How to Pray Salah: A Step-by-Step Guide for New Muslims

Welcome. If you have recently embraced Islam, learning Salah, the five daily prayers, may feel like a lot at once: new words, new movements and a new language. Take a breath. Millions of people have learned exactly what you are learning, one small step at a time. This guide walks you through the prayer from beginning to end in plain English.

What Is Salah?

Salah is the prayer that Muslims perform five times a day, facing the Ka'bah in Makkah. It is the second pillar of Islam, after the declaration of faith. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Pray as you have seen me praying" (Sahih al-Bukhari 631), so the steps below follow his way.

The Five Daily Prayers

A rak'ah is one unit of prayer. Exact prayer times change through the year; a local mosque timetable or a prayer-times app will show them for your city.

Before You Pray

• Wudu: perform the ritual washing. See our guide on how to perform wudu step by step.
• Cleanliness: your body, clothes and prayer place should be clean.
• Covering: men cover at least from the navel to the knees; women cover the whole body except the face and hands.
• Qiblah: face the direction of the Ka'bah. A compass app will show it.
• Intention: know in your heart which prayer you are about to pray.

How to Pray Two Rak'ahs, Step by Step

Fajr has two rak'ahs, so it is the easiest prayer to learn first. Every other prayer uses the same steps.

1. Stand and begin with "Allahu Akbar"

Stand facing the Qiblah, raise your hands to your shoulders or ears and say Allahu Akbar ("Allah is the Greatest"). Then place your right hand over your left on your chest or stomach, depending on what you have been taught.

2. Recite Al-Fatihah

Say A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajeem, Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Raheem, then recite Surah Al-Fatihah, which is recited in every rak'ah:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الرَّحْمَٰنِ 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﴾

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Raheem. Al-hamdu lillahi Rabbil-'alameen. Ar-Rahmanir-Raheem. Maliki yawmid-deen. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een. Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqeem. Siratal-ladheena an'amta 'alayhim, ghayril-maghdubi 'alayhim wa lad-dalleen.

Meaning: In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful. All praise is for Allah, Lord of all the worlds, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path, the path of those You have blessed, not of those who earned Your anger nor of those who went astray.

Then say Ameen. In the first two rak'ahs, recite a short Surah after Al-Fatihah, such as Surah Al-Ikhlas (Qul huwa Allahu ahad...).

3. Bow (Ruku')

Say Allahu Akbar and bow, with your back straight and hands on your knees. Say three times: Subhana Rabbiyal-'Adheem ("Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great").

4. Rise from bowing

Stand up straight saying Sami'allahu liman hamidah ("Allah hears the one who praises Him"), then, standing, say Rabbana wa lakal-hamd ("Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise").

5. Prostrate (Sujood)

Say Allahu Akbar and go down into prostration, with your forehead and nose, both palms, both knees and your toes touching the ground. Say three times: Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la ("Glory be to my Lord, the Most High").

6. Sit briefly, then prostrate again

Say Allahu Akbar and sit up, saying Rabbighfir li ("My Lord, forgive me"). Then say Allahu Akbar and make a second prostration, exactly like the first.

7. Stand for the second rak'ah

Say Allahu Akbar and stand up. Repeat steps 2 to 6: Al-Fatihah, a short Surah, bowing, rising and two prostrations.

8. Sit for the Tashahhud

After the second prostration of the second rak'ah, stay sitting and recite the Tashahhud:

At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-saliheen. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.

Then send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ (the Salawat Ibrahimiyyah):

Allahumma 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.

9. End with the salam

Turn your head to the right and say As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah, then to the left and say it again. Your prayer is complete.

Praying Three or Four Rak'ahs

For Maghrib (3) and Dhuhr, Asr and Isha (4), sit after the second rak'ah and recite only the Tashahhud, then stand up for the remaining rak'ahs. In the third and fourth rak'ahs, recite Al-Fatihah only, without another Surah. In the last rak'ah, sit for the full Tashahhud and Salawat, then end with the salam.

What to Say in Each Position

A Gentle Way to Start

1. Week 1: learn wudu and the movements of a two-rak'ah prayer.
2. Weeks 2–4: learn Al-Fatihah a few words at a time, and the words for bowing and prostration.
3. Weeks 4–8: learn the Tashahhud and Salawat, and a short Surah such as Al-Ikhlas.
4. Throughout: pray at the times as best you can, saying what you have learned so far.

Final Thoughts

Salah is a conversation with Allah, five times a day. You do not need to be perfect to begin; you only need to begin. Learn the steps one at a time, keep praying while you learn, and the words will settle in your heart. If you would like a patient teacher to guide you, our online Dua & Namaz course teaches wudu, Salah and everyday duas step by step, and our classes for adults welcome new Muslims at any level.