How to pray — step by step — Learn Salah (Namaz)

The prayer in pictures — for men and for women

Every position of the prayer is drawn below. Choose “For men” or “For women” at the top; each step also gives what is said, in Arabic, in transliteration and in plain words.

Make the intention in your heart

Face the qiblah standing on a clean place, with the feet about four fingers apart. The intention is a resolve of the heart — which prayer you are about to offer — not a sentence that has to be said aloud.

For women: A woman stands with her feet together and her whole body covered except the face, the hands and (in the Hanafi school) the feet.

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allahu akbar

Allah is the greatest.

Raise your hands and say the opening takbir

A man raises his hands until the thumbs are level with the ear lobes, palms towards the qiblah and the fingers comfortably apart, and says “Allahu akbar”. From this moment the prayer has begun.

For women: A woman raises her hands only to the level of her shoulders and keeps her wrists and forearms covered.

اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allahu akbar

Allah is the greatest.

Fold your hands and recite

A man places his right hand over the left below the navel, the right thumb and little finger around the left wrist. Keep your eyes on the place of prostration. Recite the opening supplication, then Al-Fatihah, then another surah (in the first two rak‘ahs of a fard prayer).

For women: A woman folds her hands on her chest, the right over the left, without gripping the wrist.

The opening supplication (thana)

سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ

Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta‘ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk

Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise; blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.

Say “Allahu akbar” and bow

A man bows until his back and head are level, grips his knees with the fingers spread, keeps his arms away from his sides and his legs straight, and looks at his feet. Say the tasbih at least three times.

For women: A woman bows only as far as she needs to reach her knees, keeps her fingers together, rests her hands on the knees without gripping, and keeps her arms against her sides.

Three, five or seven times

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

Subhana Rabbiyal ‘Azim

Glory to my Lord, the Most Great.

Stand up straight again

Rise with your arms at your sides until you are completely straight, and be still for a moment before going down. Standing calmly here is part of the prayer, not a formality to rush through.

For women: The same, with the arms kept close to the body.

The first while rising, the second once standing

سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ ۝ رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Sami‘a-llahu liman hamidah ۝ Rabbana laka-l-hamd

Allah hears the one who praises Him ۝ Our Lord, all praise is Yours.

Say “Allahu akbar” and prostrate

Go down knees first, then the hands, then the nose and the forehead. Seven parts touch the ground: the forehead with the nose, both palms, both knees and the toes of both feet, turned towards the qiblah. A man keeps his arms off the ground and away from his sides, and his stomach off his thighs.

For women: A woman draws herself in: the arms rest on the ground, the elbows stay against her sides and her stomach rests on her thighs.

Three, five or seven times, in both prostrations

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Subhana Rabbiyal A‘la

Glory to my Lord, the Most High.

Sit up between the two prostrations

Say “Allahu akbar”, sit up calmly on the left foot laid flat with the right foot upright and its toes towards the qiblah, and rest your hands flat on your thighs. Then say “Allahu akbar” and make the second prostration the same way.

For women: A woman brings both feet out to the right side and sits on her left hip, her hands on her thighs with the fingers together.

اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي

Allahumma-ghfir li warhamni

O Allah, forgive me and have mercy on me.

Sit for the tashahhud

After the second prostration of every second rak‘ah, sit as you sat between the prostrations and recite the tashahhud. At “la ilaha” make a circle with the thumb and middle finger of the right hand and point with the index finger, lowering it at “illa-llah”.

For women: A woman sits with both legs to the right, her thighs together and her hands on her thighs, the fingertips reaching the knees.

In the last sitting, follow it with the durood and a du‘a

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat …

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.

End the prayer with the salam

Turn your head to the right until your cheek can be seen from behind and say the salam, then turn to the left and say it again. The prayer is now complete.

For women: The same, turning the head only — the shoulders stay still.

To the right, then to the left

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ

As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah

Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.

The positions follow the Hanafi practice usual in Bangladesh. Where the other schools differ, the difference is small and each is sound; follow the scholars you learn from.

Below is the complete way to pray two rak‘ahs. In a three- or four-rak‘ah prayer, after the second rak‘ah you sit, recite only the tashahhud and stand up again; the final sitting comes after the last rak‘ah.

