Salah is the second pillar of Islam and the first thing we will be asked about on the Day of Judgement. Learning how to pray salah correctly is one of the best things you can do. This guide gives a simple overview — see our full How to Pray & Wudu guide for the complete details and Arabic wording.
The five daily prayers
- Fajr — 2 rak'ah before sunrise
- Dhuhr — 4 rak'ah after midday
- Asr — 4 rak'ah in the afternoon
- Maghrib — 3 rak'ah just after sunset
- Isha — 4 rak'ah at night
Check exact times for your city on our prayer times page.
Before you pray
Make wudu (ablution), face the Qibla, and ensure your clothing and place are clean. Find the direction with our Qibla finder.
The steps of a rak'ah
- Make the intention and say "Allahu akbar" (the Takbir).
- Recite Surah al-Fatihah and a short surah.
- Bow (Ruku) saying "Subhana Rabbiyal-'Azeem".
- Stand upright, then prostrate (Sujud) saying "Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la".
- Sit between the two sujud, then complete the second sujud.
The two-rak'ah prayer is performed this way for Fajr; the longer prayers repeat the rak'ah, and every prayer ends with the Tashahhud and the closing "As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah".
Pray on time
The most beloved deeds to Allah include "salah at its proper time" (Sahih al-Bukhari). Set reminders so you never miss a prayer.
"Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers at specified times." — Surah An-Nisa 4:103
Learn wudu step by step, and the full wording of each position, in our How to Pray guide.