How to Pray Salah in Islam?

What Did the Prophet (ﷺ) Say About How to Pray?

One of the most famous hadiths about prayer says:

“Pray as you have seen me praying.”

Sahih al-Bukhari: 631

This simple instruction means that every Muslim should strive to pray just as the Prophet (ﷺ) did, following his actions, recitations, and manners during Salah.

Another narration from Sahih Muslim (390a) describes the opening of prayer:

“When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) stood up for prayer, he raised his hands to the level of his shoulders and then said ‘Allahu Akbar.’”

These hadiths are the foundation of how Muslims perform Salah today.

Number of Raka’āt in Each Prayer

Understanding the number of raka’āt helps you structure each prayer correctly.

“Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed times.”  

(Al-Nisaa: 103)

Purification Before Offering Salah(Taharah)

Cleanliness and purity are essential for Salah, the second pillar of Islam. Allah says:

“Truly, Allah loves those who turn to Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves.”  

(Al-Baqarah: 222)

Before prayer:

1. Ensure your body, clothes, and place of prayer are clean.
2. Perform Wudu’ (Ablution), a ritual washing before Salah.
3. Make the intention (Niyyah) in your heart to purify yourself for prayer.

How to Perform Wudu’ (Ablution)

The Prophet (ﷺ) said:

“The prayer of any one of you who has invalidated his purification is not accepted unless he performs Wudu.”

(Bukhari)

Follow these 10 steps:

1. Say “Bismillah” (In the name of Allah).
2. Wash both hands up to the wrists (3 times).
3. Rinse mouth (3 times).
4. Clean your nose by sniffing water and blowing it out (3 times).
5. Wash face from forehead to chin (3 times).
6. Wash arms up to and including elbows (3 times, right first).
7. Wipe the head once with wet hands.
8. Clean ears with wet fingers (once).
9. Wash feet, including ankles (3 times, right first).
10. Recite the Shahadah and supplication after Wudu’:

“Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah… Allahumma ij‘alni minat-tawwabeen…”
 (I bear witness there is no god but Allah... O Allah, make me among those who repent and purify themselves.)

“Whoever performs Wudu’ well, then says this du’a, the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him.”

(Muslim)

Before Starting Salah

Before you begin, make sure your prayer is valid by fulfilling these conditions:

1. Intention (Niyyah) – Silently decide in your heart which prayer you are offering (e.g., “I intend to pray 4 raka’at of Dhuhr for Allah”).
2. Purity (Taharah) – Perform Wudu (ablution), wash your hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, wipe your head, and wash your feet.
3. Cleanliness – Ensure your body, clothes, and prayer area are free from impurities (najasah).
4. Proper Dress 
• Men: cover from navel to knees (better to wear clean, modest clothes).
• Women: cover the whole body except the face and hands.
5. Face the Qiblah – Stand facing the direction of the Kaaba (Makkah).
6. Focus Your Heart – Remove distractions; stand calmly and think of Allah.

How to Perform Salah (Step-by-Step Guide)

Below is a simple explanation for one unit (raka’ah). Each prayer has 2, 3, or 4 raka’āt depending on which prayer it is.

1. Takbir al-Ihram | Starting the Prayer

• Stand straight, facing Qiblah.
• Raise both hands to shoulder or ear level.
• Say “اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ” “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest).
• Place your right hand over your left hand (on the chest or below it, depending on your school of thought).
• Keep your eyes focused on the place of prostration.

2. Qiyam | Standing and Recitation

While standing:

• Then place your right hand over your left on your chest.
• Recite:

أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

A‘udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajeem.

“I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.”

Then:

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Raheem.

"In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.”

Recite Surah Al-Fatiha (the Opening chapter).

الْـحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Alhamdu lillahi rabbil ‘alamin

"All praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds."

الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Ar-Rahmanir-Raheem

"The Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate."

مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

Maliki yawmid-deen

"Master of the Day of Judgment."

