A very simple guide to the Islamic Prayer/Salah/Namaaz

After ablution/Wudu, stand on Massalla/prayer mat or clean mat. In the direction of Mecca/Qibla. Make intention to perform a particular Salat/namaaz.

Say: ‘Allah u Akbar’ (God is the greatest)
And raise hands to the level of the ears and then down onto waist, below the navel. Clasping right hand over left.

Now say: Subhana kalla humma wa bihamdika wa tabarkasmuka wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk
(Glory be to thee Allah! And the praise is thine, blessed is thy name, and exhalted is thy majesty, there is none worthy of worship besides thee.)

A'aoodtu billahi minash shayta nirrajeem
(I seek refuge from the accursed Satan)

Bismillah ir rehman nirrahim
(In the name of God the most gracious, most merciful.

Now say Sura fahita:
Alhamdulillahi rabbil aa'lammen ar rahman nir rahim maaliki yumiddeen iyyaka na budu wa iyya ka nastaeen, ih dinas siraatal mustaqeem. Siraat talladeena an amta alaihim Gharil maghdhooba alaihim wa lad dhaalleen (all praise to Allah. The Lord of all worlds, most gracious, most merciful, master of the day of judgement: thee alone we worship, thee alone we ask for help, show us the straight way, the way of those on whom thou hast bestowed thy grace, those whose portion is not wrath and who do not astray.)

And other sura you know (If you do not know any other Sura, Sura Fatiha suffices) or Surah iklaas

Qul huwal la hu ahad, allahus samad, lam yalid wa lam yulad, wa lam yakullahoo kufuwan ahad.
(He is Allah, the one and only, the eternal, absolute: he begetteth not, nor is he begotten, and there is none like unto him.

Then say ‘Allah u akbar’ (God is the greatest) Now bow at waist, hands close or on the knees and look at the floor and repeat 3 times,
‘subhaana rabbiyal atheem.’
(Glory unto the Lord, most high)

Then as you are straightening yourself up, with hands by either side and say:
‘samiallahu liman hamidah’
(Allah has heard who has praised him)

When you are fully standing say ‘Rabbanna la kal hamd’.
(O' our Lord, praise be to thee)

Say ‘Allah u akbar’ and prostrate on the floor. Forehead, nose, palms of both hands, knees, both feet should be touching the ground. Fingers straight, in Qibla direction.
Then say ‘Allah u akbar’ and sit back on left foot while right is under the thigh.

Then say ‘Allah u akbar’ and prostrate again. While in that position repeat 3 times ‘subhana rabbiyal a’la’
(Glory be to my lord, most high)

Now stand up and Surah Fatiha again:
Alhamdu lil lahi rabbil aa'lammen ar rahmannir rahim maaliki yumiddeen iyyaka na budu wa iyya ka nastaeen, ih dinas siraatal mustaqeem. Siraatalladeena an amta alaihim Gharil maghdhooba alaihim wa lad dhaalleen,

And then Surah iklaas
Qul huwal la hu ahad, allahus samad, lam yalid wa lam yulad, wa lam yakullahoo kufuwan ahad.
(He is Allah, the one and only, the eternal, absolute: he begetteth not, nor is he begotten, and there is none like unto him.
Or any other Surah you know.

Say ‘Allah u akbar’ Now bow at waist, hands near knees and look at the floor and repeat 3 times,
‘subhaana rabbiyal azzem.’

Then as you are straightening yourself up, with hands by either side and say:
‘samiallahu liman hamidah’

When you are standing straight, say ‘rabbanna la kal hamd’.)

Say ‘Allah u akbar’ and bow on the floor. Forehead, nose, palms of both hands, knees, both feet should be touching the ground. Fingers straight, in Qibla direction.

While in that position repeat 3 times ‘subhana rabbiyal a’la’.

Then say ‘Allah u akbar’ and bow again. While in that position repeat 3 times ‘subhana rabbiyal a’la’

Then sit again as before and say
‘at atahiy yatulil laahi wa salawaatu wattay yiabatu assalamu alaika ay yuhan nabiyyu warah matullahi wabarakatuh assalaamu alaina wa 'ala 'ibadil lahis sa aliheen ash hudhu an laa ila ha illal lahuwa ashadu anna Muhammad abdu wa rasooluh’

(All good deeds and acts of worship are for the pleasure of Allah : o’Holy prophet, may Allah’s blessing and salutations be on your sacred soul, and on all the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is his servant and prophet.)

Now you have completed two units of a prayer and if that is the correct amount then recite the final sitting (directly below).

If you are praying a four unit/rakah prayer then repeat the steps from the first Sura Fatiha, in order to complete two more units, and then say what the final sitting requires which is directly below.
If you are praying three units then start from Sura Fatiha and finish with the statement as below.

And the third and fourth units of the fard prayer need no extra recitation after sura Fatiha.


(this is said in the final sitting of prayer)
allhumma sali ala Muhammad in waala ale muhammadin kama sallaita ala Ibrahima wa ala ale Ibrahima innaka hamidum majid. Allahuma barik ala muhammadin wa ala ale Muhammadin kama barakta ala ibrahima wa ala ale ibrahima innaka hamidum majid.
(O’Allah bestow blessing on Muhammad and his descendants just as thou didst bestow upon Ibrahim and his descendants, for thou art the praiseworthy and exhalted. O’Allah Exalt Muhammad and his descendants , for thou art the praiseworthy and exalted.)

Then turn face to right, looking down on the shoulder and say:
‘assalamu alikum, wa rahmutullah’ and then repeat when turning to the left.

Your prayer is now complete and now supplicate for oneself and the Muslims.


The Witr prayer (after Isha) the 3 witr are said like other 3 salaat prayers except in the last rakat, after the last surah that has been read, say ‘Allah u akbar’
And read: ‘Allahumma inna nasta eenuka wa nastighfiruka wa numinu bika wa natawakkalu alaika wa nusni alaikal khaira wa nashkuruka wa la nakfuruka wa nakfula’u wa natruku manyyaftjurka allahumma iyyaka na buduwa laka nusalliwa nasjudu wa ilaka nas’aa wa nahfidu wa narjoo rahmataka. Wa nakhsha athabaka inna athbaka bilkuffari mulhiq.

(O Allah, we beseech thy help and ask for thy pardon: we believe and depend on thee, we thank thee and are not ungrateful, we forsake one disobedient to thee O’Allah thee alone we worship and thee alone we turn to for help. We pray for thy mercy, and fear thy chastisement; verily, thy chastisement overtakes the unbelievers.)

Then say ‘Allah u akbar’ and carry on as per normal prayer.


Prayer Units

These are the Fard/obligatory prayer maintain these and build from here:
Fajr 2 units
zhur 4 units
Asr 4 units
Maghrib 3 units
Isha 4 units and 3 witr are wajib/necessary.



Here is a complete prayer rakat guide, check local mosque for correct prayer times.
Names of Prayer/Salah/Namaaz
Sunna before, Obligatory, Sunna after Optional Witr Nafil after Witr
Fajr (before sunrise) 2 2
Zhur (just after midday) 4 4 2 2
Asr (Late afternoon) 4 (optional) 4
Maghrib (after sunset) 3 2 2
Isha (night prayer) 4 (optional) 4 2 2 3 2

Jummah 4 2 4



If you are struggling then please seek assistance or simply attend a prayer and see what they do. Please note that there are differences and this is the basic prayer. more can be added later when you are ready, by adding all the sunnah parts of the prayer.

Fiqh of prayer please click here

 Forty hadith on prayer click here

Fiqh Primer click here