A Step by Step Guide to Salah - The Thinking Muslim

Praying Salah, the Islamic daily prayer, is an essential ritual for Muslims, consisting of specific physical postures and recitations. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you pray correctly.

1. Prepare for Prayer: Perform Wudu (Ablution)

Wash your hands, mouth, nose, face, arms, head, and feet in a specific order.
Make the intention of purity, saying Bismillah (In the name of Allah) as you begin.

2. Make Intention (Niyyah)

Silently intend in your heart the specific prayer you are about to perform (e.g., Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, etc.).
Facing the Qibla (direction of Mecca), say Allahu Akbar (God is the Greatest) to start.

3. Takbir: Start Salah by Saying “Allahu Akbar”

Raise your hands to your ears or shoulder level and say Allahu Akbar.
Place your hands over your chest, with your right hand over the left.

4. Recite Opening Supplication (Subhanaka or equivalent)

You may recite Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghayruka (Glory is to You, O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your Name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no deity but You).

5. Recite Surah Al-Fatihah

Recite Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim (In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful).
Then, recite Surah Al-Fatihah:
> Alhamdu lillahi rabbil ‘alamin, Ar-Rahmanir-Rahim, Maliki yawmid-Deen, Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’in, Ihdinas-siratal mustaqim, Siratal ladhina an’amta ‘alayhim, ghayril-magdubi ‘alayhim wa la-dhallin.
Say Ameen at the end.

6. Recite an Additional Surah or Verses (Optional)

Choose a short Surah, like Surah Al-Ikhlas (Qul huwal lahu ahad…), and recite it after Al-Fatihah.

7. Ruku (Bowing)

Say Allahu Akbar and bend at the waist, keeping your back and head level.
Place your hands on your knees, keeping your back straight.
Recite Subhana Rabbiyal ‘Adheem (Glory is to my Lord, the Almighty) three times.

8. Stand Up from Ruku (Qaumah)

Rise back to a standing position, saying Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears those who praise Him).
Follow this with Rabbana lakal hamd (Our Lord, to You is due all praise).

9. Sujood (Prostration)

Say Allahu Akbar and go down to prostrate.
Place your forehead, nose, palms, knees, and toes on the ground.
Recite Subhana Rabbiyal A’la (Glory is to my Lord, the Most High) three times.

10. Sit Up from Sujood (Jalsah)

Rise from prostration, saying Allahu Akbar, and sit with your hands on your knees.
Pause here briefly.

11. Perform a Second Sujood

Say Allahu Akbar and go back into prostration, repeating Subhana Rabbiyal A’la three times.

12. Stand Up for the Next Rak’ah

After the second Sujood, stand back up to begin the next rak’ah (unit of prayer).
Repeat the steps for each rak’ah of the prayer.

Final Part of the Last Rak’ah

13. Tashahhud (Sitting for Testification)

In the final rak’ah, after the two Sujoods, sit and recite:
> At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu ‘alayka ayyuha an-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillah-is-saliheen. Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh.

14. Salat upon the Prophet

Continue with:
> Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibraheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraheem, innaka hameedun majeed.

15. Dua and Salam (Ending the Prayer)

Recite any closing supplication.
To complete the Salah, turn your head to the right, saying Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah (Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you).
Then, turn to the left and repeat Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah.

Each of the five daily prayers (Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha) has a set number of rak’ahs:

Fajr: 2 rak’ahs
Dhuhr: 4 rak’ahs
Asr: 4 rak’ahs
Maghrib: 3 rak’ahs
Isha: 4 rak’ahs

Praying with focus and sincerity is essential, as Salah is both a physical and spiritual practice.