How to pray in Islam (salah), step by step

By the Namilo team. Updated November 5, 2026.

The positions of the prayer in order, with what you say in each one: the Arabic, a transliteration to say it without reading Arabic, the translation, and the hadith the words come from. Enough to pray 2, 3 or 4 units, from the takbir to the final salutation.

No school is chosen: each step says where they differ. Everything that comes from the Namilo team (the movements described, the transliteration, the translations and the views of the schools) is waiting to be reviewed by a scholar.

How many rak‘ahs (units) are in each prayer?

Prayer	Rak‘ahs
Fajr (dawn)	2
Dhuhr (midday)	4
Asr (afternoon)	4
Maghrib (sunset)	3
Isha (night)	4

One unit (rak‘a): standing, bowing, two prostrations. These numbers are the ones all schools teach, passed down through practice. At first, each prayer had two, then they were increased for those who are not travelling (al-Bukhari 350, narrated by ‘Aisha).

One unit, in order

The takbir, to begin the prayer

To enter the prayer, then as you bow, as you go down into prostration, as you raise your head from prostration, and as you stand up after the first two units.

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allāhu akbar

Allah is the Greatest.

Translation: Namilo team
Sources, and what varies
- Ibn Majah 803, authentic according to al-Albani, Muhammad Fu’ad ‘Abd al-Baqi, Shu‘ayb al-Arna’ut and Zubair Ali Zai. Narrated by Abu Humayd as-Sa'idi: when standing up for prayer, he faced the qibla, raised his hands and said “Allāhu akbar”.
- al-Bukhari 795, authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari. Narrated by Abu Hurayra: he said “Allāhu akbar” when standing up, upright, after the two prostrations.
When to say it: al-Bukhari 789 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari), from Abu Hurayra, describes the takbir when standing up to pray, when bowing, when going down into prostration, when raising the head from prostration, and when standing up after the first two units, once seated. When straightening up from bowing, one does not say “Allāhu akbar” but “Sami‘a llāhu li-man hamidah” (see “As you rise”).

Translated by the Namilo team.
Standing: Al-Fatiha, then a surah

Standing, after the takbir, you recite Al-Fatiha, then a surah in the first two units (for the later ones, see “Unit by unit”).

You can learn Al-Fatiha word by word, with its transliteration, in the Namilo app.

The schools differ on the Fatiha in units 3 and 4, on the Fatiha behind an imam, and on the surah that follows it: their views and the hadiths are in the step. Awaiting review.

Standing in prayer: where the schools differ

In the third and fourth units of the obligatory prayers: from Abu Qatada, the Prophet ﷺ recited at Dhuhr the Fatiha and two surahs in the first two units, and the Fatiha in the last two, and likewise at Asr (al-Bukhari 776 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari)); and “no prayer for whoever does not recite the Fatiha” (al-Bukhari 756 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari)). According to az-Zuhayli (al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuh, vol. 2, pp. 881 and 905), the Fatiha is obligatory there in the Shafi'i school, and in the Maliki and Hanbali schools for the imam and for one praying alone; in the Hanafi school, it is recommended there, and one may also glorify Allah three times (tasbih) or remain silent for the time it takes to recite it.

The surah after the Fatiha: the same hadith of Abu Qatada (al-Bukhari 776 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari)) places it in the first two units; from Abu Sa'id, “we were commanded to recite the Fatiha and whatever is easy” (Abu Dawud 818 (authentic according to al-Albani and Muhyi ad-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid; weak chain according to Shu‘ayb al-Arna’ut; weak according to Zubair Ali Zai)); and Abu Hurayra said: “If you add nothing to the Fatiha, it suffices; if you add, it is better” (al-Bukhari 772 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari)). According to az-Zuhayli (same work, vol. 2, p. 882), this surah is obligatory (wajib) in the Hanafi school, and sunnah for the majority of scholars.