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

Iyyaka na‘budu wa iyyaka nasta‘een

"You alone we worship, You alone we seek for help."

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Ihdinas-siratal mustaqeem

"Guide us to the straight path."

صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

Sirat alladhina an‘amta ‘alayhim ghayril maghdubi ‘alayhim walad-dallin

“The path of those You have blessed, not those who have earned Your anger or gone astray.”

آمِين — Ameen (“O Allah, accept our prayer.”)

Then recite any short surah or verses from the Qur’an (like Surah Al-Ikhlas or any other short surah).

قُلْ هُوَ اللّٰهُ أَحَدٌ

Qul huwa Allahu Ahad — Say: He is Allah, the One.

اللّٰهُ الصَّمَدُ

Allahu-s-Samad — Allah, the Eternal Refuge.

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

Lam yalid wa lam yoolad — He neither begets nor is born.

وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad — And there is none equal to Him.

After finishing, pause briefly before bowing.

3. Ruku’ | Bowing

• Say “Allahu Akbar” and bow down.
• Keep your back straight and hands on your knees.
• Recite at least three times:

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem

Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great

Then rise back up, saying:

سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

Sami’allahu liman hamidah 

Allah hears the one who praises Him

 رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ 

Rabbana wa laka-l-hamd 

Our Lord, to You belongs all praise

4. Sujud | Prostration

• Say “Allahu Akbar” and go down to prostrate.
• Touch your forehead, nose, both palms, knees, and toes on the ground.
• Recite three times:

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى

Subhana Rabbiyal A’la

Glory be to my Lord, the Most High

Then rise briefly, sitting (called Jalsah).

5. Sitting Between Two Sujuds 

Sit and recite:

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

Rabbighfir li — “O Allah, forgive me.” (3 times)

• Say “Allahu Akbar” again and perform the second prostration in the same way.
• Then go into the second sujud, repeating the same dhikr.
• This completes one raka’ah.

6. Standing for Next Raka’ah

After the second prostration, stand up saying “Allahu Akbar” to begin the next raka’ah.

Repeat steps ② to ⑤ again.

7. Sitting for Tashahhud 

After completing your last raka’ah, sit calmly with your right foot upright and your left foot under you. Recite:

اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِينَ. أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ.

Transliteration (Pronunciation):

At-tahiyyātu lillāhi was-salawātu wat-tayyibāt.
As-salāmu ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh.
As-salāmu ‘alaynā wa ‘alā ‘ibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn.
Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illallāh,
wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan ‘abduhū wa rasūluh.

English Meaning:

"All greetings, prayers, and pure words 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 worthy of worship except Allah, And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger."

Then recite Durood Ibrahim (Salutations to the Prophet ﷺ) and any dua you wish to make.

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.

Transliteration (Pronunciation):

Allāhumma ṣalli ‘alā Muḥammadin wa ‘alā āli Muḥammad,
kamā ṣallayta ‘alā Ibrāhīma wa ‘alā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik ‘alā Muḥammadin wa ‘alā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ‘alā Ibrāhīma wa ‘alā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd.

English Meaning:

"O Allah, send Your mercy upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent mercy upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.

O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Most Glorious."

8. Ending the Prayer (Taslim)

To finish the prayer:

• Turn your head to the right and say: 

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰه

“Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah”

• Then turn to the left and repeat the same words.

Your prayer is now complete.

After Salah

Recite the following for remembrance:

1. سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ – SubhanAllah (Glory be to Allah) – 33 times
2.  الْـحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ – Alhamdulillah (Praise be to Allah) – 33 times
3. اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ – Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) – 34 times

In conclusion, performing Salah is simple yet deeply meaningful when followed step by step. It begins with purification (Wudu), then standing with intention, reciting Surah Al-Fatiha and another surah, bowing in Ruku, prostrating in Sujud, and completing the prayer with Tashahhud, Salawat, and Tasleem. Each movement connects the heart to Allah, bringing peace, discipline, and blessings to a believer’s life.

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