How to Perform Salat (Prayer)? for Men

Once you know how to make Wudu, it’s time to learn how to perform Salat. As you know, Salah or Salat is the second pillar of Islam. It connects us with Allah Almighty (SWT) five times a day.

If you are a newly converted Muslim or just starting out, you might find it a bit overwhelming, but with a little effort and practice, you can learn how to pray Salah or Namaz. In this section, we’ll learn what Salah is, its importance, preconditions of salah, and how to pray salah step by step with pictures for better guidance.

Want to learn how to perform Salah (5 daily prayers), the Five Pillars of Islam, daily duas and supplications, short surahs and other Islamic knowledge? Enroll now in our online Islamic Studies course. Register now to claim a free trial.

What is Salah (Namaz)?

Salah ranks second among the Five Pillars of Islam. It is compulsory to pray Salah five times a day on every Muslim after the age of puberty. It is a great gift and opportunity for us to communicate with Allah (SWT), remember Him, and show our gratitude to Him. Salah is considered the first thing we are accounted for on the Day of Judgement.

Rak’ah in Salah?

To understand Salah or Salat, you first need to understand what a rak’ah (unit of prayer) is. Every salah has the same basic steps as others. In every rak’ah, there will be a part when:

You are standing
You recite from the Quran
You bow down
You prostrate (make Sujud)

Depending on the Salah you are offering, there will be minor differences on how these rak’ahs are performed. Let’s learn five daily prayers.

The Five Daily Prayers (Salah)

Being a Muslim, you need to offer five daily prayers at specific times throughout the day. These are:

Fajr: The Fajr prayer consists of 2 rak’ahs and is performed before dawn.
Dhuhr: This is a midday prayer that consists of 4 rak’ahs.
Asr: Asr is the afternoon prayer, consisting of 4 rak’ahs.
Maghrib: Maghrib prayer is performed right after sunset, consisting of 3 rak’ahs.
Isha’: The night prayer, consisting of 4 rak’ahs.

Importance of Salah in Islam

Before we learn how to perform Salat, first we need to understand the importance of Salah in Islam. Salah is an act of worship that is made obligatory by Allah (SWT). The importance of Salah is highlighted in the Quran and Hadith on many occasions.

The importance and significance of Salah is so great that it must be offered in every condition, whether someone is healthy or ill, safe or in fear, residing or traveling, standing, sitting or laying down. Performing Salah is the key to success in this world and Hereafter.

Here are some verses from the Holy Quran highlighting the importance of Salah in Islam:

“Successful indeed are the believers who are humble in their prayers” (al-Mu’minun: 1-2).

Another verse shows the importance of offering prayers and the reward of it:

“And who pay heed to their prayers. These are the heirs who will inherit Paradise. There will they abide” (al-Mu’minun 9-11)

Preconditions of Salah (Prayer)

Cleanliness from impurities (on the body, clothes and place of prayer).
Performing Ablution (Wudu).
Facing the right direction of Qiblah.
Covering the private parts (The nakedness of a man is considered to be what between the navel and knee)
Praying at the proper time.

The following is the complete method of performing a 2 Raka’at Salah. Read the “Note” at the end to know how to pray a 3 or 4 Rak’ah Salah.

Stand upright facing the Qibla

Make the intention “I intend to perform the Fajr prayer (say the name of the Salah), with 2 Rakaat Fardh (say the number of Rakaats of any prayer – Sunnah or Fardh), for the sake of Allah, I am facing the Holy Kaaba.” Intention need not be said out loud. Saying it in the heart is sufficient.
Raise hands to the ears with palms facing the Qibla say “Allahu Akbar”
Do the Qiyam by lowering the hands down and folding them below the navel. [The right hand is placed on the left hand’s wrist clasped, with three fingers on the top (index finger and middle finger, and third finger), and the right hand’s thumb and small finger below the left hand’s wrist]
Read the sanaa:

“Subhanak-Allah humma wabi hamdika watabara-kasmuka wata aala jadduka walaa ilaha ghairuk”
(All Glory be to You O Allah! Praise is to You; Blessed is Your Name and Exalted is Your Majesty; there is none worthy of worship except You)

Read the Ta’awuz:

“Aoozu billahi minash Shaitaanir-rajeem”
(I seek protection with Allah from the cursed Shaitan)
Read the Tasmiyyah:

“Bismillahir rahmanir-raheem”
(In the Name of Allah, Most Kind, Most Merciful)

Recite Surah Fatiha:

“Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil-aalameen, ar-rahma nir-raheem, maaliki yawmiddeen, iyyaaka na’budu wa iyyaaka nastaeen, ihdinas-siraatal mustaqeem, siraatallazeena anamta alaihim, ghairil maghdoobi alahim wa ladhaaleen. Ameen.”

[All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Universe, the Most Kind, Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship and from You alone we ask for help. Guide us on the straight path, the path of those who You have favoured, not the path of those who earned Your anger, nor the path of those who went astray. Ameen (So let it be O Allah)].

