How to Pray Salah Step by Step – A Complete Guide for Beginners

Salah (prayer) is the second pillar of Islam and a fundamental act of worship. It is performed five times daily and serves as a direct link between the worshipper and Allah. This guide provides a detailed breakdown of each step in the Salah, ensuring clarity and understanding.

Prerequisites of Salah

Before commencing Salah, ensure the following:

• Purity (Wudu): Perform ablution to attain physical and spiritual cleanliness.

• Clean Attire and Place: Ensure your clothing and the place of prayer are clean.

• Proper Dress Code:

  • Men: Cover from the navel to the knees.

  • Women: Cover the entire body except the face and hands.

• Facing the Qiblah: Face the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah.

• Intention (Niyyah): Formulate the intention in your heart for the specific prayer.

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Each Rak’ah (unit of prayer) comprises specific actions and recitations:

1. Takbir al-Ihram (Opening Takbir)

 

• Arabic: اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

• Transliteration: Allāhu Akbar

• Translation: Allah is the Greatest

Raise both hands to the ears (men) or shoulders (women) and say the Takbir.

2. Qiyam (Standing)

• Opening Supplication:

  • Arabic: سُبْحَانَكَ اللّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

  • Transliteration: Subḥānaka Allāhumma wa bi ḥamdik, wa tabārakasmuk, wa ta‘ālā jadduk, wa lā ilāha ghayruk

  • Translation: Glory is to You, O Allah, and praise is Yours; blessed is Your Name and exalted is Your Majesty. There is no god but You.

• Surah Al-Fatiha:

  • Arabic: بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ * الْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ * الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ * مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ * إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ * اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ * صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ * غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

  • Transliteration: Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm. Al-ḥamdu lillāhi Rabbil-‘ālamīn. Ar-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm. Māliki Yawmid-Dīn. Iyyāka na‘budu wa iyyāka nasta‘īn. Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm. Ṣirāṭallaḏīna an‘amta ‘alayhim ġayril-maġḍūbi ‘alayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn.

  • Translation: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us on the Straight Path. The path of those who have received Your grace; not the path of those who have brought down wrath upon themselves, nor of those who have gone astray.

• Additional Surah: Recite any other Surah or verses from the Quran.

3. Ruku (Bowing)

• Arabic: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

• Transliteration: Subḥāna Rabbiyal-‘Aẓīm

• Translation: Glory is to my Lord, the Most Great

Bow down, placing your hands on your knees, keeping your back straight.

4. I’tidal (Standing after Ruku)

• Arabic: سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

• Transliteration: Sami‘a Allāhu liman ḥamidah

• Translation: Allah hears those who praise Him

• Arabic: رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ

• Transliteration: Rabbana lakal-ḥamd

• Translation: Our Lord, to You is all praise

Return to the standing position.

5. Sujood (Prostration)

• Arabic: سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

• Transliteration: Subḥāna Rabbiyal-A‘lā

• Translation: Glory is to my Lord, the Most High

Prostrate, placing forehead, nose, palms, knees, and toes on the ground.

6. Jalsah (Sitting between two Sujoods)

• Arabic: رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

• Transliteration: Rabbighfir lī

• Translation: My Lord, forgive me

Sit with your legs crossed and your hands on your thighs.

7. Second Sujood

Repeat step 5.

8. Transition to Next Rak’ah

Stand up for the next Rak’ah and repeat steps 2 to 7.

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Final Tashahhud and Tasleem

After completing the required Rak’ahs:

Tashahhud (Testimony)

• Arabic: التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

• Transliteration: Attaḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibātu, assalāmu ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh, assalāmu ‘alaynā wa ‘alā ‘ibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu an lā ilāha illallāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ‘abduhu wa rasūluh.

• Translation: All greetings, prayers, and pure words are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.

🌸 Salawat (Sending Blessings on the Prophet ﷺ)

After the Tashahhud, recite Salawat on the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ:

• Arabic:

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

• Transliteration:
  Allāhumma ṣalli ‘alā Muḥammadin wa ‘alā āli Muḥammad,
  kamā ṣallayta ‘alā Ibrāhīma wa ‘alā āli Ibrāhīm,
  innaka ḥamīdun majīd.
  Allāhumma bārik ‘alā Muḥammadin wa ‘alā āli Muḥammad,
  kamā bārakta ‘alā Ibrāhīma wa ‘alā āli Ibrāhīm,
  innaka ḥamīdun majīd.

• Translation:
  O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.
  O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.

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🕊️ Du’a Before Ending Salah (Optional)

Before ending the prayer of Salah, you may make personal supplications (du’a). A commonly recited one is:

• Arabic:

  رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً، وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

• Transliteration:
  Rabbana ātinā fī-d-dunyā ḥasanah wa fī-l-ākhirati ḥasanah wa qinā ‘adhāban-nār

• Translation:
  Our Lord, grant us goodness in this world and goodness in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

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🧭 Tasleem (Ending the Prayer)

To end the prayer:

• Turn your head to the right and say:

  السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

• Transliteration:
  As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa raḥmatullāh

• Translation:
  Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.

• Repeat turning to the left and say the same.

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🤲 Sunnah and Nafl Prayers (Optional but Rewarding)

In addition to the obligatory (fard) prayers, there are recommended Sunnah and Nafl (voluntary) prayers. For example:

• 2 Sunnah before Fajr

• 4 Sunnah before Dhuhr and two after

• 2 after Maghrib

• 2 after Isha

These increase closeness to Allah and bring extra rewards.

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🧵 Tips for Perfecting Your Salah

1. Pray on time: Salah at its fixed times is beloved to Allah.

2. Learn meanings: Understand the Arabic to deepen concentration.

3. Eliminate distractions: Pray in a quiet, clean space.

4. Focus on Khushu’ (خشوع): Concentrate your heart and mind during prayer.

5. Practice daily: Repetition leads to mastery and inner peace.

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🌟 Spiritual Benefits of Salah

• Connection with Allah: A direct spiritual link five times a day.

• Peace of Mind: A calm heart and soul through remembrance.

• Discipline: Builds consistency and self-control.

• Forgiveness wipes away sins and errors.

“Indeed, prayer prevents immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater.”
(Surah Al-‘Ankabut 29:45)

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📝 Conclusion

Salah is more than a set of movements — it is the soul’s conversation with the Creator. Learning it step by step with understanding, humility, and devotion brings transformation to every Muslim’s life.

Make it your goal to perfect your prayer — because prayer perfects you.