Prayer Guide
Learn how to perform the five daily prayers (Salah) - one of the pillars of Islam
Indeed, performing prayers is a duty on the believers at the appointed times.
— Quran 4:103
The Five Daily Prayers (Fard)
Fajr
الفجر
Dawn
2 obligatory rakats
The morning prayer performed before sunrise
Starts your day with the remembrance of Allah
From dawn until sunrise
Dhuhr
الظهر
Noon
4 obligatory rakats
The afternoon prayer performed after the sun passes its zenith
A pause in your day to reconnect with Allah
From when the sun passes its zenith until the shadow of an object becomes equal to its length
Asr
العصر
Late Afternoon
4 obligatory rakats
The late afternoon prayer
Protection during the closing of the day
From when the shadow of an object becomes equal to its length until sunset
Maghrib
المغرب
Sunset
3 obligatory rakats
The sunset prayer performed immediately after sunset
Marks the end of the day and beginning of night
From sunset until the disappearance of twilight
Isha
العشاء
Night
4 obligatory rakats
The night prayer
Final prayer of the day
From the disappearance of twilight until dawn
Ritual Purification (Wudu)
Intention (Niyyah)
Make the intention in your heart to perform wudu for prayer
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
Bismillah
In the name of Allah
Wash Hands
Wash both hands up to the wrists three times
Rinse Mouth & Nose
Rinse mouth and nose with water three times each
Wash Face
Wash the entire face three times
Wash Arms
Wash both arms up to the elbows three times
Wipe Head
Wipe the head from front to back once
Wipe Ears
Wipe inside and outside of both ears
Wash Feet
Wash both feet up to the ankles three times
Prayer Steps
Standing (Qiyam)
Stand facing the Qibla with the intention to pray
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the Greatest
Recitation
Recite Surah Al-Fatiha and another surah
Bowing (Ruku)
Bow with your back straight and hands on knees
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem
Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great
Prostration (Sujud)
Prostrate with forehead, nose, palms, knees, and toes touching the ground
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal A'la
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High
Sitting (Tashahud)
Raise your right index finger and recite attahiyat, two salams and dua.
Dhikr After Salah
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰه
Astaghfiru-llāh (3 times)
I seek forgiveness from Allah
Repeat three times
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلاَمُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلاَمُ تَبَارَكْتَ يَا ذَا الْجَلاَلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ
Allāhumma Anta-s-Salām, wa minka-s-salām, tabārakta yā Dha-l-Jalāli wa-l-Ikrām
O Allah, You are Peace and from You comes peace. Blessed are You, O Owner of majesty and honor
Ayatul Kursi
Recite Ayatul Kursi
Tasbeeh
سُبْحَانَ اللّٰه
Subhanallah
Glory be to Allah
33 times
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰه
Alhamdulillah
All praise is due to Allah
33 times
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the Greatest
33 times
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، اللَّٰهُمَّ لَا مَانِعَ لِمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَلَا مُعْطِيَ لِمَا مَنَعْتَ، وَلَا يَنْفَعُ ذَا الْجَدِّ مِنْكَ الْجَدُّ
Lā ilāha illā-llāhu waḥdahū lā sharīka lah, lahu-l-mulku, wa lahu-l-ḥamd, wa Huwa ʿalā kulli shay'in Qadīr, Allāhumma lā māniʿa li-mā aʿaṭayt, wa lā muʿṭiya li-mā manʿat, wa lā yanfaʿu dha-l-jaddi minka-l-jadd
None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, He has no partner, His is the dominion and His is the praise and He is Able to do all things. O Allah, there is none who can withhold what You give, and none who can give what You withhold, and the riches of the wealthy will not avail them against You
Additional Prayers
Sunnah Prayers
Regular voluntary prayers associated with the five daily prayers
Fajr Sunnah
2 rakats before Fajr
Highly emphasized Sunnah
Dhuhr Sunnah
4 rakats before and 2 rakats after
Regular Sunnah
Asr Sunnah
4 rakats before
Recommended
Maghrib Sunnah
2 rakats after
Regular Sunnah
Isha Sunnah
4 rakats before and 2 rakats after
Regular Sunnah
Voluntary Prayers
Additional non-obligatory prayers for extra rewards
Duha Prayer
After sunrise until before noon
2-8 rakats
Morning voluntary prayer
Tahajjud
Last third of the night
2-8 rakats
Night voluntary prayer
Witr
After Isha until dawn
3 rakats
Recommended night prayer
Tarawih
After Isha during Ramadan
8-20 rakats
Special Ramadan night prayer