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.