How to Pray
How the Prophet ﷺ taught us to pray, step by step.
Step by step instructions with pictures and transliteration to make things easy In sha Allah!
Bismillah!
How Prayer Units (Rakahs) Work
A prayer is made up of units called rakahs.
Each rakah includes standing, bowing, and two prostrations.
After you finish the second prostration of a rakah, one of two things happens:
You either stand back up for another rakah,
or you sit down for tashahhud.
After the First Rakah
When you finish the second prostration of the first rakah:
You stand back up and begin the second rakah.
This applies to all prayers.
After the Second Rakah
When you finish the second prostration of the second rakah:
You sit down and recite the tashahhud.
Now what happens next depends on which prayer you are praying.
If you are praying Fajr (2 rakahs)
You stop here.
This sitting is your final sitting.
You recite the tashahhud and end the prayer with salam.
If you are praying Maghrib (3 rakahs)
After the tashahhud, you stand back up.
You pray one more rakah.
After the third rakah, you sit for the final sitting and end the prayer with salam.
If you are praying Dhuhr, Asr, or Isha (4 rakahs)
After the tashahhud, you stand back up.
You pray a third rakah.
Then you stand again for a fourth rakah.
After the fourth rakah, you sit for the final sitting and end the prayer with salam.
Find the Qiblah
We need to find the direction towards the Kaaba.
You can use a compass or an app on your phone.
Or look on Google Maps to see your location’s orientation on the map.
Make Your Intention
The intention is in your heart — you do not have to say it out loud.
Just know inside yourself:
Which prayer you are praying (Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha)
Whether it is fard (required) or sunnah (optional)
Example of what you mean in your heart:
I am praying Fajr for Allah
I am praying 2 rakah fard for Allah
Begin the Prayer
Stand up straight, facing the qibla.
Raise your hands near your shoulders or ears and say:
Allahu Akbar
This is how you officially enter the prayer.
Standing and Recitation
While standing:
Place your right hand over your left
Keep them on your chest or upper body
Look down calmly at where you will make sujud
Then recite Surat Al-Fatiha:
Bismillah ir Rahman ir Rahim
Al hamdu lillahi rabbil alamin
Ar Rahman ir Rahim
Maliki yawm id din
Iyyaka nabudu wa iyyaka nastaeen
Ihdinas siratal mustaqim
Siratal ladhina anamta alayhim
Ghayril maghdubi alayhim wa lad dallin
Ameen
Bowing
Bow down by bending forward.
Keep your back as straight as you can.
Place your hands on your knees.
Keep your head level.
Say three times:
Subhana rabbiyal azim
Return to Standing
After bowing, stand back up straight.
As you rise, say:
Sami Allahu liman hamidah
When fully standing, say:
Rabbana wa lakal hamd
Prostration
Go down into prostration.
Your forehead and nose touch the ground.
Your hands are flat on the ground beside your head.
Your knees and toes touch the ground.
Say three times:
Subhana rabbiyal aala
Sitting Briefly
Sit up briefly from prostration.
Sit calmly with your back straight.
Say:
Rabbigh fir li
You may say this once or three times.
Prostration Again
Go down into prostration again.
Say three times:
Subhana rabbiyal aala
Now you have completed a unit. Depending on how many units you have to do, either continue or sit for tashahhud.
Middle or Final Sitting
Now you will choose the Middle Tashahhud or the Final Tashahhud.
Middle Sitting (Tashahhud)
After the second unit of prayer, sit down.
Place your hands on your thighs.
Raise the pointer finger of your right hand.
At tahiyyatu lillahi was salawatu wat tayyibat
As salamu alayka ayyuhan nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
As salamu alayna wa ala ibadillahis salihin
Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah
Wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasooluhu
After this, stand back up and continue the prayer.
Final Sitting (Tashahhud and Ending Duas)
After completing the final unit of prayer, sit down calmly.
Place your hands on your thighs.
Raise the pointer finger of your right hand.
At tahiyyatu lillahi was salawatu wat tayyibat
As salamu alayka ayyuhan nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
As salamu alayna wa ala ibadillahis salihin
Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah
Wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasooluhu
Then send prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ:
Allahumma salli ala Muhammad
Wa ala aali Muhammad
Kama sallayta ala Ibrahim
Wa ala aali Ibrahim
Innaka hamidun majid
Allahumma barik ala Muhammad
Wa ala aali Muhammad
Kama barakta ala Ibrahim
Wa ala aali Ibrahim
Innaka hamidun majid
Then make a short supplication:
Rabbana atina fid dunya hasanah
Wa fil akhirati hasanah
Wa qina adhaban nar
Ending the Prayer
Turn your head to the right and say:
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
Ending the Prayer
Then turn your head to the left and say:
Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
Everyone starts somewhere. Even those who pray confidently today once struggled to learn.
Every time you stand to pray, you are responding to an invitation from Allah.
That alone is something beautiful.