How to pray

Before you pray

• The time has begun. Each prayer has its own time; see the prayer times for your city.
• Wudu (ablution). With the intention of purifying yourself: wash your hands, rinse your mouth and nose, wash your face, then your arms up to and including the elbows, wipe over your head (and ears), and wash your feet up to and including the ankles.
• Clean body, clothes and place, and the body covered: for men at least from the navel to the knees, for women everything except the face and hands.
• Face the Qibla, the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah. Find it with the Qibla compass.

The adhan, the call to prayer

The adhan announces that the time of a prayer has begun. Most of its phrases are said twice; Allahu akbar at the beginning is said four times (twice in the Maliki school).

In the adhan for Fajr, after “Hayya ‘alal-falah”, the muezzin adds twice:

When the prayer is about to start, the iqamah is called: the same words, said more quickly – and in most schools fewer times – with “Qad qamatis-salah”, “the prayer has begun”, added before the final takbir.

How to pray two rak‘ahs, step by step

A rak‘ah is one cycle of standing, bowing and two prostrations. Fajr has two; this is the whole of it. Longer prayers repeat the cycle; see below.

1. Intention (niyyah)

   Stand facing the Qibla and intend in your heart which prayer you are about to pray, for example the two rak‘ahs of Fajr. The intention is in the heart; it does not have to be said aloud.

2. Opening takbir (takbirat al-ihram)

   Raise your hands to the level of your ears or shoulders and say:

   اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

   Allahu akbar

   “Allah is the Greatest.”

   Then place your right hand over your left (where on the body depends on the school, see below) and look at the place where your forehead will touch the ground.

3. Opening supplication (thana)

   سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ

   Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdik, wa tabarakasmuk, wa ta‘ala jadduk, wa la ilaha ghayruk.

   “Glory be to You, O Allah, and with Your praise. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.”

   Source: Abu Dawud 776, at-Tirmidhi 243

4. Seeking refuge and Bismillah

   أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ. بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

   A‘udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim. Bismillahir-rahmanir-rahim.

   “I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.”

5. Surah Al-Fatiha

   Al-Fatiha is recited in every rak‘ah. At its end say “Amin”. Behind an imam, the schools differ on whether the follower recites it, see below.

   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

   Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil-‘alamin. Ar-rahmanir-rahim. Maliki yawmid-din. Iyyaka na‘budu wa iyyaka nasta‘in. Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim. Siratal-ladhina an‘amta ‘alayhim, ghayril-maghdubi ‘alayhim wa lad-dallin. (Amin)

   “All praise is for Allah, Lord of the worlds, the Most Gracious, the Most 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 have earned anger, nor of those who have gone astray.”

   Source: Qur’an 1:2–7

   Surah Al-Fatiha: Aaqib Azeez, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

6. Another surah

   In the first two rak‘ahs, recite some more of the Qur’an after Al-Fatiha – at least a short surah or three short verses. Two of the shortest:

   قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ١ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ٢ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ٣ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ ٤

   Qul huwallahu ahad. Allahus-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan ahad.

   “Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, and there is none comparable to Him.”

   Source: Qur’an 112, Al-Ikhlas

   Surah Al-Ikhlas: Aaqib Azeez, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

   إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ ١ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ ٢ إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ ٣

   Inna a‘taynakal-kawthar. Fa salli li rabbika wanhar. Inna shani’aka huwal-abtar.

   “Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar. So pray to your Lord and sacrifice. Indeed, it is the one who hates you who is cut off.”

   Source: Qur’an 108, Al-Kawthar

   Surah Al-Kawthar: Aaqib Azeez, Wikimedia Commons, CC0

7. Bowing (ruku‘)

   Say “Allahu akbar” and bow, hands on your knees, back straight and level with your head. In the bowing say:

   سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

   Subhana rabbiyal-‘azim

   “Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.”

   Three times · Source: Muslim 772

8. Rising from the bowing

   Straighten up, saying:

   سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ. رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

   Sami‘allahu liman hamidah. Rabbana wa lakal-hamd.

   “Allah hears the one who praises Him. Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise.”

   Source: al-Bukhari 789

   Behind an imam, the follower says only “Rabbana wa lakal-hamd” in the Hanafi, Maliki and Hanbali schools; in the Shafi‘i school he says both.

9. Prostration (sujud)

   Say “Allahu akbar” and go down to the ground, touching it with seven parts of the body: the forehead together with the nose, both palms, both knees and the toes of both feet (al-Bukhari 812). Say:

   سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَىٰ

   Subhana rabbiyal-a‘la

   “Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.”

   Three times · Source: Muslim 772

10. Sitting between the prostrations

    Say “Allahu akbar” and sit up, calmly, then say:

    رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

    Rabbighfir li, rabbighfir li.