The first rak‘ah

Intention and the opening takbir: with wudu, stand facing the qiblah and intend the prayer in your heart. Raise your hands to the ears (women to the shoulders) and say:
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُAllahu akbarAllah is the Greatest
Folding the hands and the opening praise: place the right hand over the left below the navel (women on the chest), look at the place of prostration and say:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَSubhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta‘ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghairukGlory and praise be to You, O Allah. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.
Seeking refuge and the basmalah:
أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِA‘udhu billahi minash-shaitanir-rajimI seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِBismillahir-Rahmanir-RahimIn the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Recite Al-Fatihah and say “Amin” quietly at its end:
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ١ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ ٢ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٣ مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ ٤ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ٥ ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ٦ صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ٧Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil 'aalameen Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem Maaliki Yawmid-Deen Iyyaaka na'budu wa lyyaaka nasta'een Ihdinas-Siraatal-Mustaqeem Siraatal-lazeena an'amta 'alaihim ghayril-maghdoobi 'alaihim wa lad-daaalleen(1) In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. (2) [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds - (3) The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, (4) Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. (5) It is You we worship and You we ask for help. (6) Guide us to the straight path - (7) The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.Surah Al-Fatihah 1:1-7
Add a surah: after Al-Fatihah recite any surah, or at least three short ayahs — for example Al-Ikhlas:
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِقُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ١ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ ٢ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ٣ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ ٤Qul huwal laahu ahad Allah hus-samad Lam yalid wa lam yoolad Wa lam yakul-lahu kufuwan ahad(1) Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, (2) Allah, the Eternal Refuge. (3) He neither begets nor is born, (4) Nor is there to Him any equivalent."Surah Al-Ikhlas 112:1-4
Ruku‘: say “Allahu akbar” and bow, back and head level, hands gripping the knees, and say at least three times:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِSubhana Rabbiyal-‘AzimGlory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.
Rising: while coming up say:
سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُSami‘allahu liman hamidahAllah hears whoever praises Him.
Standing straight, say:
رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُRabbana lakal-hamdOur Lord, to You belongs all praise.
First prostration: say “Allahu akbar” and go down — knees first, then hands, then nose and forehead, fingers pointing to the qiblah — and say at least three times:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَىSubhana Rabbiyal-A‘laGlory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Sitting between the prostrations: say “Allahu akbar”, sit up straight, and you may say:
اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيAllahummaghfir liO Allah, forgive me.
Second prostration: say “Allahu akbar”, prostrate again with the same words three times, then say “Allahu akbar” and stand for the second rak‘ah.

The second rak‘ah

The opening praise and seeking refuge are not repeated. Say “Bismillah”, recite Al-Fatihah and another surah, then bow, rise and prostrate twice as before, and sit after the second prostration.

The sitting

Tashahhud: sit on the left foot with the right foot upright (women sit with both feet to the right), hands on the thighs, and recite:
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُAt-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat, as-salamu ‘alaika ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, as-salamu ‘alaina wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-salihin, ashhadu an la ilaha illallahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhAll 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.
Raise the right index finger at “ashhadu an la ilaha”.
Salawat on the Prophet:
اللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌAllahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad, kama sallaita ‘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 MajidO 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.
A du‘a before the salam:
اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا، وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَارْحَمْنِي، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُAllahumma inni zalamtu nafsi zulman kathiran, wa la yaghfirudh-dhunuba illa anta, faghfir li maghfiratan min ‘indika warhamni, innaka antal-Ghafurur-RahimO 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.
(Bukhari 834, Muslim 2705)
Salam: turn the face to the right, then to the left, saying each time:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِAs-salamu ‘alaikum wa rahmatullahPeace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.

Three- and four-rak‘ah prayers

After the second rak‘ah, recite only the tashahhud in the first sitting and stand up with “Allahu akbar”.
In the third and fourth rak‘ahs of a fard prayer recite only Al-Fatihah; in sunnah, nafl and witr prayers add a surah as well.
After the last rak‘ah, recite the tashahhud, salawat and du‘a in the final sitting, then give salam.

Behind an imam, a follower (in the Hanafi school) recites the opening praise and then stays silent — not reciting Al-Fatihah or a surah — moves with the imam, and says the tasbihs, tashahhud, salawat and du‘a himself.

How to pray — step by step