How to Pray (Salah) — Overview
Salah is the second pillar of Islam and the most regular act of worship. It is performed five times daily and is obligatory for every adult Muslim. The Prophet ﷺ described it as the pillar of the religion — the last thing he emphasised before his passing.
"The first matter that the servant will be brought to account for on the Day of Judgement is the prayer."
The Five Daily Prayers
| Prayer | Time | Rak'at (units) |
|---|---|---|
| Fajr | Dawn to sunrise | 2 fard |
| Dhuhr | After midday until Asr begins | 4 fard |
| Asr | Afternoon until near sunset | 4 fard |
| Maghrib | Just after sunset | 3 fard |
| Isha | Night until midnight (or dawn) | 4 fard |
Prerequisites for Prayer
- Wudu — ritual purification (see Lesson 8)
- Clean clothing — free from impurities
- Clean prayer place
- Facing the Qiblah — the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca (use a compass app or prayer app)
- Correct time — prayer outside its time without excuse is invalid
The Basic Structure of a Rak'ah (Unit of Prayer)
- Niyyah — Intention in the heart (which prayer you are performing)
- Takbeer al-Ihram — Raise hands and say "Allahu Akbar" (opening the prayer)
- Qiyam — Standing: recite Al-Fatiha, then a surah
- Ruku — Bow, say "Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem" three times
- I'tidal — Rise from bowing, say "Sami'allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana lakal hamd"
- Sujood — Prostrate (forehead, nose, both palms, knees, toes on ground), say "Subhana Rabbiyal A'la" three times
- Jalsa — Brief sitting between the two prostrations
- Sujood (second) — Prostrate again as before
Ending the Prayer
After the final rak'ah, sit for the Tashahhud and then perform Tasleem — turning your head right and saying "Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah," then the same to the left. This completes the prayer.
Missing a Prayer
If you miss a prayer without a valid excuse, repent and make it up (qada) as soon as possible. Do not abandon it — make it up. The Prophet ﷺ said whoever sleeps through a prayer or forgets it should pray it when they remember.