Behind an imam: in one transmission of the hadith of Abu Musa (Muslim 404 (no. 905 in the fawazahmed0 edition) (authentic: reported in the Sahih of Muslim)), the Prophet ﷺ says “when he recites, be silent”; Muslim says he holds authentic the hadith of Abu Hurayra that also reports it, without having placed it there. In at-Tirmidhi 312 (authentic according to Ahmad Muhammad Shakir, al-Albani and Zubair Ali Zai), from Abu Hurayra, the Prophet ﷺ asked after a prayer recited aloud whether anyone had recited with him; a man said yes, and he said: “I was saying to myself: why am I being contended with over the Quran?”; and the people stopped reciting with him in those prayers (some narrators attribute this last sentence to az-Zuhri). At-Tirmidhi adds there that this hadith does not contradict those who recite behind the imam. From Jabir, the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever has an imam, the imam’s recitation is his recitation” (Ibn Majah 850 (good according to al-Albani and Muhammad Fu’ad ‘Abd al-Baqi; weak according to Zubair Ali Zai)). And according to Muslim 395 (no. 878 in the fawazahmed0 edition) (authentic: reported in the Sahih of Muslim), Abu Hurayra told whoever prayed behind the imam: “Recite it to yourself.”

The schools, according to al-Mawsu'a al-Fiqhiyya (cited by islamweb.net, fatwa 277168): behind an imam, the Fatiha is obligatory in the Shafi'i school, in prayers recited aloud as in those recited silently; one does not recite behind the imam in the Hanafi school, even in silent prayers; in the Maliki and Hanbali schools, it is not obligatory. Malik says that the practice among them is to recite behind the imam when he recites silently, and not to recite when he recites aloud (the Muwatta of Malik 191 (numbering of the fawazahmed0 edition) (authentic as the saying of a Companion (mawquf), according to Salim al-Hilali)). At-Tirmidhi reports that Ahmad held that “no prayer for whoever does not recite the Fatiha” refers to one praying alone, and nevertheless chose to recite behind the imam, without leaving out the Fatiha (at-Tirmidhi 312 (authentic according to Ahmad Muhammad Shakir, al-Albani and Zubair Ali Zai)).

The basmala is numbered 1 here, as in the Hafs reading. In prayer, the schools do not all say it the same way: aloud, silently, or not at all in the obligatory prayer. Follow what you were taught.

Awaiting review by a scholar: the views of the schools are reported from the works cited, without choosing any of them. For your own practice, follow what you were taught or ask a person of knowledge.
In bowing

Bowing, hands on the knees.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

Subḥāna rabbiya l-‘aẓīm

Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.

Translation: Namilo team
Sources, and what varies
- Muslim 772 (no. 1814 in the fawazahmed0 edition), authentic: reported in the Sahih of Muslim. Narrated by Hudhayfa, who prayed at night with the Prophet ﷺ: while bowing, he said “Subhāna rabbiya l-‘azīm”.
- Abu Dawud 874, authentic according to al-Albani, Muhyi ad-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid, Shu‘ayb al-Arna’ut and Zubair Ali Zai. Narrated by Hudhayfa.
The number of times: “three times” comes from Abu Dawud 886 (weak according to al-Albani, Muhyi ad-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid and Zubair Ali Zai) (Abu Dawud himself says the chain is broken) and from Abu Dawud 870 (weak according to al-Albani, Muhyi ad-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid and Shu‘ayb al-Arna’ut; authentic according to Zubair Ali Zai). The formula itself is authentic.

The addition “wa bi-hamdih” (and with His praise) comes from Abu Dawud 870 (weak according to al-Albani, Muhyi ad-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid and Shu‘ayb al-Arna’ut; authentic according to Zubair Ali Zai), the same hadith as “three times”; Abu Dawud fears this addition may not be well preserved.

The position, hands placed firmly on the knees, is described by al-Bukhari 828 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari), from Abu Humayd as-Sa'idi.

Another formula is reported for bowing and prostration: “Subhānaka llāhumma rabbanā wa bi-hamdika, Allāhumma ghfir lī” (al-Bukhari 794 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari)).

