How to Perform the Prayer

2 Beginning of the prayer (Takbīr)

Raise your hands and say:

Allāhu Akbar

→ Allah is the Greatest

3 Standing position with recitation (Qiyam)

Hands placed on the chest

Recite Sūrat Al-Fātiḥa, say “Āmīn”, then recite another sūrah

Recitation during the prayer

Order of recitation :

1 : Sūrat Al-Fātiḥa

2 : Saying “Āmīn”

3 : Another sūrah (example: Sūrat Al-Ikhlāṣ)

1 Sūrat Al-Fātiḥa

In Arabic

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ

صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ

غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ

وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

In phonetics

Bismi Llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm

Al-ḥamdu liLlāhi rabbi l-ʿālamīn

Ar-raḥmāni r-raḥīm

Māliki yawmi d-dīn

Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn

Ihdinā ṣ-ṣirāṭa l-mustaqīm

Ṣirāṭa l-ladhīna anʿamta ʿalayhim

Ghayri l-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim

Wa lā ḍ-ḍāllīn

Translation of Sūrat Al-Fātiḥa

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds.

The Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.

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 upon whom You have bestowed favor,

not of those who have earned Your anger,

nor of those who have gone astray.

2 After Al-Fātiḥa, we say:

Āmīn

3. Another surah

For example

Sūrat Al-Ikhlāṣ

In Arabic

قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ

اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ

لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ

وَلَمْ يَكُنْ لَهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ

In phonetics

Qul huwa Llāhu aḥad

Allāhu ṣ-ṣamad

Lam yalid wa lam yūlad

Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan aḥa

Translation

Say: He is Allah, One.

Allah, the Self-Sufficient.

He neither begets nor is born.

And there is none comparable to Him.

4 inclination (Rukūʿ)

When going down :

Allāhu Akbar

→ Allah is the Greatest

Then :

Subḥāna Rabbiyal-ʿAẓīm

→ Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great

5 Standing up after bowing (Iʿtidāl)

When rising :

Samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah

→ Allah hears the one who praises Him

Then while standing :

Rabbanā wa laka al-ḥamd

→ Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise

6 First prostration (Sujūd)

When going down :

Allāhu Akbar

→ Allah is the Greatest

Then :

Subḥāna Rabbiyal-Aʿlā

→ Glory be to my Lord, the Most High

This is the moment for supplication.

This is where forgiveness is sought.

This is where one speaks to Allah.

This is where one entrusts to Him what is in the heart.

Sitting between the two prostrations (Jalsa)

When rising say :

Allāhu Akbar

→ Allah is the Greatest

Then say :

Rabbi ighfir lī

→ My Lord, forgive me

8 Second prostration (Sujūd)

When going down again :

Allāhu Akbar

→ Allah is the Greatest

Then say :

Subḥāna Rabbiyal-Aʿlā

→ Glory be to my Lord, the Most High

Take this opportunity to make duʿāʾ again

This is where we ask for forgiveness

This is where we speak to Allah

This is where we confide in Him what is on our hearts

9 Final sitting (Tashahhud – Ibrāhīm greetings and Shahada)

Sitting for the final sitting.

The left hand is placed on the left thigh.

The right hand is placed on the right thigh.

The right index finger is pointed forward, towards the Qibla.

It may be moved slightly, without exaggeration, in accordance with the reported Sunnah.

Recitation

At the end of the 2nd rak'ah:

If the prayer is 2 rak'ahs (Fajr): this is the final sitting.

1 Tashahhud

2 Shahada

3 Salutations upon the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and upon the family of Ibrahim.

4 Shahada

If the prayer is more than 2 rak'ahs: this is the first sitting.

1 Tashahhud

2 Shahada

Then one stands up to continue the prayer.

At the end of the prayer (final sitting):

1. Tashahhud

2. Shahada

3. Salutations upon the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and upon the family of Ibrahim

4. Shahada

The recitation:

1. Tashahhud

Arabic

ٱلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَٱلصَّلَوَاتُ وَٱلطَّيِّبَاتُ

ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ

ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلصَّالِحِينَ

Phonetic

At-taḥiyyātu liLlāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt

As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatu Llāhi wa barakātuh

As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādi Llāhi ṣ-ṣāliḥīn

Translation

All greetings, prayers, and good deeds 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.

2. Shahada

Arabic

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ

وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Phonetic

Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illa Llāh

Waḥdahū lā sharīka lah

Wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh

Translation

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,

He alone, without partner,

and I bear witness that the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is His servant and His messenger.

3. Salutations upon the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and upon the family of Ibrahim

Arabic

ٱللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

ٱللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ

كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ

إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

Phonetic

Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad

kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm

innaka ḥamīdun majīd

Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad

kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm

innaka ḥamīdun majīd

Translation

O Allah, bestow Your blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad and the family of Muhammad,

as You bestowed Your blessings upon Abraham and the family of Abraham.

Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.

O Allah, bless the Prophet Muhammad and the family of Muhammad,

as You blessed Abraham and the family of Abraham.

Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.

4 Shahada

Arabic

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ

وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Phonetic

Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illa Llāh

Waḥdahū lā sharīka lah

Wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh

Translation

I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah,

He alone, without partner,

and I bear witness that the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is His servant and His messenger.

To learn, hear, and understand this text,

visit the page:

The Shahada in Prayer

10 Final salutation (Salām)

Turn your head to the right,

Say:

As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh

→ May the peace and mercy of Allah be upon you

then turn your head to the left

Say:

As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh

→ May the peace and mercy of Allah be upon you

What is a rak'ah?

Simple definition

A rak'ah is a complete unit of prayer.

It consists of:

Standing (recitation)

Bowling

Standing up

Prostration

Sitting

Second prostration

All of this = 1 rak'ah

Then we repeat the sequence of prayers.

How many rak'ahs are there in a prayer?

Obligatory (fard)

Fajr (dawn) → 2 rak'ahs

Dhuhr (noon) → 4 rak'ahs

Asr (afternoon) → 4 rak'ahs

Maghrib (sunset) → 3 rak'ahs

Isha ​​(night) → 4 rak'ahs

🟢 Very easy reminder

2 – 4 – 4 – 3 – 4

Fajr – Dhuhr – Asr – Maghrib – Isha

🤍 A reassuring little reminder

Learn gradually

Even if you hesitate, keep going

Allah looks at sincerity more than perfection