Salah Guides:
Learn How to Pray
Begin with the basics of Islamic prayer, explore the five daily prayers, and learn about prayers for special occasions. Find your starting point and take the next step with confidence.
Learning to pray for the first time?
Salah, also spelled salat and known as namaz, is the Islamic ritual prayer. Our beginner’s overview introduces the preparation, movements and daily prayers before you move on to a detailed guide for your tradition.
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Prepare for prayerUnderstand purification, prayer times and facing the Qibla.
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Understand a rak‘ahGet familiar with standing, bowing and prostrating.
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Know the five daily prayersLearn their names and the number of obligatory units.
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Follow a clear traditionLearn detailed practice with the guidance of your school.
The five daily prayers
These are the obligatory units of the full daily prayers. Start with the beginner’s overview while individual prayer guides are being prepared.
Fajr
2obligatory rak‘ahsGuide coming soon
Dhuhr
4obligatory rak‘ahsGuide coming soon
Asr
4obligatory rak‘ahsGuide coming soon
Maghrib
3obligatory rak‘ahsGuide coming soon
Isha
4obligatory rak‘ahsGuide coming soon
These counts exclude additional prayers. Shortening prayers during travel has separate conditions and rulings.
Prayers for different occasions
Islamic prayer also includes congregational, night and other prayers for particular circumstances. Their status and details vary; they are not all optional or interchangeable.
Istikhara prayer
Learn about the prayer and supplication for seeking Allah’s guidance when considering a decision.
Guide coming soon
Jumu‘ah prayer
An introduction to Friday congregational prayer, the sermon, and the guidance on who should attend.
Guide coming soon
Witr prayer
Understand Witr and why its legal status, number of units and method need to be explained within a named school.
Guide coming soon
Tahajjud prayer
Explore voluntary night worship, with guidance on timing, preparation and the prayer’s practice.
Guide coming soon
Eid prayer
Learn about the prayers of Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, including the additional takbirs and congregational practice.
Guide coming soon
Janazah prayer
An introduction to funeral prayer and its distinct sequence, which differs from the daily prayers.
Guide coming soon
Why do prayer methods differ?
Schools of Islamic law share many aspects of prayer while differing on certain movements, recitations and rulings. A helpful guide makes its basis clear.
- Hanafi
- Shafi‘i
- Maliki
- Hanbali
- Ja‘fari
These are examples, not a complete list. Ja‘fari guides should also identify the marja‘ whose rulings they follow. If you are unsure where to begin, ask a knowledgeable teacher or your local mosque.
Useful words to know
- Salah / Salat / Namaz
- Names used for the Islamic ritual prayer in different languages and spellings.
- Rak‘ah
- A unit of prayer. Daily prayers consist of a prescribed number of these units.
- Wudu
- Ritual ablution. Its method and the circumstances that invalidate it are explained within each school.
- Qibla
- The direction of the Kaaba in Makkah, which Muslims face in prayer.
- Madhhab
- A school of Islamic jurisprudence that provides a framework for detailed religious practice.
Questions about learning salah
Where should a complete beginner start?
Begin with the guide to learning salah. It introduces preparation, the movements of a rak‘ah, and the five daily prayers. Then learn the complete recitations and sequence through a guide or teacher from the tradition you follow.
Are all the prayers on this page obligatory?
No. This page groups prayers by topic, not by a single legal status. The daily prayers are obligatory, while the rulings for other prayers depend on the prayer, the person’s circumstances and the school followed.
Is making du‘a the same as performing salah?
Du‘a means supplication: asking Allah and calling upon Him. Salah is ritual prayer with a prescribed form. Supplications can be part of salah, but making a du‘a by itself is not the same as performing a prescribed prayer.
Does every prayer use the same sequence?
No. Learning the daily prayers provides a foundation, but other prayers can have a different structure. Use a guide specific to the prayer you want to learn.
How do I know which prayer time to use?
Check a timetable for your location, date and relevant calculation settings. If you are unsure which settings your community follows, consult your local mosque.
About these guides
This hub helps you find a learning path. It is not a complete prayer manual or a substitute for guidance on a personal religious question. Introductory references:
- Muslim Hands — How to Perform Salah (Hanafi).
- Office of Ayatollah al-Sistani — The Obligatory Daily Prayers (Ja‘fari).
- The Amman Message — The Three Points (recognition of Islamic legal schools).