How to Pray — Step by Step

Clean the body

• Say Bismillah
• Wash both hands 3×
• Rinse mouth & nose 3×
• Wash the whole face 3×

Arms, head, feet

• Wash right then left arm to the elbow 3×
• Wipe the head once, ears included
• Wash right then left foot to the ankle 3×

Dress & face

• Wear clean, covering clothes
• Face the qiblah (direction of the Ka'bah)
• Pray on a clean place
• Wudu's seal: "Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah…"

الفجر

Fajr · 2 rak'ahs

Before sunrise — the prayer that splits the night with light.

الظهر

Dhuhr · 4 rak'ahs

After the sun passes its zenith — the midday pause.

العصر

Asr · 4 rak'ahs

Late afternoon — "the middle prayer" Allah singled out.

المغرب

Maghrib · 3 rak'ahs

Just after sunset — three rak'ahs as the day closes.

العشاء

Isha · 4 rak'ahs

After twilight — the prayer that seals the day in worship.

وِتْر

Witr · odd rak'ahs

The beloved odd prayer that seals the night after Isha.

1 · Niyyah & Takbir

Stand facing the qiblah. Intend the prayer in your heart, raise your hands to your ears and say: اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ — "Allahu Akbar". The world ends here; the prayer begins.

2 · Standing (Qiyam)

Place your right hand over your left on your chest. Recite Surah Al-Fatihah fully, then any surah you know (e.g. Al-Ikhlas). This is the heart of every rak'ah.

3 · Bowing (Ruku')

Saying "Allahu Akbar", bow with a flat back, hands on knees, and say three times: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ — "Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great."

4 · Rising

Rise saying سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ, then standing upright: رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ — "Our Lord, and to You is all praise."

5 · Prostration (Sujood)

Saying "Allahu Akbar", go down — forehead, nose, palms, knees, toes all touching the ground. The closest you will ever be to Allah. Say three times: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى.

6 · Sitting Between Sujoods

Sit up saying "Allahu Akbar" and say: رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي — "My Lord, forgive me." Then prostrate a second time. One rak'ah is complete.

7 · The Final Sitting

In the last rak'ah, after the second sujood, sit and recite the Tashahhud: "At-tahiyyatu lillah…", the salawat on the Prophet ﷺ, and du'a.

8 · Tasleem

Turn your face right saying السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ, then left — the same. The prayer is complete. Say your adhkar and breathe.