Salah (prayer)
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 631 · Sahih al-Bukhari 757One rakʿah of prayer, step by step. Repeat for each rakʿah; sit for tashahhud after every second rakʿah and at the end.
- Step 1
Face the Qibla and intend
Stand facing the Qibla, covering what must be covered, and intend in your heart which prayer you are praying.
Where the schools differ: All schools require the intention; saying it aloud is not required.
- Step 2
Opening takbir
Raise both hands and say "Allahu akbar" to begin the prayer.
Sayاللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu akbar
Where the schools differ: Hanafi: hands raised to the ears. Shafiʿi, Maliki, Hanbali: to the shoulders.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 735 - Step 3
Standing (qiyam)
Place the right hand over the left and look at the place of prostration.
Where the schools differ: Hanafi and Hanbali: below the navel. Shafiʿi: below the chest, above the navel. Maliki: commonly hands at the sides.
- Step 4
Opening duʿa
Quietly recite the opening supplication (in the first rakʿah).
Sayسُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānakallāhumma wa biḥamdik, wa tabārakasmuk, wa taʿālā jadduk, wa lā ilāha ghayruk
Source: Jamiʿ at-Tirmidhi 243 - Step 5
Seek refuge and say the basmalah
Quietly seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan and say the basmalah.
Sayأَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ، بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Aʿūdhu billāhi minash-shayṭānir-rajīm, bismillāhir-raḥmānir-raḥīm
Source: Quran 16:98 - Step 6
Recite al-Fatihah
Recite Surah al-Fatihah in every rakʿah, then say "Amin".
Source: Quran 1:1–7Read in Quran → - Step 7
Recite a surah
In the first two rakʿahs, recite another surah or some ayat after al-Fatihah.
- Step 8
Bowing (rukuʿ)×3
Say "Allahu akbar" and bow, hands on knees, back straight. Say the tasbih at least three times.
Sayسُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm
Source: Sahih Muslim 772 - Step 9
Rising from rukuʿ
Rise until standing straight while saying the words below.
Sayسَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah, rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 796 - Step 10
Prostration (sujud)×3
Say "Allahu akbar" and prostrate on seven bones: forehead with nose, both hands, both knees and toes. Say the tasbih at least three times.
Sayسُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Source: Sahih Muslim 772 - Step 11
Sitting between prostrations
Say "Allahu akbar" and sit up briefly.
Sayرَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbighfir lī
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud · Sunan Ibn Majah - Step 12
Second prostration×3
Say "Allahu akbar" and prostrate again as before.
Sayسُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
- Step 13
Tashahhud
After every second rakʿah, and in the last rakʿah, sit and recite the tashahhud.
Sayالتَّحِيَّاتُ 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 ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh, as-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn, ashhadu an lā ilāha illallāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh
Where the schools differ: Final sitting: Hanafi — sit on the left foot; Shafiʿi, Maliki, Hanbali — tawarruk (left hip on the ground) in the last tashahhud of a 3–4 rakʿah prayer.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 831 - Step 14
Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ
In the final sitting, send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ (Durood Ibrahim).
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 3370Durood & Salaam → - Step 15
Ending with taslim
Turn the head to the right and then to the left, saying the salam each time.
Sayالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh
Prepared from authentic sources; pending scholar review.