The Sukon Salah Guide
Wudu and the five daily prayers, step by step
Contents
1. Salah — the pillar of the deen
The five daily prayers are obligatory on every sane adult Muslim. They are a direct meeting with Allah five times a day.
2. Before you pray
- Be in a state of purity: Wudu, or Ghusl when it is required.
- Clean body, clothes and place of prayer.
- Cover the awrah: for men, at least from the navel to the knees; for women, the whole body except the face and hands (and the feet, in the Hanafi school).
- Face the Qibla. Use the Sukon Qibla compass if you are unsure.
- Pray within the time of the prayer.
- Make the intention (niyyah) in your heart.
3. How to make Wudu
- Make the intention and say “Bismillah”.
- Wash both hands up to the wrists three times.
- Rinse the mouth three times.
- Rinse the nose three times.
- Wash the face three times, from the hairline to the chin and from ear to ear.
- Wash the right arm up to and including the elbow three times, then the left.
- Wipe over the head once with wet hands, and wipe the ears.
- Wash the right foot up to and including the ankle three times, then the left, cleaning between the toes.
After Wudu
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Ashhadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
Sahih Muslim 234
Wudu is broken by using the toilet, passing wind, deep sleep and losing consciousness. Scholars differ on some other things, such as bleeding; ask your local scholar.
4. The five prayers and their rakats
| Prayer | Time (in short) | Fard rakats | Common Sunnah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr | From true dawn until sunrise | 2 | 2 before |
| Dhuhr | After the sun passes its highest point | 4 | 4 before, 2 after |
| Asr | Afternoon until before sunset | 4 | 4 before (non-emphasised) |
| Maghrib | Just after sunset | 3 | 2 after |
| Isha | After twilight has gone | 4 | 2 after, then Witr |
Witr is 3 rakats in the Hanafi school (and wajib there); other schools teach 1, 3 or more as a strongly recommended Sunnah. Exact prayer times for your city are on the Sukon prayer times page.
5. A two-rakat prayer, step by step
- Stand facing the Qibla and raise your hands, saying “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest).
- Place your hands on your chest or below the navel, as your school teaches, and recite the opening dua (Sana) quietly.
- Say “A’udhu billahi minash-shaitanir-rajim, Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim” and recite Surah Al-Fatihah, then another surah or some verses.
- Say “Allahu Akbar” and bow (ruku). Say three times: “Subhana Rabbiyal-Azim” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great).
- Rise saying “Sami’allahu liman hamidah”, then “Rabbana lakal-hamd”.
- Say “Allahu Akbar” and go into prostration (sujud). Say three times: “Subhana Rabbiyal-A’la” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High).
- Sit briefly, then make a second sujud.
- Stand for the second rakat and repeat steps 3 to 7.
- Sit and recite the Tashahhud, the Durood Ibrahim and a dua.
- Turn your face to the right saying “Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah”, then to the left.
For 3- and 4-rakat prayers, sit after the second rakat for the Tashahhud only, then stand for the remaining rakats. In the fard of the third and fourth rakats, Al-Fatihah alone is recited.
6. Tashahhud and Durood
Tashahhud
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-tayyibat. As-salamu alaika ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu alaina wa ala ibadillahis-salihin. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh.
All greetings, prayers and good things 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.
Sahih al-Bukhari 831; Sahih Muslim 402
Durood Ibrahim
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 Muhammad, kama sallaita ala Ibrahima wa ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik ala Muhammadin wa ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta ala Ibrahima wa ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid.
O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3370
7. Common mistakes to avoid
- Rushing — every position needs stillness (tuma’ninah).
- Looking around or up during prayer.
- Praying after the time has ended without a valid reason.
- Not reciting Al-Fatihah in every rakat (for the imam and the person praying alone).
- Moving ahead of the imam in congregation.
If you forget something in the prayer, the prostration of forgetfulness (sajdat as-sahw) is made at the end. The details differ between schools; your local Imam will show you.
Scholar review. This guide is general guidance, written to be accepted by the major schools, with differences noted where they matter. It is being reviewed by Sukon’s Scholar panel. For a question about your own situation, ask a verified scholar — always free.
© INDO CHATS PRIVATE LIMITED. Written for Sukon. Free to read, print and share unchanged for non-commercial use, with credit to Sukon (sukon.in). Quran and hadith references are given with every quotation.