Why Salah matters
إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَٰبًا مَّوْقُوتًا
Indeed, prayer has been prescribed for the believers at fixed times.
Prayer is obligatory on every Muslim who is sane and has reached puberty. Children are taught from age seven. Women are excused during menstruation and post-natal bleeding and do not make up those prayers. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The first matter the servant will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgement is the prayer.” (Sunan an-Nasa'i 465, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 413)
Conditions of prayer
These must be fulfilled before the prayer begins and remain throughout.
- Purity from hadath — having wudu, and ghusl when required
- Clean body, clothing and place — free of impurity (najasah)
- Covering the 'awrah — for men from navel to knees; for women the whole body except the face and hands (and feet in the Hanafi school)
- The time has entered — each prayer has its own window
- Facing the Qibla — the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah
- Intention (niyyah) — in the heart, for the specific prayer
Wudu (ablution)
The way the Prophet ﷺ performed wudu, including its sunnah acts.
- 1
Intention and Bismillah
Intend wudu in your heart and say “Bismillah”.
- 2
Wash the hands
Wash both hands up to the wrists three times, between the fingers.
- 3
Rinse the mouth
Take water into the mouth and rinse three times.
- 4
Rinse the nose
Sniff water into the nose and blow it out with the left hand, three times.
- 5
Wash the face
From the hairline to below the chin and from ear to ear, three times.
- 6
Wash the arms
Right arm then left, from fingertips up to and including the elbows, three times.
- 7
Wipe the head and ears
Pass wet hands over the head from front to back and back again, then wipe the ears inside and out.
- 8
Wash the feet
Right foot then left, up to and including the ankles, between the toes, three times.
- 9
Testify
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Ashhadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh
Whoever says this after wudu, the eight gates of Paradise are opened for him (Sahih Muslim 234).
Four: washing the face, the arms with elbows, wiping a quarter of the head, washing the feet with ankles.
Six: intention, face, arms, wiping part of the head, feet, and doing them in order.
Seven: intention, face, arms, wiping the whole head, feet, continuity (muwalat) and rubbing (dalk).
Six: face (including mouth and nose), arms, wiping the whole head with the ears, feet, order and continuity; intention is a condition.
What breaks wudu
| Cause | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Anything leaving the front or back passage (urine, stool, wind) | Breaks wudu — agreed |
| Deep sleep, fainting, intoxication, loss of reason | Breaks wudu — agreed |
| Flowing blood, pus, or a mouthful of vomit | Breaks wudu in the Hanafi school; also the Hanbali school if excessive |
| Touching the private part directly | Breaks wudu for Shafi'i and Hanbali; Maliki with conditions; not for Hanafi |
| Skin contact with the opposite sex | Shafi'i: breaks wudu; Maliki and Hanbali: only with desire; Hanafi: does not |
| Laughing aloud inside the prayer | Breaks wudu and prayer in the Hanafi school |
| Eating camel meat | Breaks wudu in the Hanbali school |
Prayer times
| Prayer | Begins | Ends |
|---|---|---|
| Fajr | True dawn (al-fajr as-sadiq) | Sunrise |
| Dhuhr | Just after the sun passes its zenith | When an object's shadow equals its length (twice its length for the Hanafi school), plus the noon shadow |
| Asr | End of Dhuhr | Sunset — delaying until the sun turns pale is disliked |
| Maghrib | Sunset | Disappearance of the red twilight (white twilight for Imam Abu Hanifa) |
| Isha | End of Maghrib | True dawn — the preferred time is before the middle of the night |
Voluntary prayer is not offered while the sun is rising, at its zenith, or setting, and after the Fajr and Asr prayers. Missed obligatory prayers may be made up at those times according to the majority, except the Hanafi school during the three moments themselves.
Rak'ahs of each prayer
Confirmed (mu'akkadah) sunnah shown. Four sunnah before Asr and two before Isha are optional. Shafi'i and Hanbali count two confirmed rak'ahs before Dhuhr.
| Prayer | Sunnah before | Fard | Sunnah after | Recitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr | 2 | 2 | — | Aloud |
| Dhuhr | 4 (Hanafi) / 2 | 4 | 2 | Silent |
| Asr | 4 (optional) | 4 | — | Silent |
| Maghrib | — | 3 | 2 | Aloud in first two |
| Isha | 4 (optional) | 4 | 2 + Witr | Aloud in first two |
| Jumu'ah | 4 (Hanafi) / 2 | 2 | 4 or 2 | Aloud |
Wajib. Three rak'ahs with one salam, sitting after the second, with Qunut before ruku' of the third.
Confirmed sunnah. Minimum one rak'ah, commonly three (two then one), up to eleven.
Confirmed sunnah. One rak'ah preceded by an even prayer (shaf') of two rak'ahs.
Confirmed sunnah. Minimum one, best eleven; Qunut after ruku' in the final rak'ah.
How to pray, step by step
A two-rak'ah prayer such as Fajr. For three or four rak'ahs, stand after the first tashahhud and continue, reciting only Al-Fatihah in the extra rak'ahs.
- 1
Intention
Face the Qibla and intend the specific prayer in your heart.
- 2
Opening takbir
ٱللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu akbar
Raise the hands and say the takbir. You have now entered the prayer.
- 3
Standing (qiyam) and opening supplication
سُبْحَانَكَ ٱللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ ٱسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabaraka-smuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk
Place the right hand over the left and recite the opening supplication silently.
