This guide walks through one rak'ah — a single unit of the prayer. The Prophet ﷺ taught, "Pray as you have seen me praying,"1 and the prayer is framed simply: "The key to prayer is purification; it is entered by the takbir and exited by the tasleem."2

Before you start, make sure you have wudu, find a clean spot, and face the qibla (the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca).

  1. 1

    Takbir — begin the prayer

    Stand, raise your hands, and say Allahu Akbar ("God is the Greatest"). This enters you into the prayer; from here, worldly speech and action stop.2

  2. 2

    Qiyam — stand and recite

    Place your right hand over your left on your chest and recite the opening chapter of the Quran, Al-Fatihah, followed by another short passage.4

  3. 3

    Ruku — bow

    Say Allahu Akbar and bow, placing your hands on your knees with a straight back, until you are calm. Glorify God here (commonly Subhana Rabbiyal Azim).3

  4. 4

    Stand up straight

    Rise from bowing saying Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah ("God hears the one who praises Him") and stand fully upright and still.3

  5. 5

    Sujood — prostrate

    Say Allahu Akbar and prostrate, with forehead, nose, palms, knees, and toes touching the ground, until you are calm. Glorify God here (commonly Subhana Rabbiyal A'la).3

  6. 6

    Sit briefly

    Rise from prostration saying Allahu Akbar and sit calmly for a moment.3

  7. 7

    Second prostration

    Say Allahu Akbar and prostrate a second time, just as before. This completes one rak'ah.3

  8. 8

    Tashahhud — sit and testify

    After the required number of rak'ahs, sit and recite the tashahhud, bearing witness to God's oneness and to the messengership of Muhammad ﷺ, and sending blessings upon him.

  9. 9

    Tasleem — end the prayer

    Turn your face to the right and then to the left, each time saying As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah ("Peace and mercy of God be upon you"). This ends the prayer.2

Putting it together

Each prayer is simply this cycle repeated for the right number of rak'ahs, ending with the tashahhud and tasleem. To learn how many rak'ahs each of the five daily prayers has and where they sit in the day, see Salah: The Daily Prayer.