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These are the steps of a 2-rak'ah prayer, such as Fajr. For 3 or 4 rak'ahs, after the tashahhud in the second rak'ah stand up again, recite only Al-Fatihah in each remaining rak'ah, and finish with the final sitting (steps 12 to 15). The core is the same for all Muslims; small details differ by school.
step
Stand on a clean place facing the Qibla (towards the Ka'bah in Makkah). Make the intention in your heart for the prayer you are about to pray, for example the two rak'ahs of Fajr. The intention does not need to be said aloud.
step
Raise your hands to your ears (or shoulders) and say the takbir. From now on, keep your eyes on the place of prostration and do not talk or look around.
ٱللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu akbar
God is the Greatest.
repeat · Said at every change of position (Bukhari 789)
step
Place your hands on your chest or below it (see School differences). Quietly say the opening du'a, then seek refuge and begin the Qur'an.
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
Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise. Blessed is Your name and exalted Your majesty. There is no god but You.
repeat · Opening du'a, sunnah (Abu Dawud 776; Tirmidhi 243)
أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ
A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the rejected.
repeat · Before reciting the Qur'an (Qur'an 16:98)
step
Al-Fatihah is recited in every rak'ah of every prayer: the prayer is not complete without it. Then say Amin.
آمِين
Amin
O Allah, accept.
repeat · After Al-Fatihah (Bukhari 780)
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
1:1 · Pickthall (1930)
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ
Alhamdu lillahi rabbi alʿalameena
Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds
1:2 · Pickthall (1930)
ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Alrrahmani alrraheemi
The Beneficent, the Merciful
1:3 · Pickthall (1930)
مَٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ
Maliki yawmi alddeeni
Master of the Day of Judgment
1:4 · Pickthall (1930)
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
Iyyaka naʿbudu waiyyaka nastaʿeenu
Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help
1:5 · Pickthall (1930)
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Ihdina alssirata almustaqeema
Show us the straight path
1:6 · Pickthall (1930)
صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
Sirata allatheena anʿamta ʿalayhim ghayri almaghdoobi ʿalayhim wala alddalleena
The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray
1:7 · Pickthall (1930)
step
In the first two rak'ahs, recite any part of the Qur'an after Al-Fatihah. Children usually start with these short surahs.
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
Qul huwa Allahu ahadun
Say: He is Allah, the One
112:1 · Pickthall (1930)
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ
Allahu alssamadu
Allah, the eternally Besought of all
112:2 · Pickthall (1930)
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
Lam yalid walam yooladu
He begetteth not nor was begotten
112:3 · Pickthall (1930)
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ
Walam yakun lahu kufuwan ahadun
And there is none comparable unto Him
112:4 · Pickthall (1930)
step
Say the takbir and bow, hands on your knees, back straight and level with your head. Stay still for a moment.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal-'Azim
Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.
repeat · Sahih Muslim 772
step
Rise to standing while saying the first phrase, then when upright say the second.
سَمِعَ ٱللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah
Allah hears whoever praises Him.
repeat · Sahih Muslim 772; Bukhari 789
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْدُ
Rabbana wa lakal-hamd
Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise.
repeat · Bukhari 789
step
Say the takbir and prostrate on seven parts: forehead with the nose, both palms, both knees and the toes of both feet (Bukhari 812). Keep your elbows off the ground.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
repeat · Sahih Muslim 772
step
Say the takbir and sit up briefly on your left foot, with the right foot upright.
رَبِّ ٱغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbighfir li
My Lord, forgive me.
repeat · Abu Dawud 874; Ibn Majah 897
step
Say the takbir and prostrate again, saying the same words. This completes one rak'ah.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
repeat · Sahih Muslim 772
step
Say the takbir and stand. Repeat steps 4 to 10: Al-Fatihah, a short surah, ruku', rising and two prostrations.
step
After the second prostration of the second rak'ah, sit and recite the tashahhud. Many raise the right index finger at the testimony.
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.
All greetings, prayers and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
repeat · Tashahhud of Ibn Mas'ud (Bukhari 831; Muslim 402)
step
In the final sitting, continue with the salawat (Salat al-Ibrahimiyyah).
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
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidum Majid. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidum Majid.
O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
repeat · Salat al-Ibrahimiyyah (Bukhari 3370)
step
You may ask Allah for anything in the final sitting. A short du'a from the Qur'an that many use:
رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِى ٱلْءَاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ
Rabbana atina fee alddunya hasanatan wafee alakhirati hasanatan waqina ʿathaba alnnari
Our Lord! Give unto us in the world that which is good and in the Hereafter that which is good, and guard us from the doom of Fire
2:201 · Pickthall (1930)
step
Turn your head to the right and say the salam, then to the left and say it again. Your prayer is complete.
ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّهِ
As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
repeat · Turning right, then left (Abu Dawud 996)
Faith Atlas prototype; Tanzil Uthmani; quran-tajweed; supplied hadith references · Marmaduke Pickthall (1930); prototype non-Quran meanings pending review · Tanzil terms; tajweed CC BY 4.0; Pickthall public domain; prototype permission pending scholar review ·