- 4
Seek refuge and recite Al-Fatihah
أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ — بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim. Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim
Recite Surah Al-Fatihah, say “Amin”, then recite another surah or some verses in the first two rak'ahs.
- 5
Bowing (ruku')
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal-'Azim (3×)
Say “Allahu akbar”, bow with a straight back and hands on the knees.
- 6
Rising from ruku'
سَمِعَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ — رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْدُ
Sami'allahu liman hamidah. Rabbana wa lakal-hamd
Stand fully upright and pause.
- 7
Prostration (sujud)
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la (3×)
Say “Allahu akbar” and prostrate on seven parts: forehead with nose, both palms, both knees and the toes of both feet.
- 8
Sitting between the two prostrations
رَبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbighfir li
Sit calmly, then make the second prostration. This completes one rak'ah.
- 9
Second rak'ah
Stand with “Allahu akbar” and repeat from Al-Fatihah through the two prostrations.
- 10
Tashahhud
ٱلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَٱلصَّلَوَاتُ وَٱلطَّيِّبَاتُ، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ 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
Sit after the second prostration and recite the tashahhud.
- 11
Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ
ٱللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، ٱللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
In the final sitting, follow the tashahhud with the Ibrahimi salawat and a supplication.
- 12
Ending with salam
ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّهِ
As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah
Turn the head to the right, then to the left.
Differences between the schools
All four schools are valid paths within Ahl al-Sunnah. Follow the school you were taught, or the one prevalent in your community.
Only at the opening takbir.
At the opening takbir, before and after ruku', and when standing from the first tashahhud.
At the opening takbir (the relied-upon view).
At the opening takbir and before and after ruku'.
Men below the navel; women on the chest.
Below the chest and above the navel.
Arms at the sides (sadl) in obligatory prayers; folding is permitted in voluntary prayers.
Below the navel.
The follower listens and does not recite.
Obligatory for the follower in every rak'ah.
Recommended in silent prayers; not recited when the imam recites aloud.
Recommended in silent prayers and during the imam's pauses.
Not in Fajr; Qunut is in Witr.
Sunnah in the second rak'ah of Fajr after ruku'.
Recommended silently in Fajr, before ruku'.
Not in Fajr except in times of calamity; Qunut is in Witr.
What invalidates the prayer
- Speaking deliberately, even a little (unintentional speech is excused by the Shafi'i and others)
- Eating or drinking
- Excessive movement unrelated to the prayer
- Breaking wudu
- Turning the chest away from the Qibla without excuse
- Omitting a pillar (rukn) or a condition
- Laughing aloud
- Exposing the 'awrah for a significant time
Prostration of forgetfulness
Sujud as-sahw is two extra prostrations that repair an omission, addition or doubt made by mistake.
After the final tashahhud: one salam to the right, two prostrations, then tashahhud, salawat and the final salam.
Before the final salam, after the tashahhud and salawat.
Before salam for an omission; after salam for an addition.
Generally before salam; after salam when finishing early by mistake.
If you doubt whether you prayed three or four rak'ahs, build on the smaller number and prostrate for forgetfulness (Sahih Muslim 571).
Other prayers
Jumu'ah (Friday)
Two rak'ahs in congregation after the khutbah, replacing Dhuhr. Obligatory on adult, resident men.
Eid prayers
Two rak'ahs with extra takbirs on Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Wajib for Hanafi; confirmed sunnah for others.
Janazah (funeral)
Four takbirs standing, without ruku' or sujud: Al-Fatihah, salawat, dua for the deceased, then salam.
Tarawih
Night prayer in Ramadan in pairs of two. Twenty rak'ahs in the four schools; eight is also practised.
Tahajjud & Duha
Night prayer after sleep, best in the last third; Duha from mid-morning until before noon.
Istikharah
Two voluntary rak'ahs followed by the dua of seeking guidance before a permissible decision.
Shortening four-rak'ah prayers to two is required for a journey of about 77 km or more. Combining is only at Arafah and Muzdalifah.
Shortening and combining (Dhuhr with Asr, Maghrib with Isha) are permitted for a journey of about 81 km or more.
Shortening is a confirmed sunnah for about 80 km or more; combining is permitted.
Shortening is better for about 81 km or more; combining is permitted.
Ghusl and tayammum
Ghusl (full ritual bath)
- 1
Intend and say Bismillah
Required after sexual relations, ejaculation, the end of menstruation or post-natal bleeding.
- 2
Wash hands and private parts
Remove any impurity.
- 3
Perform wudu
As for prayer; the feet may be washed at the end.
- 4
Pour water over the whole body
Over the head three times, then the right side and the left, so water reaches all skin and hair roots. Hanafis also require rinsing the mouth and nose.
Tayammum (dry ablution)
- 1
When it is allowed
When water is unavailable or its use would cause harm.
- 2
Strike clean earth
With intention, strike clean earth or dust with both palms.
- 3
Wipe face and hands
Wipe the face, then the hands (to the elbows for Hanafi and Shafi'i).
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What if I miss a prayer?
A missed obligatory prayer must be made up (qada) as soon as possible, with repentance if it was missed without excuse.
Can I pray in a language other than Arabic?
The recitation and set phrases of the prayer are in Arabic. Beginners should learn Al-Fatihah first; personal duas outside the prayer can be in any language.
Which madhhab should I follow?
Any of the four Sunni schools. Most people follow the school of their community or teacher and stay consistent within it.
How do women pray?
Women pray in the same way, with some differences in posture recorded by the schools (for example, keeping the body more compact in ruku' and sujud). Congregational prayer is not obligatory on women.