1 Standing: takbir تكبيرة الإحرام

Hands raised, then folded

Stand facing the qiblah. Raise your hands to shoulder height or ear level, say the takbir, then fold your hands on your chest or stomach. From here, you're in prayer.

اللهُ أَكْبَر

Allahu akbar

"Allah is the greatest." Once, aloud.

2 Standing: recitation القيام

Eyes to the place of sujud

Keep standing with your hands folded. In the first rak'ah only, say the opening supplication quietly. Then seek refuge, say the basmalah, and recite Al-Fatihah. You do this in every rak'ah, and nothing else takes its place. In the first two rak'ahs, add a short surah after Al-Fatihah.

First rak'ah only, silent

Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika...

then A'udhu billahi mina-sh-shaytani-r-rajim

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ

Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabaraka-smuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk.

"Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You."

Then seeking refuge and the basmalah

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ · بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

A'udhu billahi mina-sh-shaytani-r-rajim. Bismillahi-r-Rahmani-r-Rahim.

"I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed. In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful."

Every rak'ah

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Al-Fatihah, then Amin

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Bismillahi-r-Rahmani-r-Rahim

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Al-hamdu lillahi Rabbi-l-'alamin

الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

Ar-Rahmani-r-Rahim

مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

Maliki yawmi-d-din

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ

Ihdina-s-sirata-l-mustaqim

صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

Sirata-lladhina an'amta 'alayhim, ghayri-l-maghdubi 'alayhim wa la-d-dallin

Then say: آمِين Amin

"All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement. 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."

First two rak'ahs: a short surah (Al-Ikhlas)

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ۝ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ۝ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ۝ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

Qul huwa Allahu ahad. Allahu-s-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.

"Say: He is Allah, One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, and there is none comparable to Him."

3 Bowing الرُّكوع

Back flat, hands on knees

Say the takbir and bow. Bend from your hips until your back is flat, with your head in line with it. Spread your fingers on your knees, keep your arms and back straight, and get still before you speak.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

Subhana Rabbiya-l-'Adhim

"Glory to my Lord, the Most Great." Three times, quietly.

4 Rising from the bow الاعتدال

Upright, arms at the sides

Stand back up fully, saying the words as you rise. Pause here. This isn't just a movement, it's a position on its own.

While rising

سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ

Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah

Once upright

رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Rabbana wa laka-l-hamd

Optional longer form

Hamdan kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fih, mil'a-s-samawati wa mil'a-l-ardi wa mil'a ma shi'ta min shay'in ba'd.

"Abundant, pure, blessed praise, filling the heavens, filling the earth, and filling whatever else You will."

5 Prostration السُّجود

Seven points touch the ground

Say the takbir and go down. Your forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and the toes of both feet should all be on the ground, seven points in all. Keep your elbows off the floor and away from your sides.

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Subhana Rabbiya-l-A'la

"Glory to my Lord, the Most High." Three times, quietly.

Optional addition

سُبُّوحٌ قُدُّوسٌ رَبُّ الْمَلَائِكَةِ وَالرُّوحِ

Subbuhun Quddusun, Rabbu-l-mala'ikati wa-r-ruh.

"Perfect, Holy, Lord of the angels and the Spirit."

After the required tasbih, this is the place to ask for whatever you want, in any language.

6 Sitting between prostrations الجلسة

Sitting back on the folded feet

Say the takbir and sit up. Fold your left foot under you and sit on it, keep your right foot upright with toes pointing toward the qiblah, and rest your hands on your thighs. Get settled before moving on.

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَارْحَمْنِي

Rabbi-ghfir li, warhamni, wajburni, warfa'ni, warzuqni, wahdini, wa 'afini

Or simply: Rabbi-ghfir li, Rabbi-ghfir li

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، وَارْحَمْنِي، وَاجْبُرْنِي، وَارْفَعْنِي، وَارْزُقْنِي، وَاهْدِنِي، وَعَافِنِي

"My Lord, forgive me, have mercy on me, mend me, raise me, provide for me, guide me, and grant me wellbeing."

7 Second prostration السجود الثاني

Identical to the first

Say the takbir and prostrate again exactly as before, with the same tasbih. That completes one rak'ah. Say the takbir and stand for the next one. After an even number of rak'ahs, stay seated for the tashahhud instead.

Subhana Rabbiya-l-A'la

Three times, quietly

8 Final sitting and salam التشهد والسلام

Index finger raised at the shahadah

Sit like you did in stage 6 and recite the tashahhud, raising your index finger when you say the testimony of faith. In the last sitting, add the durood and a du'a. Then turn your head right and left with the salam. That's it, your prayer is done.

Every sitting

At-tahiyyatu lillahi wa-s-salawatu wa-t-tayyibat...

then, in the final sitting: Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad... and a du'a

Tashahhud

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

At-tahiyyatu lillahi wa-s-salawatu wa-t-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuha-n-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahi-s-salihin. Ashhadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh.

"All greetings, prayers, and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and 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 messenger."

Salat Ibrahimiyyah, final sitting only

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid.

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid.

"O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed You are Praiseworthy, Glorious."

Du'a before the salam

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ، وَمِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ، وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ

Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min 'adhabi jahannam, wa min 'adhabi-l-qabr, wa min fitnati-l-mahya wa-l-mamat, wa min sharri fitnati-l-Masihi-d-Dajjal.

"O Allah, I seek refuge in You from the punishment of Hell, from the punishment of the grave, from the trials of life and death, and from the evil of the trial of the false messiah."

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah

Twice: to the right, then to the left

Prayer	Rak'ahs
Fajr	2	Both rak'ahs are recited aloud
Dhuhr	4	Everything is said quietly
'Asr	4	Everything is said quietly
Maghrib	3	First two rak'ahs aloud, third quiet
'Isha	4	First two rak'ahs aloud, last two quiet

Sujood