    “My Lord, forgive me. My Lord, forgive me.”

    Source: Abu Dawud 874

11. Second prostration

    Say “Allahu akbar” and prostrate again as before. This completes the first rak‘ah.

12. The second rak‘ah

    Stand up with “Allahu akbar” and pray the second rak‘ah like the first, starting from Bismillah and Al-Fatiha – without the opening supplication.

13. Sitting for the tashahhud

    After the second prostration of the second rak‘ah, sit and recite the tashahhud. Many raise the index finger of the right hand at the testimony of faith.

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

    “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.”

    Source: al-Bukhari 831, Muslim 402 (the wording of Ibn Mas‘ud)

14. Blessings on the Prophet ﷺ (as-salat al-Ibrahimiyyah)

    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

    Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka hamidum-majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka hamidum-majid.

    “O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.”

    Source: al-Bukhari 3370

15. A supplication before the end

    Any good supplication may be made here; this is one the Prophet ﷺ taught Abu Bakr for his prayer:

    اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا، وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَارْحَمْنِي، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ

    Allahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathira, wa la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa ant, faghfir li maghfiratam-min ‘indik, warhamni, innaka antal-ghafurur-rahim.

    “O Allah, I have wronged myself greatly, and none forgives sins but You. So forgive me with forgiveness from You, and have mercy on me. You are the Forgiving, the Merciful.”

    Source: al-Bukhari 834, Muslim 2705

16. Ending the prayer (taslim)

    Turn your head to the right and say the following, then turn to the left and say it again:

    السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

    As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah

    “Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.”

    Source: Abu Dawud 996, at-Tirmidhi 295

    The prayer is complete. What to say after it: duas and adhkar after prayer.

Prayers of three and four rak‘ahs

• After the second rak‘ah, sit for the first tashahhud: recite it up to “…‘abduhu wa rasuluh”, then stand up with “Allahu akbar” for the third rak‘ah.
• In the third and fourth rak‘ahs of an obligatory prayer, recite only Al-Fatiha, without another surah.
• The final sitting comes after the last rak‘ah – the third in Maghrib, the fourth in Dhuhr, Asr and Isha: the tashahhud, the blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, a supplication and the taslim, as in the two-rak‘ah prayer.
• Aloud or silently. In Fajr, and in the first two rak‘ahs of Maghrib and Isha, the imam recites Al-Fatiha and the surah aloud; in Dhuhr and Asr, silently.

The rak‘ahs of each prayer

The obligatory (fard) rak‘ahs are the same in every school. The sunnah prayers are the regular voluntary ones the Prophet ﷺ kept to before and after them: “Whoever prays twelve rak‘ahs in a day and night, a house will be built for him in Paradise” (Muslim 728).

• Before Dhuhr the Prophet ﷺ prayed four rak‘ahs according to some narrations (Muslim 730) and two according to others (al-Bukhari 1180); the Hanafi school holds to four.
• Witr is prayed after Isha and before Fajr: three rak‘ahs in the Hanafi school, where it is necessary (wajib); in the other schools it is a stressed sunnah of one rak‘ah or more, an odd number.
• After Jumu‘ah: “Whoever of you prays after the Jumu‘ah, let him pray four” (Muslim 881); at home the Prophet ﷺ prayed two (Muslim 882).

The Friday prayer (Jumu‘ah)

On Friday, Jumu‘ah takes the place of Dhuhr. It is an obligation for adult men who live in the place and are able to attend. Women, children and travellers may attend; if they do, it counts instead of Dhuhr, and if not, they pray Dhuhr as usual.

• Time. The time of Dhuhr. Your city’s page shows the coming Friday in its weekly table.
• The sermon. The imam gives a sermon (khutbah) in two parts, sitting briefly between them; listen to it in silence (al-Bukhari 934). Then he leads two rak‘ahs, reciting aloud.
• The sunnahs of Friday: a full bath (ghusl), oil or perfume (al-Bukhari 883) and your best clothes (Abu Dawud 343), coming early (al-Bukhari 881), reciting Surah Al-Kahf, sending many blessings on the Prophet ﷺ (Abu Dawud 1047), and making supplication: there is an hour on Friday in which a Muslim’s request is answered (al-Bukhari 935), sought especially in the last hour before Maghrib (Abu Dawud 1048).

Where the four schools differ

The four Sunni schools of law agree on the essentials of the prayer and differ in details of how it is done. All of them are valid: follow what you were taught, or the practice of your local mosque.

The time of Asr on our pages follows the rule of the country; both times are shown on every city page, and the methodology explains them.