Translated by the Namilo team.
As you rise

As you straighten up from bowing, then standing.

سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

Sami‘a llāhu li-man ḥamidah

رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Rabbanā wa laka l-ḥamd

Allah hears the one who praises Him. Our Lord, and to You belongs the praise.

Translation: Namilo team
Sources, and what varies
- al-Bukhari 735, authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari. Narrated by 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar: when raising his head from bowing, he said “Sami‘a llāhu li-man hamidah, rabbanā wa laka l-hamd”.
Several authentic wordings exist: “Rabbanā laka l-hamd” without “wa” (al-Bukhari 789 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari), which also gives “wa laka l-hamd” through another transmission), “Allāhumma rabbanā wa laka l-hamd” (al-Bukhari 795 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari)), “Allāhumma rabbanā laka l-hamd” (al-Bukhari 796 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari)). None is ranked here.

Behind an imam: according to al-Bukhari 796 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari), when the imam says “Sami‘a llāhu li-man hamidah”, one answers “Allāhumma rabbanā laka l-hamd”. The schools differ on what the one praying behind him then says.

A man praying behind the Prophet ﷺ added “hamdan kathīran tayyiban mubārakan fīh” (al-Bukhari 799 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari)).

Translated by the Namilo team.
In prostration

Forehead on the ground.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى

Subḥāna rabbiya l-a‘lā

Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

Translation: Namilo team
Sources, and what varies
- Muslim 772 (no. 1814 in the fawazahmed0 edition), authentic: reported in the Sahih of Muslim. Narrated by Hudhayfa: in prostration, he said “Subhāna rabbiya l-a‘lā”.
- Abu Dawud 874, authentic according to al-Albani, Muhyi ad-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid, Shu‘ayb al-Arna’ut and Zubair Ali Zai. Narrated by Hudhayfa.
As with bowing: “three times” comes from Abu Dawud 886 (weak according to al-Albani, Muhyi ad-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid and Zubair Ali Zai) and from Abu Dawud 870 (weak according to al-Albani, Muhyi ad-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid and Shu‘ayb al-Arna’ut; authentic according to Zubair Ali Zai), the addition “wa bi-hamdih” from Abu Dawud 870 (weak according to al-Albani, Muhyi ad-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid and Shu‘ayb al-Arna’ut; authentic according to Zubair Ali Zai), and the other formula from al-Bukhari 794 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari).

Translated by the Namilo team.
Between the two prostrations

Seated, between the two prostrations.

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

Rabbi ghfir lī

My Lord, forgive me.

Translation: Namilo team
Sources, and what varies
- Abu Dawud 874, authentic according to al-Albani, Muhyi ad-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid, Shu‘ayb al-Arna’ut and Zubair Ali Zai. Narrated by Hudhayfa: between the two prostrations, he said “Rabbi ghfir lī, rabbi ghfir lī”.
- Ibn Majah 897, authentic according to al-Albani, Muhammad Fu’ad ‘Abd al-Baqi and Shu‘ayb al-Arna’ut; authentic, by the criteria of Muslim, according to Zubair Ali Zai. Narrated by Hudhayfa.
In these two hadiths, the formula is said twice.

A longer supplication is also reported: “Allāhumma ghfir lī, warhamnī, wa ‘āfinī, wahdinī, warzuqnī” (Abu Dawud 850 (good according to al-Albani, Muhyi ad-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid and Shu‘ayb al-Arna’ut; weak according to Zubair Ali Zai)).

Translated by the Namilo team.
The second prostration

You prostrate a second time and say the same words again: “Subḥāna rabbiya l-a‘lā”.

The hadiths in step 6 place the sitting between the two prostrations.

Unit by unit, to the end

Unit 1 steps 1 to 7.
Unit 2 you stand up with the takbir, then do steps 2 to 7 again.
After unit 2 you sit and say the tashahhud (step 8).

Fajr, 2 units

You stay seated: the prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ (step 9), then the final salutation (step 10). The prayer is complete.