Recite any Surah or verses from the Qur’an. For example:

“Qul huwallahu ahad, Allahus-samad, lam yalid, wa lam yoolad, wa lam yakullahu kufuwan ahad”
(Say, He is Allah, The One. Allah is above and all things depend on Allah. He does not beget, nor is He begotten. And there is none like Him).
Say “Allahu Akbar” and go into Ruku (bowing)
In Ruku recite the following 3 times:

Subhaana Rabbiyal ‘Azeem
(Glory be to my Lord, The Greatest)

Afterwards, stand up in Qawmah position while reciting the Tasbeeh:

Sami Allahu liman hamidah
(Allah listens to him who has praised Him)
After Tasbeeh recite Tahmeed:

Allhumma Rabbana Lakal Hamd
(O our Sustainer! All prayer is due to You alone)
Then say “Allahu Akbar” and go into Sajdah. [Keep body open with stomach apart from the thighs and arms apart from the sides and elbows should not be on the ground.]
In Sajdah recite 3 times:
Subhaana Rabbiyal a’ala
(Glory to my Lord Most High)
Afterwards go into a sitting position (Jalsa) while saying “Allahu Akbar”. [Sit by keeping the right foot upright (with all the toes touching the floor) and sit by keeping the buttocks on the left foot.]
Do the Sajdah again while saying “Allahu Akbar” and in Sajdah recite “Subhaana Rabbiyal a’ala” 3 times.
Stand up erect while reciting “Allahu Akbar”. This position will be Qiyam (same as step #4).
Repeat steps #7 to #17. Note: In step #9 recite some other Surah or verses. Then after #17 go to step #20.
After the second Sajdah, go into Jalsah (same as step #16) while saying “Allahu Akbar”.
While seated recite Tashahhud:

Attahiyyaatu lillahi wass-salawaatu wath-thayyibaatu, assalamu alaika ayyuhannabiyyu wa rahamtullahi wa barakaatuhu, as-salaamu alainaa wa alaa ibaadilla hiss-saaliheen, ash-hadu al la ilaha illallahu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasooluh.

(All respect, worship and all glory is due to Allah alone. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the Mercy and Blessings of Allah be upon you. Peace be on us and on those who are the righteous servants of Allah. I testify that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His Servant and Messenger).
In this when reciting the word “la ilaha”, join the little finger and the ring finger and form a ring with the thumb and middle finger and raise the index finger towards the sky. Lower the index finger when you reach “illallahu”.

Then recite Blessings on the Prophet Muhammad (saw):

Allahumma salli alaa Muhammadin wa alaa aali Muhammadin kamaa sallaita alaa Ibraheema wa alaa aali Ibraheema innaka hameedun majeed
“Allahumma baarik alaa Muhammadin wa alaa aali Muhammadin, kamaa baarakta alaa Ibraheema wa alaa aali Ibraheema innaka hameedun majeed”
(O Allah! Shower Your Blessings on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You showered Your Blessings on Ibraheem and the family of Ibraheem. Certainly, You alone are worthy of praise and are Glorious.

O Allah! Bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as You Blessed Ibraheem and the family of Ibraheem. Certainly, You alone are worthy of praise and are Glorious).

After this recite the following du’a:

Rabbij-alnee muqeemas-salaati wa min zurriyyatee, rabbanaa wata qabbal duaa, rabbanagh-fir-lee wali waali dayya wa lil mu’mineena yawma yaqoomul hisaab
(O my Lord! Make my children and myself regular in Salah. O our Lord! Accept my prayer. O our Lord! Forgive me. Forgive my parents and all other Muslims on the Day of Judgement).
As the last step do Tasleem. Turn your head to the right and say “As salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah” (May the Peace and Mercy of Allah be upon you). Then turn your head to the left and say “As salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah” (May the Peace and Mercy of Allah be upon you).

Salah For Boys

NOTE:-

For 3 raka’at Salah

After step #21 recite “Allahu Akbar” while standing up back into Qiyam position (step #4). Then do steps #7 to #24.

Omit step #9 and #18 & #19

For 4 raka’at Salah

After step #21 recite “Allahu Akbar” while standing up back into Qiyam position (step #4). Then do steps #7 to #18. Omit step #9.

After step #18 follow instructions from step #19. Omit step #9.

Name	RakatRR	Time
Fajr	04 02 Sunnah \| 02 Farz	From dawn before sunrise.
Zuhar	12 04 Sunah \| 04 Farz 02 Sunnah \| 02 Nawafil	Between the declining of sun & Asr.
Asr	08 04 Sunnah \| 04 Farz	(Late afternoon) Immediately after the last time limit of Zuhar until just before the sunset.
Maghrib	07 03 Farz \| 02 Sunnah 02 Nawafil	(Evening) Soon after sunset until the disappearance of the twilight.
Isha	17 04 Sunnah \| 04 Farz 02 Sunnah \| 02 Nawafil 03 Witar \| 02 Nawafil	After the disappearance of the twilight until midnight.
Juma	14 04 Sunnah \| 02 Farz 04 Sunnah\| 02 Sunnah 02 Nawafil	Between the declining of sun & Asr. Juma can’t be offered individually. If you happen to miss Juma prayer, then you should offer Zuhar.

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