How to Pray

The Adhan is called aloud to announce that the time for an obligatory prayer has entered. It is recommended to quietly repeat each phrase after the caller, then send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ and make du'a when it finishes.

The Iqama is a second, shorter call given just before the prayer begins — the signal to stand and straighten the rows. It repeats the phrases of the Adhan, with one addition after 'Hayya 'alā al-falāh':

Stand facing the Qiblah. Make your intention in your heart for the specific prayer. Raise your hands to your ears (or shoulders) and say:

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allahu Akbar

Allah is the Greatest

Place your right hand over your left on your chest. Recite the opening supplication:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabaraka ismuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk

Glory be to You O Allah, and praise be to You. Blessed is Your Name and Exalted is Your Majesty. There is no god but You.

Say 'A'udhu billahi min ash-shaytanir-rajim' (I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan), then 'Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim', then recite Surah Al-Fatihah:

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ۝ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ ۝ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ۝ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ۝ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ۝ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

Al-hamdu lillahi Rabbil-'alamin. Ar-Rahmanir-Rahim. Maliki yawmid-din. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in. Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim. Siratal-ladhina an'amta 'alayhim, ghayril-maghdubi 'alayhim walad-dallin

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most 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 upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned anger nor of those who are astray.

Say 'Allahu Akbar' and bow with your back straight, hands on your knees. Say three times:

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

Subhana Rabbiyal-Azeem

Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great

Rise from bowing and say:

سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Sami'Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal-hamd

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

Say 'Allahu Akbar' and prostrate with seven body parts touching the ground: forehead and nose, both palms, both knees, and toes of both feet. Say three times:

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la

Glory be to my Lord, the Most High

Rise from the first sujud saying 'Allahu Akbar'. Sit upright and say:

رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

Rabbighfir li, Rabbighfir li

My Lord, forgive me. My Lord, forgive me.

Say 'Allahu Akbar' and perform the second sujud the same way as the first. This completes one rak'ah (unit of prayer).

After every two rak'ahs, sit and recite the Tashahhud:

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

At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-salihin. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh

All greetings, prayers and good things are for Allah. 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 messenger.

In the last tashahhud, after the Shahadah add:

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, innaka Hamidun Majid. 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 upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.

Turn your head to the right and say, then turn to the left and repeat:

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah

Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you