How do I pray in Islam as a new Muslim?

Step by step

1. Make wudu and face the qibla. Be in a state of wudu, in clean clothes, on a clean place, facing the direction of the Kaaba in Makkah.
2. Make your intention. In your heart, not out loud: "I am praying 2 rakat of Fajr for Allah."
3. Say Allahu Akbar. Raise your hands and say "Allahu Akbar". Then place your hands as your school teaches: below the navel (Hanafi men), on the chest (Shafi'i, Hanbali, and Hanafi women), or at your sides (Maliki).
4. Recite Al-Fatiha. Recite Surah Al-Fatiha and say "Ameen". In the first two rakat, add a short surah such as Al-Ikhlas.
5. Bow (ruku). Say "Allahu Akbar", bow with your hands on your knees and your back straight, and say "Subhana Rabbiyal Adheem" three times.
6. Rise. Stand up saying "Sami'Allahu liman hamidah". Once standing, say "Rabbana wa lakal hamd".
7. Prostrate (sujud). Say "Allahu Akbar" and go down so your forehead and nose, palms, knees and toes touch the ground. Say "Subhana Rabbiyal A'la" three times.
8. Sit, then prostrate again. Rise to sitting saying "Allahu Akbar", say "Rabbighfir li", then make a second sujud the same way. This completes one rakat.
9. Pray the second rakat. Stand up with "Allahu Akbar" and repeat the same steps, starting with Al-Fatiha.
10. Sit for the Tashahhud. After the second sujud of the last rakat, stay sitting and recite the Tashahhud, then the salawat on the Prophet (peace be upon him).
11. End with salam. Turn your head to the right and say "Assalamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah", then to the left and say it again. Your prayer is complete.

What to say in each position

Three and four rakat prayers

• Maghrib has 3 rakat; Dhuhr, Asr and Isha have 4.
• After the second rakat, sit and recite only the Tashahhud, then stand up for the next rakat.
• In the third and fourth rakat, recite only Al-Fatiha, with no extra surah.
• In the final sitting, recite the Tashahhud and the salawat, then end with salam.

Common questions