Complete beginner's guide to Salah — the 5 daily prayers
Salah is the Islamic prayer performed five times a day. It is the second pillar of Islam and the most important act of worship after the declaration of faith (Shahada). Salah is a direct connection between the worshipper and Allah, involving specific physical movements and recitations from the Quran.
The five daily prayers were prescribed during the Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ night journey (Isra and Mi'raj). They serve as spiritual checkpoints throughout the day — at dawn, midday, afternoon, sunset, and night — keeping believers connected to Allah and mindful of their purpose. Prayer brings peace, discipline, and closeness to God.
1. Wudu (Ablution): Ritual purification by washing specific body parts with water.
2. Clean Place: A clean surface to pray on — a prayer mat is ideal but not required.
3. Qibla Direction: Face towards the Kaaba in Makkah.
4. Appropriate Clothing: Cover the awrah — for men from navel to knees; for women, the entire body except face and hands.
5. Intention (Niyyah): Intend in your heart which prayer you are about to perform.
Wudu is required before every prayer. Click each step to expand.
Begin by making the intention in your heart to perform wudu for the sake of Allah. Say "Bismillah" (In the name of Allah) before starting. The intention does not need to be spoken aloud — it is a matter of the heart.
Wash both hands up to the wrists thoroughly, three times each. Start with the right hand, then the left. Make sure water reaches between the fingers and under any rings.
Take water into your right hand and rinse your mouth thoroughly three times. Swish the water around your mouth to clean it completely, then spit it out. Using a miswak or toothbrush before wudu is recommended (Sunnah).
Sniff water into your nostrils using your right hand three times, then blow it out using your left hand. This ensures the nasal passage is clean.
Wash your entire face three times — from the hairline to the chin, and from ear to ear. Make sure water reaches every part of the face including the eyebrows and the beard area.
Wash your right arm from fingertips to the elbow three times, ensuring water covers every part. Then wash the left arm the same way. The elbows must be included in the washing.
Wet your hands and wipe your entire head from front to back and back to front, once. This is called Masah. Use both hands starting from the forehead, moving to the back of the head, and then returning.
Using the same moisture from wiping the head, clean the inside of both ears with your index fingers and the outside with your thumbs. This is done once.
Wash your right foot up to the ankle three times, making sure water passes between all the toes. Then wash the left foot the same way. After completing wudu, recite the Shahada: "Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh".
Select a prayer to see its details.
Fajr (Dawn Prayer) is performed between the break of dawn and sunrise. It consists of 2 Sunnah rakaat followed by 2 Fard (obligatory) rakaat.
The 2 Fard rakaat are performed as follows: In the 1st rakaat, recite Al-Fatiha followed by another short surah, perform ruku and two sujud. In the 2nd rakaat, do the same, then sit for Tashahhud and end with Tasleem.
💡 The Prophet ﷺ said: "The two rakaat of Fajr are better than the world and all that it contains." (Muslim)
Dhuhr (Noon Prayer) is performed after the sun passes its zenith until the shadow equals the object's length. It consists of 4 Sunnah, then 4 Fard, then 2 Sunnah.
The 4 Fard rakaat: In the first 2 rakaat, recite Al-Fatiha + a short surah silently. After the 2nd rakaat, sit for Tashahhud. Then stand for the 3rd and 4th rakaat — recite only Al-Fatiha. Sit for the final Tashahhud and end with Tasleem.
Asr (Afternoon Prayer) is performed when the shadow of an object is equal to its length, until sunset. It consists of 4 Fard rakaat only (no confirmed Sunnah).
Performed the same way as Dhuhr — 4 rakaat with silent recitation. Sit for Tashahhud after the 2nd rakaat, then again after the 4th before Tasleem.
💡 The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever misses the Asr prayer, it is as if he lost his family and property." (Bukhari)
Maghrib (Sunset Prayer) is performed right after sunset until the twilight disappears. It consists of 3 Fard rakaat followed by 2 Sunnah rakaat.
The 3 Fard: First 2 rakaat — recite Al-Fatiha + short surah aloud. Sit for Tashahhud. Stand for the 3rd rakaat — recite only Al-Fatiha silently. Sit for final Tashahhud and end with Tasleem.
Isha (Night Prayer) is performed when the twilight has disappeared until midnight (or until Fajr in necessity). It consists of 4 Fard, then 2 Sunnah, then 3 Witr.
The 4 Fard: First 2 rakaat — recite Al-Fatiha + short surah aloud. Sit for Tashahhud. Stand for 3rd and 4th — Al-Fatiha only, silently. Final Tashahhud and Tasleem. The Witr prayer (3 rakaat) is highly recommended and ends the night.
Each rakaat (unit of prayer) follows these steps. This is what you say and do in each position.
Track your 5 daily prayers — resets at midnight
Muslims pray 5 obligatory prayers every day: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isha (night). In total, the five prayers consist of 17 obligatory rakaat. Additionally, there are voluntary (Sunnah) prayers that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ regularly performed.
During prayer, Muslims recite verses from the Quran in Arabic, primarily Surah Al-Fatiha (the opening chapter) in every rakaat. They also say specific phrases in each position: "Allahu Akbar" (God is Greatest) for transitions, "Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem" while bowing, "Subhana Rabbiyal A'la" while prostrating, and the Tashahhud while sitting. The prayer ends with "Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah."
The obligatory parts of prayer (Surah Al-Fatiha, Tashahhud, etc.) should be recited in Arabic, as this is how the Prophet ﷺ taught it. However, as a new Muslim or beginner, many scholars say you may pray in your own language while you are still learning the Arabic. The key is to make sincere effort to learn the Arabic recitations. Personal du'a (supplication) during sujud can be made in any language.
If you miss a prayer due to sleep or forgetfulness, you should pray it as soon as you remember. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever forgets a prayer or sleeps through it, the expiation for it is to pray it when he remembers it." (Bukhari & Muslim). Intentionally missing prayers is a serious sin in Islam and should be avoided. Make it up as soon as possible and ask Allah for forgiveness.
Muslims face the Kaaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia during prayer. You can use our Qibla Finder tool which uses your phone's compass and GPS to show you the exact direction. You can also use smartphone apps, a physical compass, or ask at your local mosque.
Each prayer has a time window, not a single exact moment. For example, Dhuhr can be prayed from when the sun passes its zenith until the shadow of an object equals its length. It is best to pray as early as possible in the time window. Check our Prayer Times page for accurate daily times based on your location.
Wudu is broken by: 1) Anything exiting from the front or back passage (including wind), 2) Deep sleep or loss of consciousness, 3) Bleeding from a wound (according to some schools), 4) Vomiting a mouthful. If your wudu is broken, you must perform it again before praying.
Comprehensive illustrated guide covering wudu, salah, and common mistakes for beginners.
View on AmazonClassic reference by Sheikh Al-Albani on how the Prophet ﷺ performed his prayers.
View on AmazonEssential collection of du'as and adhkar for daily prayers and all occasions.
View on AmazonDownload Muslim Friend for prayer times, reminders, Quran and more
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