Maghrib (3), Dhuhr, Asr and Isha (4)

After the tashahhud, you stand up with the takbir for unit 3, then unit 4 if there is one. After the last unit, seated: the tashahhud, the prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ and the final salutation (steps 8 to 10).

In these last units, standing, only Al-Fatiha: al-Bukhari 776 reports this of the Prophet ﷺ at Dhuhr and Asr. The schools differ on these units (step 2).

Where this sequence comes from

When to say it: al-Bukhari 789 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari), from Abu Hurayra, describes the takbir when standing up to pray, when bowing, when going down into prostration, when raising the head from prostration, and when standing up after the first two units, once seated. When straightening up from bowing, one does not say “Allāhu akbar” but “Sami‘a llāhu li-man hamidah” (see “As you rise”).

In the third and fourth units of the obligatory prayers: from Abu Qatada, the Prophet ﷺ recited at Dhuhr the Fatiha and two surahs in the first two units, and the Fatiha in the last two, and likewise at Asr (al-Bukhari 776 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari)); and “no prayer for whoever does not recite the Fatiha” (al-Bukhari 756 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari)). According to az-Zuhayli (al-Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuh, vol. 2, pp. 881 and 905), the Fatiha is obligatory there in the Shafi'i school, and in the Maliki and Hanbali schools for the imam and for one praying alone; in the Hanafi school, it is recommended there, and one may also glorify Allah three times (tasbih) or remain silent for the time it takes to recite it.

The tashahhud: “after the second unit and at the end of the prayer”; the prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ: “at the end of the prayer, after the tashahhud” (steps 8 and 9).

The words said while sitting

After unit 2, the tashahhud only. At the end of the prayer, all three.

The tashahhud

Seated, after the second unit and at the end of the prayer.

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ

At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi wa ṣ-ṣalawātu wa ṭ-ṭayyibāt

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

As-salāmu ‘alayka ayyuha n-nabiyyu wa raḥmatu llāhi wa barakātuh

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ

As-salāmu ‘alaynā wa ‘alā ‘ibādi llāhi ṣ-ṣāliḥīn

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ

Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illa llāh

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan ‘abduhū wa rasūluh

All greetings are for Allah, and the prayers and the good things. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.

Translation: Namilo team
Sources, and what varies
- al-Bukhari 6265, authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari. Narrated by 'Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ taught me the tashahhud, my hand between his, as he would teach me a surah of the Quran”.
- Muslim 402 (no. 897 in the fawazahmed0 edition), authentic: reported in the Sahih of Muslim. Narrated by 'Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud.
- an-Nasa'i 1163, authentic according to Abu Ghuddah and al-Albani; authentic chain according to Zubair Ali Zai. Narrated by 'Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud: “When you sit after every two units, say: at-tahiyyātu lillāh…”.
This is the version of Ibn Mas'ud; at-Tirmidhi reports that it is the view of most scholars, including Imam Ahmad (at-Tirmidhi 289 (authentic according to Ahmad Muhammad Shakir, al-Albani and Zubair Ali Zai)). Other authentic wordings exist and are also said: that of Ibn 'Abbas (Muslim 403 (no. 902 in the fawazahmed0 edition) (authentic: reported in the Sahih of Muslim)), which ash-Shafi'i adopted according to at-Tirmidhi (at-Tirmidhi 290 (authentic according to Ahmad Muhammad Shakir and al-Albani; good and authentic according to Bashar Awad Maarouf; authentic, by the criteria of Muslim, according to Zubair Ali Zai)), and the one 'Umar taught from the minbar, reported by Malik in his Muwatta (the Muwatta of Malik 202 (numbering of the fawazahmed0 edition) (authentic as the saying of a Companion (mawquf), according to Salim al-Hilali)). The schools did not all adopt the same one; they are not ranked here: say the one you were taught.

In the same hadith (al-Bukhari 6265 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari)), Ibn Mas'ud adds: “After his death, we would say: as-salām”, and the narrator explains: “meaning upon the Prophet ﷺ”. Scholars differ on which wording to keep.

