How to pray Namaz (Salah), step by step
Wudu, the five daily prayers, every position of the prayer and what to say in it — simple, in order, for beginners and reverts.
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Read every step with Arabic, transliteration and meaning in the Sukon Salah Guide.
Six conditions of a valid prayer
Purity
You have wudu (or ghusl when it is needed).
Clean body, clothes and place
No impurity on your body, clothes or the spot where you pray.
Covering
Men cover at least from the navel to the knees; women cover the whole body except the face and hands.
The right time
Each prayer is prayed in its own time. See prayer times for your city.
Facing the Qibla
Face the Ka‘bah in Makkah. Use the Qibla finder.
Intention
Know in your heart which prayer you are praying.
How to make wudu
Intention (niyyah)
Make the intention in your heart to perform wudu for prayer, and begin with “Bismillah”.
Wash the hands
Wash both hands up to the wrists three times, right hand first, letting water pass between the fingers.
Rinse the mouth
Take water into the mouth with the right hand and rinse three times.
Clean the nose
Sniff water gently into the nose with the right hand and blow it out with the left, three times.
Wash the face
Wash the whole face three times — from the hairline to the chin and from ear to ear.
Wash the arms
Wash the right arm up to and including the elbow three times, then the left arm.
Wipe the head
Pass wet hands over the head once, from the front to the back and back again.
Wipe the ears
Wipe the inside of the ears with the index fingers and the back with the thumbs, once.
Wash the feet
Wash the right foot up to and including the ankle three times, then the left, cleaning between the toes.
Finish with the shahadah
After wudu it is Sunnah to say: “Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.”
The five daily prayers
Rak‘ahs of each prayer. Fard prayers are obligatory; Sunnah prayers follow the practice of the Prophet ﷺ.
| Prayer | Time | Sunnah | Fard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr | Dawn to sunrise | 2 Sunnah (strongly emphasised) | 2 | — |
| Dhuhr | After midday | 4 before, 2 after | 4 | Jumu‘ah on Friday: 2 Fard in congregation after the khutbah |
| Asr | Afternoon | 4 before (recommended) | 4 | — |
| Maghrib | Just after sunset | 2 after | 3 | — |
| Isha | Night | 2 after (+ 4 before, recommended) | 4 | Witr: 3 rak‘ahs (wajib in the Hanafi school, strongly emphasised Sunnah in others) |
The Sunnah counts above follow the common Hanafi practice in India; other schools count some differently.
How to pray two rak‘ahs (for example, Fajr)
Stand facing the Qibla
Stand on a clean place, facing the Qibla, with the body covered. Make the intention in your heart for the prayer you are about to pray (for example, two rak‘ahs of Fajr).
Takbir al-Ihram
Raise your hands and say “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest). The prayer has now begun — from here, no talking, eating or looking around.
Qiyam — standing
Place your hands on your chest or below the navel (this differs by school). Recite the opening supplication (thana), “A‘udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim”, “Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim”, then Surah Al-Fatiha, then another surah or a few verses.
Ruku‘ — bowing
Say “Allahu Akbar” and bow, back straight and hands on the knees. Say “Subhana Rabbiyal ‘Azim” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great) three times.
Qawmah — standing up
Rise saying “Sami‘ Allahu liman hamidah” (Allah hears the one who praises Him), and when upright, “Rabbana lakal hamd” (Our Lord, to You is all praise).
Sujud — first prostration
Say “Allahu Akbar” and prostrate with forehead, nose, both palms, both knees and the toes of both feet on the ground. Say “Subhana Rabbiyal A‘la” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) three times.
Jalsah — sitting
Say “Allahu Akbar” and sit up briefly. It is Sunnah to say “Rabbighfir li” (My Lord, forgive me).
Sujud — second prostration
Say “Allahu Akbar” and prostrate again exactly as before. This completes one rak‘ah.
Second rak‘ah
Stand up saying “Allahu Akbar” and repeat Al-Fatiha, a surah, ruku‘ and both prostrations.
Tashahhud — sitting
After the second rak‘ah, sit and recite At-Tahiyyat. In a three- or four-rak‘ah prayer, stand up after At-Tahiyyat for the remaining rak‘ahs (in these, only Al-Fatiha is recited in the standing).
Salawat and dua
In the final sitting, after At-Tahiyyat recite the Salawat Ibrahimiyyah (Durood Ibrahim) and a short dua.
Taslim — ending the prayer
Turn your face to the right saying “As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah”, then to the left saying the same. The prayer is complete.
Things that vary — all are valid
Hands in standing
Below the navel (Hanafi), on the chest (Shafi‘i, many Hanbali), or by the sides (Maliki).
“Ameen” after Al-Fatiha
Said quietly (Hanafi) or aloud in loud prayers (Shafi‘i, Hanbali).
Raising the hands
Only at the opening takbir (Hanafi, Maliki), or also before and after ruku‘ (Shafi‘i, Hanbali).
Women’s posture
Some schools teach women a more compact posture in ruku‘ and sujud; others make no difference.
Common questions
How many times a day do Muslims pray?
Five obligatory prayers every day: Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha, at times set by the position of the sun.
What breaks wudu?
Using the toilet, passing wind, deep sleep while lying down, losing consciousness and bleeding (in some schools). After any of these, make wudu again before praying.
What if I forget how many rak‘ahs I prayed?
Build on the number you are sure of (the lower number), complete the prayer and make the two prostrations of forgetfulness (sajdah sahw) before or after the salam, as your school teaches.
Can I pray if I am travelling?
Yes. Travellers may shorten four-rak‘ah prayers to two (qasr) and, in many schools, combine Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha. Ask a scholar for the distance and duration rules of your school.
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.
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