How to Pray Salah:
A Beginner’s Guide
Learn where to begin with Islamic prayer. Get ready for salah, understand a rak‘ah, and discover the five daily prayers—one clear step at a time.
New to prayer? Start here. This overview introduces the basics; detailed practice follows your school of Islamic law.
Before you begin your prayer
A little preparation helps you approach salah with care and attention. These are the basics to check before you start.
-
Check the prayer time
Each daily prayer has its own time. Check the prayer schedule for your location before you begin. Explore prayer times.
-
Prepare for prayer with purification
Make sure you have valid wudu. Some circumstances require ghusl; tayammum has its own conditions. Follow the guidance of your school.
-
Check your clothing and prayer space
Wear clothing that meets the covering requirements for prayer, and check that your body, clothing and place of prayer are ritually clean.
-
Face the Qibla and make your intention
Face the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah and know which prayer you intend to offer for Allah. Read about finding the Qibla.
The five daily prayers
The numbers below show the obligatory rak‘ahs for a person praying the full, unshortened daily prayers. Select a prayer for a short introduction.
Midday prayerDhuhr4obligatory rak‘ahsAbout Dhuhr
Afternoon prayerAsr4obligatory rak‘ahsAbout Asr
Evening prayerMaghrib3obligatory rak‘ahsAbout Maghrib
Night prayerIsha4obligatory rak‘ahsAbout Isha
Sunnah and other additional prayers are not included in these numbers. Travel and other specific circumstances have separate rulings.
What is a rak‘ah?
A rak‘ah is one unit of prayer. It includes standing and recitation, bowing, and two prostrations. Here is an overview of those movements for someone able to perform them.
Stand · Qiyam
Stand facing the Qibla. The prayer begins with the opening takbir, “Allahu akbar,” followed by the recitation prescribed for that rak‘ah.
Bow · Ruku
Bow and recite the words of remembrance taught in your prayer guide. Give the posture its proper stillness.
Stand upright again
Return from bowing to an upright position before moving into prostration.
Prostrate · First sujud
Lower yourself into the first prostration and recite its words of remembrance.
Sit between prostrations
Rise from the first prostration and pause in a seated position before the second.
Prostrate again · Second sujud
Perform the second prostration. What follows depends on the rak‘ah: continuing the prayer or sitting for the prescribed recitation.
A closer look at each prayer
Start by learning the names and obligatory units. Then learn the full sequence for the prayer you want to practise.
Fajr
Fajr is the dawn prayer, before sunrise. Its two obligatory rak‘ahs make it a useful starting point for learning a complete prayer sequence. Any additional prayer before Fajr is separate from these two units.
Dhuhr
Dhuhr is the midday prayer, after the sun has passed its zenith. Its full obligatory prayer has four rak‘ahs. A complete guide explains what to recite in the later units and when to sit.
Asr
Asr is the afternoon prayer and has four obligatory rak‘ahs when prayed in full. Its starting time differs between calculation settings associated with different juristic opinions, so check the method used in your timetable.
Maghrib
Maghrib is the evening prayer after sunset. It has three obligatory rak‘ahs. Learn the transition from the second to the third unit and the final sitting using the guidance of your school.
Isha
Isha is the night prayer and has four obligatory rak‘ahs when prayed in full. Additional prayers, including Witr in Sunni practice, should be learned separately; their rulings depend on the school followed.
One prayer guide, a clear tradition
Muslims share the central practice of salah, while schools of Islamic law differ on some recitations, postures and rulings. A detailed guide should tell you which tradition it follows.
- Hanafi
- Shafi‘i
- Maliki
- Hanbali
- Ja‘fari
These are examples, not an exhaustive list. For Ja‘fari practice, the guidance of the relevant marja‘ should also be identified.
Do I need to learn every variation?
No. Begin with a coherent guide that follows the tradition you are learning. You can explore differences later, once the basic sequence is familiar.
What if I do not know my school?
Ask a knowledgeable teacher or your local mosque which guidance they teach. Your country or language alone does not determine which school you follow.
Why might someone beside me pray differently?
Recognised differences can affect details such as raising the hands or particular recitations. A difference in movement alone is not enough to judge someone’s prayer.
Common questions about learning salah
Are salah, salat and namaz the same thing?
In this guide, all three refer to the Islamic ritual prayer. Salah and salat are common English spellings of the Arabic word; namaz is used in Persian, Urdu and other languages.
Should I learn two rak‘ahs first?
Learning a complete two-rak‘ah prayer is a practical first lesson. You will still need to learn the additional units and sittings for three- and four-rak‘ah prayers.
Can transliteration help me learn the recitations?
Yes. It can help you begin, but English letters cannot represent every Arabic sound precisely. Learn with reliable audio and, where possible, a teacher who can help with pronunciation.
What if I cannot stand for prayer?
Prayer has specific provisions for people who cannot stand or perform other movements. Follow a guide for your circumstances and school rather than forcing a posture you are unable to perform.
Does this overview cover praying behind an imam?
No. It introduces the daily prayers and their movements. Congregational prayer has additional guidance, including when to follow the imam and what to recite.
Prepare for your next prayer
Find prayer times for your location and learn how to identify the direction of the Qibla.
Sources and scope
This page introduces prayer and its basic structure. Detailed rulings should be learned within a named school. The references below describe their own traditions.
- Muslim Hands: How to Perform Salah — a Hanafi guide.
- Office of Ayatollah al-Sistani: The Obligatory Daily Prayers — daily rak‘ah counts and the travel exception.
- Office of Ayatollah al-Sistani: Components and Obligations of Prayer — Ja‘fari guidance on prayer components and physical ability.
- The Amman Message: The Three Points — recognition of Islamic legal schools.