A detailed beginner guide to Salah with preparation, wudu, rakaat counts, step-by-step positions, duas, transliteration, and meanings.
Make intention and say: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ (Bismillah).
Wash both hands 3 times.
Rinse mouth 3 times.
Rinse nose 3 times.
Wash face 3 times.
Wash right arm then left arm up to elbows, 3 times each.
Wipe head once and wipe ears.
Wash right foot then left foot up to ankles, 3 times each.
Fajr
2 Fard
2 Sunnah before
Dhuhr
4 Fard
4 before, 2 after
Asr
4 Fard
4 Sunnah before
Maghrib
3 Fard
2 Sunnah after
Isha
4 Fard
2 after + Witr
Takbir
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar.
Allah is the Greatest.
Ruku
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal Azim. (3x)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.
Sujud
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal A'la. (3x)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Between Two Sujud
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbi-ghfir li.
My Lord, forgive me.
Stand facing Qiblah and make intention in your heart for the prayer.
No spoken formula is required; intention in heart is enough.
نَوَيْتُ أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى
Nawaytu an usalliya lillahi taala.
I intend to pray for Allah Most High.
Raise both hands and say Allahu Akbar to begin Salah.
Hands are raised near ears/shoulders; then fold hands on chest/navel area per school.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar.
Allah is the Greatest.
After Takbir, read an opening dua (thana). Beginners can learn this gradually.
Do this while standing before Al-Fatihah.
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subhanaka-llahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa taala jadduka wa la ilaha ghayruk.
Glory and praise are Yours O Allah. Blessed is Your Name, exalted is Your majesty, and none has the right to be worshiped but You.
Recite: Audhu billahi... then Bismillah, then Surah Al-Fatihah in every rakah.
Recite calmly with reflection; Al-Fatihah is essential in each rakah.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil alamin...
All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all worlds.
After Al-Fatihah in first two rakah, recite a short surah (for example: Al-Ikhlas).
In 3rd/4th rakah of Dhuhr, Asr, Isha, Al-Fatihah alone is enough.
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
Qul huwallahu ahad.
Say: He is Allah, One.
Bow with straight back, hands on knees, and say the dhikr calmly.
Head and back should be aligned, elbows not bent inward.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal Azim. (3x)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.
Rise from bowing and stand straight until fully at rest.
Do not rush directly into sujud; pause briefly while standing.
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Sami allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana lakal hamd.
Allah hears the one who praises Him; our Lord, to You belongs all praise.
Go to sujud with forehead and nose on the ground, elbows raised from floor.
Seven points should touch ground: forehead (with nose), two palms, two knees, two feet.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal Ala. (3x)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Sit calmly, then recite a short dua asking for forgiveness.
Sit with calmness before the second sujud.
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbi-ghfir li.
My Lord, forgive me.
Perform a second prostration similar to the first.
Keep focus and remain still briefly in sujud.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal Ala. (3x)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Stand up and repeat recitation, ruku, and sujud for the next rakah.
Use Allahu Akbar while moving to the next posture.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar.
Allah is the Greatest.
Sit and recite Tashahhud, then send blessings upon the Prophet (peace be upon him).
Remain seated with calmness before ending prayer.
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ
At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat...
All greetings, prayers, and pure words are for Allah...
Turn your head to the right and left, ending prayer with salam.
Say salam to right first, then left.
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah.
Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you.
In the first 2 rakah of Fard prayers, recite Al-Fatihah + another surah. In later rakah of 3/4-rakah prayers, Al-Fatihah alone is commonly recited.
💡 If you cannot read Arabic yet, use transliteration first and improve daily.