How to Pray
New to salah? Start here. Wudu, the positions, the words — explained step by step with transliteration, so you can pray today even if you don't read Arabic yet.
Step 1 — Make wudu
Wudu is the ritual washing before prayer. In order:
Niyyah — the intention
Silently intend in your heart to make wudu for prayer.
Wash your hands
Three times, up to the wrists.
Rinse your mouth
Three times, swirling water gently.
Rinse your nose
Three times — sniff water and blow it out.
Wash your face
Three times, from hairline to chin, ear to ear.
Wash your arms
Right arm first, then left — three times, elbow to fingertips.
Wipe your head
Once — wet hands passed over the head, front to back.
Wash your feet
Right foot first, then left — three times, up to the ankles.
Step 2 — Pray the Fajr (2 rak'ahs)
Face the qibla, stand with feet apart, hands relaxed. The words below use transliteration — read the sounds as English letters.
Takbir
Raise your hands to your ears, then fold them over your chest. "Allah is the Greatest."
Opening supplication
"Glory to You O Allah, and praise — blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You."
Al-Fatiha
The opening chapter — "In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds…"
A short surah
Surah Al-Ikhlas — "Say: He is Allah, the One…" — the shortest and most memorised chapter.
Bow — Ruku
Bend at the waist, hands on knees, back flat. "Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent" — three times.
Stand up
Rise to standing. "Allah hears those who praise Him. Our Lord, to You belongs all praise."
Prostrate — Sujud
Forehead, nose, palms and knees on the ground. "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High" — three times.
Sit and prostrate again
Sit briefly between the two prostrations — "My Lord, forgive me" — then prostrate again.
Second rak'ah
Stand again and repeat steps 3–8. This completes the 2 rak'ahs of Fajr.
Tashahhud — sitting
Sit and recite the testimony of faith.
Salawat
Send blessings on the Prophet — "O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad…"
Salam — finish
Turn your head right, then left, saying: "Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you." Your prayer is complete.
The five daily prayers
2 rak'ahs · dawn
Before sunrise. The quiet prayer — many find it the most powerful.
4 rak'ahs · midday
After the sun passes its peak. Replaced by Jum'ah on Fridays.
4 rak'ahs · afternoon
Mid-to-late afternoon. The middle prayer mentioned in the Quran.
3 rak'ahs · sunset
Right after sunset. The shortest of the evening prayers.
4 rak'ahs · night
After twilight fades. The day ends where it began — in prayer.
Beginners' questions, answered
I can't memorise yet — what do I do?
Pray with a book or printout in front of you. Reading from transliteration during prayer is far better than missing it. Memorise one line at a time; Al-Fatiha first.
Do women pray the same way?
The words and movements are the same. Women pray in their own space, at home or in the mosque's women's section — and can pray the same five prayers.
What if I miss a prayer?
Make it up as soon as you remember (qada). Consistency matters more than perfection — the Prophet said the first deed judged is the prayer.
Can I pray at work or school?
Yes — a quiet room, a clean spot, and a few minutes is all you need. Many workplaces now have prayer rooms; otherwise a corner with a jacket as a prayer mat works.
Keep going
Your first week
The guide above teaches the 2-rak'ah Fajr prayer because it is the shortest and quietest place to begin. Print it out, keep it beside your prayer mat, and read the words from the page until they start to settle. Memorise one line at a time — Al-Fatiha first, then the rest follows. No one expects a beginner to know everything; they only expect you to show up.
A simple rhythm works well: pray Fajr the way the page describes, and add one more prayer each day. If a movement or a word feels uncertain, that is completely normal — for the full details of prayer, learn from a teacher or your local masjid, and follow the version taught there. This page is the doorway, not the whole house.
Beginner worries, answered
How do I start praying as a beginner?
Start with the basics: make wudu, face the qibla, and learn the 2-rak'ah prayer of Fajr. Pray the words slowly from the transliteration — even an imperfect prayer counts. Progress comes with consistency, not perfection. For the exact details of the movements and recitations, learn from a teacher or your local masjid.
What if I make a mistake in prayer?
Do not worry — mistakes do not invalidate your prayer. For significant errors, sujood as-sahw (the prostration of forgetfulness) addresses them, but for a beginner the kindest rule is simply to continue. Allah knows your intention, and the prayer you actually prayed is worth far more than the perfect one you never started.
First prayer today
Pair the guide with the Salah Tracker — check off each prayer as you learn, and watch your first week grow.
This guide is a simplified introduction — for the full details of prayer, learn from a teacher or your local masjid.