How to Pray
One rakat, step by step, with every word to say
1Begin with Takbir Takbiratul Ihram
Stand up straight, facing the qiblah. Make the intention in your heart that you are going to pray. Raise your hands up to your ears, palms facing forward. Say 'Allahu akbar.' This opens your prayer.
اللهُ أَكْبَر
allahu akbar
Allah is the Greatest.
2Say the Opening Dua Dua al-Istiftah
After takbir, before we read Al-Fatiha, we say a short opening dua. It praises Allah and helps our heart get ready to pray. We say it just once, at the very start of the prayer.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ كَبِيرًا وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا وَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ بُكْرَةً وَأَصِيلًا
allahu akbaru kabira wal-hamdulillahi kathira wa-subhana llahi bukratan wa-asila
Allah is the Greatest, abundantly. All praise is for Allah, abundantly. Glory be to Allah, morning and evening.
3Stand and Recite Al-Fatiha Surah Al-Fatiha: The Opening
After takbir, place your right hand over your left hand below your belly button. Now recite Al-Fatiha, the Opening of the Quran. Al-Fatiha is recited in every rakat of every prayer. It's the most important surah we know.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٧﴾
bismi llahi ar-rahmani ar-raheem · al-hamdu lillahi rabbi al-alameen · ar-rahmani ar-raheem · maliki yawmi ad-deen · iyyaka na'budu wa-iyyaka nasta'een · ihdina as-sirata al-mustaqeem · sirata allatheena an'amta alayhim ghayri al-maghdoobi alayhim wa-la ad-dalleen
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path. The path of those You have blessed, not of those who earned anger, nor of those who went astray.
4Add a Short Surah Surah Al-Ikhlas: The Sincerity
After Al-Fatiha, recite any short surah you know. You can pick one you've memorized. Let's use Al-Ikhlas. It's short, beautiful, and teaches us about the oneness of Allah, the most important truth in Islam.
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴿١﴾ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ﴿٢﴾ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ ﴿٤﴾
qul huwa llahu ahad · allahu as-samad · lam yalid wa-lam yoolad · wa-lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad
Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He does not give birth, nor was He born. And there is none equal to Him.
5Bow Down Ruku
Say 'Allahu akbar' as you bow down. Place your hands on your knees with your fingers spread apart. Keep your back flat, like a tabletop. Look down at the floor. Say 'Subhana rabbiyal adheem' three times.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
subhana rabbiya al-adheem
Glory to my Lord, the Magnificent.
6Stand Back Up I'tidal
Rise back up from the bow. Let your arms hang naturally at your sides. As you rise, say 'Sami Allahu liman hamidah.' Once standing straight, say 'Rabbana wa lakal hamd.'
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْد
sami'a llahu liman hamidah rabbana wa-laka al-hamd
Allah hears those who praise Him. Our Lord, all praise is for You.