Translated by the Namilo team.
Prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ

Seated, at the end of the prayer, after the tashahhud.

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

Allāhumma ṣalli ‘alā Muḥammadin wa ‘alā āli Muḥammad

كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

Kamā ṣallayta ‘alā Ibrāhīma wa ‘alā āli Ibrāhīm

إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

Allāhumma bārik ‘alā Muḥammadin wa ‘alā āli Muḥammad

كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

Kamā bārakta ‘alā Ibrāhīma wa ‘alā āli Ibrāhīm

إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd

O Allah, praise Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You praised Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are worthy of all praise, full of glory. O Allah, grant Your blessing to Muhammad and to the family of Muhammad, as You granted it to Ibrahim and to the family of Ibrahim. You are worthy of all praise, full of glory.

Translation: Namilo team
Sources, and what varies
- al-Bukhari 3370, authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari. Narrated by Ka'b ibn 'Ujra: “Say: Allāhumma salli ‘alā Muhammad…”.
Several authentic wordings exist: Muslim 406 (no. 908 in the fawazahmed0 edition) (authentic: reported in the Sahih of Muslim), from Ka'b ibn 'Ujra, says “‘alā āli Ibrāhīm” without “‘alā Ibrāhīm”; Muslim 405 (no. 907 in the fawazahmed0 edition) (authentic: reported in the Sahih of Muslim), from Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari, also omits “‘alā Ibrāhīm”, says “wa bārik” without “Allāhumma”, has only one “innaka Hamīdun Majīd”, at the end, and adds “fi l-‘ālamīn”; al-Bukhari 3369 (authentic: reported in the Sahih of al-Bukhari), from Abu Humayd as-Sa'idi, says “‘alā Muhammadin wa azwājihi wa dhurriyyatihi” instead of “wa ‘alā āli Muhammad”. None is ranked here.

Praying upon the Prophet ﷺ in the prayer comes from Abu Dawud 1481 (authentic according to al-Albani, Muhyi ad-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid and Shu‘ayb al-Arna’ut; good chain according to Zubair Ali Zai), from Fadala ibn 'Ubayd: in one’s prayer, one begins by praising one’s Lord, then prays upon the Prophet ﷺ, then supplicates; the formula itself is the one in this step’s source. Whether this comes at the last sitting, after the tashahhud, and whether it is obligatory or not, is the view of the schools, which differ: the hadith does not specify it.

Translated by the Namilo team.
The final salutation

To leave the prayer.

السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa raḥmatu llāh

Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.

Translation: Namilo team
Sources, and what varies
- Muslim 431 (no. 970 in the fawazahmed0 edition), authentic: reported in the Sahih of Muslim. Narrated by Jabir ibn Samura: “When we prayed with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, we would say: as-salāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatu llāh, as-salāmu ‘alaykum wa rahmatu llāh”.
- Abu Dawud 996, authentic according to al-Albani, Muhyi ad-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid and Zubair Ali Zai. Narrated by 'Abd Allah ibn Mas'ud: to the right and to the left.
Abu Dawud 997 (authentic according to al-Albani, Muhyi ad-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid and Shu‘ayb al-Arna’ut; good chain according to Zubair Ali Zai), from Wa'il ibn Hujr, adds “wa barakātuh” to the right.

On Abu Dawud 996 (authentic according to al-Albani, Muhyi ad-Din ‘Abd al-Hamid and Zubair Ali Zai), Abu Dawud reports that Shu'ba disputed that this account goes back to the Prophet ﷺ (the raf'). The salutation itself, to the right and to the left, is also in Muslim 431 (no. 970 in the fawazahmed0 edition) (authentic: reported in the Sahih of Muslim).

