How many rakah are in each prayer?

Fajr has 2 fard rakah. Dhuhr has 4 fard rakah. Asr has 4 fard rakah. Maghrib has 3 fard rakah. Isha has 4 fard rakah. Sunnah and nafl prayers are added on top of these.

What do I recite in salah?

In every rakah you must recite Surah Al-Fatiha. In the first two rakah, you also recite a second short surah after Al-Fatiha. In ruku and sujud you recite tasbih (subhana rabbiyal-adheem/al-a'la). In sitting you recite tashahhud, then salawat, then salam.

Do I need to know Arabic to pray?

Yes, the obligatory parts of salah must be recited in Arabic according to all four madhabs. However, you can take time to learn, start by memorising Surah Al-Fatiha. Until you learn it, scholars allow saying 'Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah' as a temporary substitute.

What invalidates salah?

Speaking deliberately, eating or drinking, excessive movement unrelated to prayer, turning the chest away from qibla without need, laughing out loud, and losing wudu all invalidate salah. If any happen, you must repeat the prayer.

Can women pray during their period?

No, women do not pray salah during menstruation or postnatal bleeding. The missed prayers do not need to be made up later. This is mercy from Allah, agreed upon by all four madhabs.

How to Pray Salah: Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners

Salah, the five daily prayers, is the second pillar of Islam and the most important act of worship after the shahadah. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The first thing the servant will be questioned about on the Day of Judgement is the salah." (Tirmidhi) If your salah is sound, the rest of your deeds will follow.

This complete guide walks you through every step of the prayer, the Arabic text, transliteration, meaning, and the bodily position, so you can pray correctly from day one.

"Verily, the prayer has been enjoined upon the believers at fixed times."

An-Nisa 4:103

Before You Pray, 5 Conditions

Before starting salah, five conditions must be met. If any are missing, the prayer is invalid.

Wudu (ritual purity), perform wudu correctly. See our complete wudu guide.
Clean body and clothes, free of najasah (impurities like urine, blood, faeces).
Clean place, pray on a clean surface, free of impurities.
Cover the awrah, men cover from navel to knees, women cover everything except face and hands.
Face the Qibla, turn your chest toward the Kaaba in Makkah. Use a compass or GPS app like DeenPal if uncertain.

You also need to pray within the time window for that specific salah, and have made the niyyah (intention) in your heart.

The Two-Rakah Prayer, Your Foundation

The two-rakah prayer is the building block of all salah. Once you master this, you can pray any salah by simply repeating units. We use Fajr (2 rakah) as the template.

Niyyah (Intention)

Standing

Make the intention in your heart for the specific prayer (e.g., "I intend to pray two rakah of Fajr fard for the sake of Allah"). The intention is in the heart, you do not need to say it out loud. This is unanimous across all four madhabs.

Takbiratul Ihram

Standing

Raise both hands to ear level (or shoulder level for Maliki) and say:

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allahu Akbar

"Allah is the Greatest", this opens the prayer. Once said, you are in salah and must not turn back. Place your hands on or below your navel (Hanafi) or on your chest (Shafi'i/Hanbali), or leave them at your sides (Maliki).

Opening Dua (Sana)

Standing

Recite the opening supplication silently:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ

Subhanaka Allahumma wa bi-hamdika, wa tabaraka-smuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk

"Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise; blessed is Your name and exalted is Your majesty; there is no god but You."

Ta'awwudh + Bismillah

Standing

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ ۞ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

A'oodhu billahi min ash-shaytani-r-rajeem. Bismillahi-r-rahmani-r-raheem

"I seek refuge in Allah from the cursed Shaytan. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful."

Recite Surah Al-Fatiha

Standing · Qiyam

Al-Fatiha is recited in every rakah. Missing it invalidates the rakah.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ۞ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ۞ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ۞ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ۞ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ۞ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

Alhamdu lillahi rabbi-l-'alameen. Ar-rahmani-r-raheem. Maliki yawmi-d-deen. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een. Ihdina-s-sirata-l-mustaqeem. Sirata-lladheena an'amta 'alayhim, ghayri-l-maghdoobi 'alayhim wa la-d-dalleen.

"All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship, You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path. The path of those You have favoured, not of those who incurred wrath, nor of those who went astray." End with "Ameen" silently or aloud.

Recite a Second Surah

Standing · Qiyam

In the first two rakah only, recite a second short surah or some ayahs after Al-Fatiha. Beginners often use Surah Al-Ikhlas:

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ۞ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ۞ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ۞ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Qul huwa Allahu ahad. Allahu-s-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yoolad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.

"Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. Nor is there to Him any equivalent." (Al-Ikhlas)

Ruku (Bowing)

Bowing

Say "Allahu Akbar" and bow forward, placing your hands on your knees with your back parallel to the ground. Recite three times:

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

Subhana rabbiyal-adheem

"Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent." (Recite 3 times, more is better)

Stand Up from Ruku (I'tidal)

Standing

Rise from ruku saying:

سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah

"Allah hears whoever praises Him." Once standing fully upright, say:

رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Rabbana wa laka-l-hamd

"Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise."

First Sujud (Prostration)

Prostrating

Say "Allahu Akbar" and go down into prostration. Seven body parts must touch the ground: forehead + nose, both palms, both knees, both feet. Recite three times:

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَىٰ

Subhana rabbiyal-a'la

"Glory be to my Lord, the Most High." (Recite 3 times, more is better) This is the closest position to Allah, make duas here.

Sit Between Sujuds

Sitting

Say "Allahu Akbar" and sit briefly, with hands on thighs. Say:

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

Rabbighfir lee

"My Lord, forgive me." (Recite at least once, twice is sunnah)

Second Sujud

Prostrating

Say "Allahu Akbar" and prostrate again, repeating "Subhana rabbiyal-a'la" three times. This completes one rakah.

Stand up for the second rakah by saying "Allahu Akbar". In rakah 2, you repeat steps 4–11 (skip the opening dua). After the second sujud of rakah 2, instead of standing, you sit for the tashahhud.

Tashahhud

Sitting

After the second rakah's sujud, sit and recite the testimony:

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

At-tahiyyatu lillahi wa-s-salawatu wa-t-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuha-n-nabiyyu wa rahmatu-llahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadi-llahi-s-saliheen. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa-llah wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasooluh.

"All greetings, prayers and pure words are for Allah. Peace be on you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be on us and on the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger."

At "ash-hadu an la ilaha" raise your right index finger.

Salawat (Durood Ibrahimi)

Sitting

After tashahhud (in the final sitting of any prayer), send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ ۞ اللَّهُمَّ 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 Ibraheem, innaka Hameedun Majeed. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibraheem, innaka Hameedun Majeed.

"O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious."

Salam (Closing)

Sitting

Turn your face to the right shoulder and say:

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatu-llah

"Peace and Allah's mercy be upon you." Then turn to the left shoulder and repeat. Your salah is now complete.

Rakah Count for Each Prayer

Prayer	Time	Fard rakah	Aloud or silent recitation
Fajr	Before sunrise	2	Aloud
Dhuhr	After midday	4	Silent
Asr	Late afternoon	4	Silent
Maghrib	Just after sunset	3	Aloud (first 2)
Isha	After twilight	4	Aloud (first 2)

How 3 and 4 Rakah Prayers Differ

For 3 and 4 rakah prayers, the structure is:

Rakah 1 & 2, exactly like the 2-rakah prayer above (Al-Fatiha + second surah).
After rakah 2, sit briefly for "first tashahhud" (only the tashahhud, not the salawat), then stand for rakah 3.
Rakah 3 (and 4), recite only Al-Fatiha, no second surah, recite silently.
Final rakah, sit, recite full tashahhud + salawat + salam.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Rushing, the Prophet ﷺ told a man who prayed quickly: "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." (Bukhari) Take your time. Especially in ruku and sujud, be still.
Skipping Al-Fatiha, Al-Fatiha is fard in every rakah. Missing it invalidates the rakah.
Wrong direction, always check qibla. Use DeenPal's GPS qibla compass if uncertain.
Mind wandering, focus on what you are saying. If you forget where you are, say "Subhanallah" mentally to refocus.
Praying out of time, pray within the window. If you miss a prayer, make it up as soon as you remember (qada).

If You Forget Something, Sujud As-Sahw

If you forget a wajib element of salah (e.g., the first tashahhud), do two extra prostrations before the salam, called Sujud As-Sahw (prostration of forgetfulness). Just say "Subhana rabbiyal-a'la" three times in each, then complete the salam. This compensates for the forgotten element.

How to Build the Habit

If you're new to salah, here is a proven approach:

Start with one prayer, usually Fajr (only 2 rakah). Master it before adding more.
Memorise Al-Fatiha in 7 days, one ayah per day. By day 7 you have it.
Add one prayer per week, week 2 add Dhuhr, week 3 Asr, week 4 Maghrib, week 5 Isha.
Use DeenPal's prayer notifications, the app pings you at every prayer time and shows the qibla direction. No excuses.
Track your streak, DeenPal logs every prayer so you see your consistency over weeks and months.

Made a Mistake? Ask Rafiq

Doubts during salah are universal. Did I forget a rakah? Was my wudu valid? Did I face qibla? DeenPal's Rafiq AI answers these questions instantly, with sources from Quran and authentic hadith. Hakim mode goes deeper into cross-madhab analysis for advanced fiqh questions.

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