The second pillar
Masjid poster
How to Pray
صفة الصلاةসালাত আদায়ের নিয়ম
Scholarly review: pending
This text comes from the Sabīl print library. Its scholarly review is still in progress; every item will carry its reviewers’ names and the date once two scholars have signed it.
How to Pray
كَيْفَ تُصَلِّي
Kayfa tuṣallī
First · Wuḍū
1Say Bismillāh, and wash both hands
2Rinse the mouth — three times
3Rinse the nose — three times
4Wash the face — hairline to chin
5Wash each arm to the elbow, right first
6Wipe the head — once
7Wipe the ears, inner and outer
8Wash each foot to the ankle, right first
Bukhārī, Muslim · ṣaḥīḥ. Wuḍū is broken by using the toilet, by passing wind, by deep sleep, and by loss of consciousness.
The five prayers
Prayer
Farḍ
Sunnah
Fajr · dawn
2
2
Ẓuhr · midday
4
4+2
‘Aṣr · afternoon
4
—
Maghrib · sunset
3
2
‘Ishā’ · night
4
2+witr
Sunnah counts follow the majority. Witr is wājib per the Ḥanafī school, a confirmed sunnah per the other three.
Face the qiblah. Stand on clean ground, with the body covered — for a man from navel to knee, for a woman all but the face and hands.
Then · the prayer, in order
01Stand, intend, and raise the hands
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu akbar
Allāhu akbar — Allah is the greatest. The intention is in the heart; nothing is said aloud.
02The opening praise
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānaka Allāhumma wa biḥamdik, wa tabāraka-smuk, wa ta‘ālā jadduk, wa lā ilāha ghayruk
Then seek refuge: a‘ūdhu billāhi minash-shayṭānir-rajīm.
03Recite al-Fātiḥah, then a passage of the Qur’ān
Al-Fātiḥah is recited in every unit. There is no prayer for one who does not recite it.
Bukhārī, Muslim · ṣaḥīḥ
04Bow — rukū‘ — the back level
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-‘aẓīm
Three times. Glory to my Lord, the Magnificent.
05Rise, and stand still
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ · رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Sami‘allāhu liman ḥamidah · rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd
The first on rising, the second once standing.
06Prostrate — sujūd — on seven bones
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-a‘lā
Three times. The forehead and nose, both palms, both knees, and the toes of both feet.
07Sit, then prostrate a second time
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbi-ghfir lī
This completes one rak‘ah. Stand and repeat from step 3 for each remaining unit.
08Sit for the tashahhud
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-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt, as-salāmu ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh, as-salāmu ‘alaynā wa ‘alā ‘ibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn, ashhadu an lā ilāha illallāhu wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ‘abduhu wa rasūluh
In the final sitting, follow it with the ṣalāt upon the Prophet ﷺ.
09Turn the face right, then left
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa raḥmatullāh
The prayer is complete.
Pray as you have seen me praying.
Bukhārī · ṣaḥīḥ
New to prayer?
Begin with Fajr and Maghrib — two units and three. Add the rest as they become familiar. Learn al-Fātiḥah first; until you have it, repeat subḥānallāhi wal-ḥamdu lillāhi wa lā ilāha illallāhu wallāhu akbar, as the Prophet ﷺ taught a man who could not yet recite.
Abū Dāwūd, Nasā’ī · ḥasan. Ḥ · M · S · Ḥb agree on all steps shown.
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