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Salah Guide

Guide to performing Salah step by step with correct method and common mistakes explained

Step by Step

How to Pray Salah

Tap a position below to learn how to perform it and exactly what to recite at each stage.

1
Qiyam
2
Ruku
3
Sujood
5
Tashahhud
5
Salam

Qiyam (Standing)

How to Do
  • 1
    Stand facing the Qiblah.
  • 2
    Place your feet parallel.
  • 3
    Raise your hands to your ears saying “Allahu Akbar”.
  • 4
    Place your right hand over the left on your chest.
  • 5
    Look down at the place of prostration.
Common Mistakes
  • Not standing calmly
  • Wrong Qiblah direction
  • Incorrect hand placement
  • Looking away from focus point
What to Recite

In order, while standing

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

TransliterationAllahu Akbar
TranslationAllah is the Greatest

سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ

TransliterationSubhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk.
TranslationGlory and praise be to You, O Allah. Blessed is Your name and exalted is Your majesty. There is no god but You.

أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ ۞ بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

TransliterationA'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim. Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.
TranslationI seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ۝١ الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ۝٢ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ۝٣ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ۝٤ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ۝٥ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ۝٦ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ ۝٧

TransliterationBismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim. Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil-alamin. Ar-Rahmanir-Rahim. Maliki yawmid-din. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in. Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim. Siratal-ladhina an'amta alayhim, ghayril-maghdubi alayhim wa lad-dallin.
TranslationIn the name of Allah... All praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds... Guide us to the straight path. (Then say “Ameen”.)

قُلْ هُوَ اللّٰهُ أَحَدٌ ۝١ اللّٰهُ الصَّمَدُ ۝٢ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ۝٣ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ ۝٤

TransliterationQul huwa Allahu ahad. Allahus-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.
TranslationSay: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent. (Surah Al-Ikhlas — any surah may be recited.)

Ruku (Bowing)

How to Do
  • 1
    Say "Allahu Akbar" and bow.
  • 2
    Keep your back straight.
  • 3
    Place both hands on your knees.
  • 4
    Keep your head aligned with your back.
  • 5
    Remain still while reciting.
Common Mistakes
  • Back not straight
  • Hands off the knees
  • Head too high or low
  • Rushing the position
What to Recite

In order, while bowing

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

TransliterationAllahu Akbar
TranslationAllah is the Greatest (say while moving into bowing).

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

TransliterationSubhana Rabbiyal Azeem (repeat 3 times)
TranslationGlory be to my Lord, the Most Great.

سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

TransliterationSami' Allahu liman hamidah. Rabbana wa lakal-hamd.
TranslationAllah hears those who praise Him. Our Lord, all praise is for You. (Say while standing up straight.)

Sujood (Prostration)

How to Do
  • 1
    Go into sujood after saying Allahu Akbar.
  • 2
    Forehead and nose should touch the ground.
  • 3
    Palms placed beside the head on the ground.
  • 4
    Elbows should stay raised off the floor.
  • 5
    Stay still and recite the dhikr.
Common Mistakes
  • Forehead not touching ground properly
  • Elbows resting on the floor
  • Rushing the sujood
  • Feet not in correct position
What to Recite

In order, in prostration

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

TransliterationAllahu Akbar
TranslationAllah is the Greatest (say while going down into prostration).

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

TransliterationSubhana Rabbiyal A'la (repeat 3 times)
TranslationGlory be to my Lord, the Most High.

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

TransliterationRabbighfir li
TranslationMy Lord, forgive me. (Said while sitting briefly between the two prostrations.)

Tashahhud (Sitting)

How to Do
  • 1
    Sit calmly on your left foot, keeping the right foot upright.
  • 2
    Place both hands on your thighs.
  • 3
    Recite the Tashahhud (At-Tahiyyat).
  • 4
    Raise the index finger at “illa Allah” to affirm Tawheed.
  • 5
    In the final sitting, also recite Durood and a closing dua.
Common Mistakes
  • Not sitting calmly and still
  • Keeping the finger raised the whole time
  • Forgetting Durood in the final sitting
  • Rushing through the words
What to Recite

In order, while sitting

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

TransliterationAt-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu alayna wa ala ibadillahis-salihin. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh.
TranslationAll greetings, prayers and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. (Recited in every sitting.)

اللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

TransliterationAllahumma salli ala Muhammadin wa ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta 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.
TranslationO Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and his family, as You blessed Ibrahim and his family. You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. (Recited in the final sitting only.)

رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

TransliterationRabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-akhirati hasanatan wa qina adhaban-nar.
TranslationOur Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire. (Recited before the closing Salam.)

Salam (Closing)

How to Do
  • 1
    Remain seated after completing the final Tashahhud.
  • 2
    Turn your face to the right saying the Salam.
  • 3
    Then turn your face to the left saying the Salam again.
  • 4
    This completes your Salah.
Common Mistakes
  • Turning the head before finishing the words
  • Saying Salam only to one side
  • Standing up immediately without calmness
What to Recite

To end the prayer

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ

TransliterationAs-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah
TranslationPeace and mercy of Allah be upon you. (Turn your face to the right.)

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ

TransliterationAs-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah
TranslationPeace and mercy of Allah be upon you. (Then turn your face to the left — this completes the Salah.)
Units of Prayer

Rak'ah Breakdown of Each Salah

How many Fard, Sunnah, Nafl and Witr in each prayer — and the order to pray them.

Fard (Obligatory) Sunnah Mu'akkadah (Emphasised) Sunnah Ghayr Mu'akkadah Nafl (Optional) Witr (Wajib)
Fajr
Total: 4 rak'ahs
  1. 2Sunnah Mu'akkadah Pray first
  2. 2Fard Pray second

The 2 Sunnah of Fajr are highly emphasised — pray them before the Fard.

Dhuhr
Total: 12 rak'ahs
  1. 4Sunnah Mu'akkadah Pray first
  2. 4Fard Pray second
  3. 2Sunnah Mu'akkadah Pray third
  4. 2Nafl Optional
Asr
Total: 8 rak'ahs
  1. 4Sunnah Ghayr Mu'akkadah Pray first
  2. 4Fard Pray second

The 4 Sunnah before Asr are non-emphasised (optional but rewarded).

Maghrib
Total: 7 rak'ahs
  1. 3Fard Pray first
  2. 2Sunnah Mu'akkadah Pray second
  3. 2Nafl Optional
Isha
Total: 17 rak'ahs
  1. 4Sunnah Ghayr Mu'akkadah Pray first
  2. 4Fard Pray second
  3. 2Sunnah Mu'akkadah Pray third
  4. 2Nafl Optional
  5. 3Witr (Wajib) Pray after Isha
  6. 2Nafl Optional
Jumu'ah (Friday)
Replaces Dhuhr
  1. 4Sunnah before Pray first
  2. 2Fard (with Khutbah) In congregation
  3. 4Sunnah after Pray third
  4. 2Sunnah Pray last
Good to Know

Rak'ah counts shown follow the widely-used Hanafi arrangement; numbers of Sunnah/Nafl may differ slightly between schools of thought.