna-l-insana lafi khusr. Illa-ladhina amanu wa 'amilu-s-salihati wa tawasa bil-haqqi wa tawasa bis-sabr.
"By time. Indeed, mankind is in loss. Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience."