Complete Visual Salah Guide
How to Pray in Islam
Learn to perform Salah step-by-step with clear visuals showing each position and exactly what to recite. Made easy for new Muslims, young learners, and beginners.
Last updated: February 2026
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The 5 Daily Prayers
Muslims pray 5 obligatory (fard) prayers each day. Each prayer has a specific time window and number of rakahs (units/cycles).
Dawn (before sunrise)
Rakahs
Sunnah
2 before
Midday (after sun passes zenith)
Rakahs
Sunnah
4 before, 2 after
Afternoon
Rakahs
Sunnah
None obligatory
Just after sunset
Rakahs
Sunnah
2 after
Night (after twilight disappears)
Rakahs
Sunnah
2 after, + Witr
What is a Rakah? A rakah is one complete cycle of standing, bowing, and prostrating. For example, Fajr has 2 rakahs, meaning you repeat the cycle twice.
Visual Step-by-Step Guide
Follow along with each position and what to recite. This shows how to pray 2 rakahs (like Fajr prayer).
For 3 or 4 rakah prayers, repeat the standing-to-sujud cycle for each additional rakah.
Preparation
التحضير
Before Prayer
Stand clean, facing the Qibla (direction of Kaaba)
What to do:
- ➤Perform Wudu (ablution) - you must be clean
- ➤Face the Qibla (direction of the Kaaba in Mecca)
- ➤Make intention (niyyah) silently in your heart for the specific prayer
Takbiratul Ihram
تكبيرة الإحرام
Standing - Hands Raised
Raise both hands to ear level, palms facing forward
What to do:
- ➤Raise your hands up to your ears
- ➤Say "Allahu Akbar" — this begins your prayer
- ➤Nothing in the world should distract you now
Recite:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the Greatest
Qiyam (Standing)
القيام
Standing - Hands on Chest
Place right hand over left on your chest, eyes looking at place of prostration
What to do:
- ➤Place right hand over left hand on your chest
- ➤Look down at where you will prostrate
- ➤Recite the opening dua (optional but recommended)
- ➤Then recite Surah Al-Fatihah (REQUIRED in every rakah)
- ➤Then recite another short Surah (in 1st & 2nd rakah)
Recite: Opening Dua (optional)
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
SubHânaka Allâhumma wa biHamdika, wa tabâRakasmuka, wa ta'âlâ jadduka, wa lâ ilâha ghayruk
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.
Then: Surah Al-Fatihah (REQUIRED)
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
Bismillâhir-RaHmânir-RaHeem. Al-Hamdu lillâhi Rabbil-'âlameen. Ar-RaHmânir-RaHeem. Mâliki yawmid-deen. Iyyâka na'budu wa iyyâka nasta'een. Ihdinâ-S-SirâTal-mustaqeem. SirâTal-ladheena an'amta 'alayhim, ghayril-maghDoobi 'alayhim wa laD-Dâlleen. (Âmeen)
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds...
Ruku (Bowing)
الركوع
Bowing - Hands on Knees
Bow from waist, back straight and parallel to ground, hands gripping knees
What to do:
- ➤Say "Allahu Akbar" while going down
- ➤Bow from the waist — keep your back straight
- ➤Place hands firmly on your knees
- ➤Head should be in line with your back
- ➤Say the dhikr 3 times (minimum once)
Recite:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
SubHâna Rabbiyal-'aZeem
Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great
Say this 3 times
Rise from Ruku
القومة
Standing Upright Again
Rise to full standing position, hands by your sides briefly
What to do:
- ➤Rise back to standing while saying the first part
- ➤Once standing, say the second part
- ➤Stand completely straight before going down to sujud
Recite:
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Sami'allâhu liman Hamidah
Allah hears whoever praises Him
Then:
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Rabbanâ wa lakal-Hamd
Our Lord, to You is all praise
First Sujud (Prostration)
السجود
Prostrating on the Ground
7 body parts touch the ground: forehead + nose, both palms, both knees, toes of both feet
What to do:
- ➤Say "Allahu Akbar" while going down
- ➤Place knees down first, then hands, then forehead
- ➤7 body parts must touch the ground
- ➤Elbows raised off the ground (not resting on floor)
- ➤Say the dhikr 3 times (minimum once)
- ➤This is the closest you are to Allah — make dua here!
Recite:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَىٰ
SubHâna Rabbiyal-A'lâ
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High
Say this 3 times
Sitting Between Sujud
الجلسة بين السجدتين
Sitting on the Ground
Sit on your left foot, right foot upright with toes pointing toward Qibla
What to do:
- ➤Say "Allahu Akbar" and rise to sitting
- ➤Sit briefly on your left foot
- ➤Right foot upright, toes pointing to Qibla
- ➤Place hands on your thighs/knees
- ➤Ask Allah for forgiveness
Recite:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbighfir lee, Rabbighfir lee
My Lord, forgive me. My Lord, forgive me.
Second Sujud
السجود الثاني
Prostrating Again
Same position as the first prostration
What to do:
- ➤Say "Allahu Akbar" and prostrate again
- ➤Same position as the first Sujud
- ➤Say the same dhikr 3 times
- ➤This completes ONE rakah!
Recite:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَىٰ
SubHâna Rabbiyal-A'lâ
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High
Say this 3 times
Second Rakah
الركعة الثانية
Standing Again
Rise to standing for the next rakah
What to do:
- ➤Say "Allahu Akbar" and rise to standing
- ➤Repeat Steps 3-8 for the second rakah
- ➤Recite Al-Fatihah + another Surah while standing
- ➤Bow (Ruku), Rise, Prostrate (Sujud), Sit, Prostrate again
Repeat the same cycle: Standing → Ruku → Rise → Sujud → Sit → Sujud
Tashahhud (Final Sitting)
التشهد
Sitting for Testimony
Sit with right index finger pointing forward, left hand on left knee
What to do:
- ➤After the last Sujud, sit down (don't stand up)
- ➤Right index finger may point during the shahada
- ➤Recite At-Tahiyyat (testimony of faith)
- ➤Then recite Salawat (Durood Ibrahim) on the Prophet ﷺ
Recite: At-Tahiyyat
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
At-taHiyyâtu lillâhi waS-Salawâtu waT-Tayyibât. As-salâmu 'alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa raHmatullâhi wa barakâtuh. As-salâmu 'alaynâ wa 'alâ 'ibâdillâhiS-SâliHeen. Ash-hadu an lâ ilâha illallâh, wa ash-hadu anna MuHammadan 'abduhu wa Rasooluh.
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.
Then: Salawat / Durood Ibrahim
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Allâhumma Salli 'alâ MuHammadin wa 'alâ âli MuHammad, kamâ Sallayta 'alâ Ibrâheema wa 'alâ âli Ibrâheem, innaka Hameedun Majeed.
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
Salam (Ending the Prayer)
التسليم
Turning Head Right & Left
While sitting, turn your head to the right, then to the left
What to do:
- ➤Turn your head to the RIGHT and say the salam
- ➤Then turn your head to the LEFT and say the salam again
- ➤Your prayer is now complete!
- ➤You can now make personal dua in any language
Recite:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salâmu 'alaykum wa raHmatullâh
Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you
Say this twice — once turning right, once turning left
For 3 or 4 Rakah Prayers:
- ➤After the 2nd rakah Tashahhud, say "Allahu Akbar" and stand up for the 3rd rakah.
- ➤In 3rd & 4th rakahs, only recite Al-Fatihah (no additional Surah needed).
- ➤After the final rakah, sit for the full Tashahhud + Salawat, then end with Salam.
Quick Reference Card
A simplified overview you can refer to while learning.
Standing
Al-FâtiHah
Bowing
SubHâna Rabbiyal-'aZeem
Prostrating
SubHâna Rabbiyal-A'lâ
Sitting
At-TaHiyyât
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I pray in English if I don't know Arabic?▼
The obligatory parts of prayer (like Al-Fatihah) should be recited in Arabic. However, you can learn using transliteration while memorizing. Personal duas after prayer can be in any language.
What if I make a mistake during prayer?▼
Minor mistakes don't invalidate your prayer. If you forget something, you can perform "Sujud al-Sahw" (prostration of forgetfulness) before or after the salam.
How do I know which direction is Qibla?▼
Use a compass app on your phone, search "Qibla direction" on Google Maps, or use a dedicated Qibla finder app. The Qibla is the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca.
What should I do if I miss a prayer?▼
Make it up as soon as you remember. This is called Qada. Pray it the same way, but make the intention for the missed prayer.
Continue Learning
From the Blog
Practice Al-Fatihah with Audio
Al-Fatihah is required in every rakah. Learn it with our audio-synced transliteration.
Learn Al-Fatihah