A single salutation, facing forward and turning slightly to the right, is reported from 'A'isha by at-Tirmidhi 296 (authentic according to Ahmad Muhammad Shakir and al-Albani; weak according to Zubair Ali Zai) and Ibn Majah 919 (authentic according to al-Albani and Muhammad Fu’ad ‘Abd al-Baqi; weak according to Shu‘ayb al-Arna’ut and Zubair Ali Zai), through the same chain, whose authenticity scholars dispute. At-Tirmidhi writes there that most scholars hold two salutations, that others hold only one, and that ash-Shafi'i leaves the choice open.

Translated by the Namilo team.

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How to read the pronunciation

u sounds like the “u” in “put”; ā, ī and ū are long. h is always pronounced, s never becomes z, r is rolled. sh as in “she”, kh like the Spanish jota, gh like a French r from the back of the throat, th like the th in “think”, dh like the one in “this”, q like a k from the back of the throat: qul (“say”) is not kul (“eat”). ‘ is the ‘ayn, a tight sound from the throat, and ’ a short stop. A dot under a letter (ḥ, ṣ, ḍ, ṭ, ẓ) marks a heavier sound than the same letter without it.

Frequently asked questions

What do you say to start the prayer?

“Allāhu akbar” (Allah is the Greatest): this is the takbir. According to Abu Humayd as-Sa‘idi (Ibn Majah 803), the Prophet ﷺ faced the qibla, raised his hands and said “Allāhu akbar”.

What do you say during the prayer?

Standing, Al-Fatiha, then a surah in the first two units; bowing, “Subḥāna rabbiya l-‘aẓīm”; rising, “Sami‘a llāhu li-man ḥamidah”, then “Rabbanā wa laka l-ḥamd”; in prostration, “Subḥāna rabbiya l-a‘lā”; sitting between the two prostrations, “Rabbi ghfir lī”. After the second unit, seated, the tashahhud. At the end of the prayer, seated, the tashahhud, the prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ and the final salutation. Each phrase is above, with its translation and source.

How many rak‘ahs (units) are in each prayer?

Fajr: 2, Dhuhr: 4, Asr: 4, Maghrib: 3, Isha: 4. One unit (rak‘a): standing, bowing, two prostrations. These numbers are the ones all schools teach, passed down through practice. At first, each prayer had two, then they were increased for those who are not travelling (al-Bukhari 350, narrated by ‘Aisha).

I can’t read Arabic: what do I do?

Every phrase is written here in transliteration, line by line. To read it: u sounds like the “u” in “put”; ā, ī and ū are long. h is always pronounced, s never becomes z, r is rolled. sh as in “she”, kh like the Spanish jota, gh like a French r from the back of the throat, th like the th in “think”, dh like the one in “this”, q like a k from the back of the throat: qul (“say”) is not kul (“eat”). ‘ is the ‘ayn, a tight sound from the throat, and ’ a short stop. A dot under a letter (ḥ, ṣ, ḍ, ṭ, ẓ) marks a heavier sound than the same letter without it. The Namilo app also teaches you, for free, the meaning of each word of the steps and of Al-Fatiha, a few words a day.

Do all the schools say the same thing?

This path follows the hadiths without choosing a school: each step says where the schools differ, or that it is awaiting review. The schools do not all give these formulas the same weight: some are obligatory for some schools, recommended for others. For your own practice, follow what you were taught or ask a person of knowledge.

This page does not cover what comes before the prayer (wudu, clothing) or what invalidates it, and neither does the app. For that, ask a knowledgeable person you trust.

How this page is made

The movements, the phrases, their transliteration and their sources are those of the Namilo app (“Learn to pray”). Each Arabic phrase was copied from the hadith cited, in Fawaz Ahmed’s edition (hadith-api), and its grade of authenticity is given as is, including where scholars differ. The text around it is a translation from French, written with the help of an AI and not yet reviewed by the team.

See a mistake? Write to us at [email protected] with your source: we check it against the original text.

Also: Ayatul Kursi with transliteration.

In the Namilo app: the steps of the prayer one at a time, Al-Fatiha word by word, and the prayer times for your city, on your phone.

Download Namilo on the App Store

iPhone only.