# How to pray salah, step by step

Learn how to pray salah step by step: niyyah, takbir, Fatiha, ruku, sujood, tashahhud and salam, with Arabic, pronunciation and meaning, plus the rak‘ah table for the five daily prayers. নামাজ শিক্ষা বাংলা উচ্চারণসহ।

> This guide follows the widely practised Hanafi method used in Bangladesh and notes where other schools differ, without saying that any is wrong. Please consult a qualified local scholar and learn recitation from a teacher.

## Rak‘ahs (Hanafi)

| Prayer | Sunnah before | Fard | Sunnah after | Witr |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Fajr | 2 Sunnah mu’akkadah | 2 Fard | - | - |
| Dhuhr | 4 Sunnah mu’akkadah | 4 Fard | 2 Sunnah mu’akkadah | - |
| Asr | 4 Sunnah ghayr mu’akkadah | 4 Fard | - | - |
| Maghrib | - | 3 Fard | 2 Sunnah mu’akkadah | - |
| Isha | 4 Sunnah ghayr mu’akkadah | 4 Fard | 2 Sunnah mu’akkadah | 3 Wajib |

## Steps

### 1. Before you begin

Make wudu, wear clean clothes that cover the awrah, stand on a clean place and face the qibla. It is enough to know the direction to the Kaaba; use the Qibla page if unsure.


### 2. Niyyah (intention)

Intend in your heart which prayer you are praying (for example “I intend to pray two rak‘ahs of Fajr for the sake of Allah, behind this imam”). Saying it aloud is not required.


### 3. Takbir tahrimah (opening takbir)

Raise the hands and say “Allahu akbar”. From this moment you are in prayer. In the Hanafi practice men raise the hands to the ears and women to the shoulders; then fold the hands.

- **Takbir**: اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
  - Bangla pronunciation: আল্লাহু আকবার
  - Transliteration: Allahu akbar
  - Meaning: Allah is the Greatest.
  - Source: [Sahih al-Bukhari 757](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/hadith/bukhari/757)

_Where scholars differ: Hand position differs: in the Hanafi practice men fold the right hand over the left below the navel and women on the chest; other schools place the hands higher (for example on the chest) or differ in detail. Many scholars also raise the hands when going into ruku and rising from it (Sahih al-Bukhari 735), whereas the Hanafi practice is to raise them only at the opening takbir._

### 4. Qiyam: Thana, Ta‘awwudh, Fatiha and a surah

Stand with your gaze on the place of sujood. In the first rak‘ah recite Thana silently, then Ta‘awwudh and Bismillah, then Surah al-Fatiha, say “Ameen”, and recite another surah or at least three short ayahs. In the Hanafi practice the Bismillah and the Ameen are said silently.

- **Thana (Sana)**: سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
  - Bangla pronunciation: সুবহানাকাল্লাহুম্মা ওয়া বিহামদিকা ওয়া তাবারাকাসমুকা ওয়া তা‘আলা জাদ্দুকা ওয়া লা ইলাহা গাইরুকা
  - Transliteration: Subhanakal-lahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta‘ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghayruk
  - Meaning: Glory and praise be to You, O Allah; blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.
  - Source: [Sunan Abi Dawud 775](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/hadith/abudawud/775)
- **Ta‘awwudh**: أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
  - Bangla pronunciation: আউযুবিল্লাহি মিনাশ শাইতানির রাজীম
  - Transliteration: A‘udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim
  - Meaning: I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan.
  - Dua page: https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/dua/dua-seeking-refuge-from-shaitan
- **Ameen**: آمِين
  - Bangla pronunciation: আমীন
  - Transliteration: Ameen
  - Meaning: O Allah, accept (our prayer).

> بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
> In the name of Allāh, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
> — Quran 1:1 (Al-Fatihah 1:1): https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-fatihah/1
>
> ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
> [All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord of the worlds -
> — Quran 1:2 (Al-Fatihah 1:2): https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-fatihah/2
>
> ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
> The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
> — Quran 1:3 (Al-Fatihah 1:3): https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-fatihah/3
>
> مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ
> Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.
> — Quran 1:4 (Al-Fatihah 1:4): https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-fatihah/4
>
> إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
> It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
> — Quran 1:5 (Al-Fatihah 1:5): https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-fatihah/5
>
> ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ
> Guide us to the straight path -
> — Quran 1:6 (Al-Fatihah 1:6): https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-fatihah/6
>
> صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
> The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
> — Quran 1:7 (Al-Fatihah 1:7): https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-fatihah/7

_Where scholars differ: Behind an imam: the Hanafi view is to listen silently (citing Quran 7:204), while scholars of other schools recite al-Fatiha (citing “there is no prayer for one who does not recite the Opening of the Book”, Sahih al-Bukhari 756), in some views only in silent prayers. Other schools also differ on the opening supplication (many use a different one) and on saying Ameen aloud._

### 5. A surah after al-Fatiha

In the first two rak‘ahs of a fard prayer (and in every rak‘ah of sunnah and nafl prayers) add a surah after al-Fatiha. Beginners can use the short surahs of Juz Amma, for example al-Ikhlas.


>  قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ
> Say, "He is Allāh, [who is] One,
> — Quran 112:1 (Al-Ikhlas 112:1): https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-ikhlas/1
>
> ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ
> Allāh, the Eternal Refuge.
> — Quran 112:2 (Al-Ikhlas 112:2): https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-ikhlas/2
>
> لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ
> He neither begets nor is born,
> — Quran 112:3 (Al-Ikhlas 112:3): https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-ikhlas/3
>
> وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌۢ
> Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
> — Quran 112:4 (Al-Ikhlas 112:4): https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-ikhlas/4

### 6. Ruku (bowing)

Say “Allahu akbar” and bow with the back level, hands on the knees, fingers spread and the head in line with the back. Stay still, then say the tasbih at least three times.

- **Tasbih in ruku** (at least 3 times): سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
  - Bangla pronunciation: সুবহানা রাব্বিয়াল আযীম
  - Transliteration: Subhana rabbiyal ‘azim
  - Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.
  - Source: [Sahih Muslim 772](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/hadith/muslim/772)

### 7. Qawmah (standing up from ruku)

Rise to stand straight. The imam says “Sami‘allahu liman hamidah”; the followers say “Rabbana lakal hamd”. One praying alone says both. Stand fully upright before going down.

- **Tasmi‘ (rising from ruku)**: سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
  - Bangla pronunciation: সামিআল্লাহু লিমান হামিদাহ
  - Transliteration: Sami‘allahu liman hamidah
  - Meaning: Allah hears the one who praises Him.
  - Source: [Sahih al-Bukhari 689](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/hadith/bukhari/689)
- **Tahmid**: رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ
  - Bangla pronunciation: রাব্বানা লাকাল হামদ
  - Transliteration: Rabbana lakal hamd
  - Meaning: Our Lord, all praise is Yours. (Also reported with an added “wa”: Rabbana wa lakal hamd.)
  - Source: [Sahih al-Bukhari 689](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/hadith/bukhari/689)

### 8. Sujood (prostration)

Say “Allahu akbar” and go down: knees, then hands, then nose and forehead on the ground. Seven parts touch the ground: forehead with the nose, both hands, both knees and the toes of both feet. Say the tasbih at least three times.

- **Tasbih in sujood** (at least 3 times): سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَىٰ
  - Bangla pronunciation: সুবহানা রাব্বিয়াল আ‘লা
  - Transliteration: Subhana rabbiyal a‘la
  - Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
  - Source: [Sahih Muslim 772](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/hadith/muslim/772)

### 9. Jalsa and the second sujood

Say “Allahu akbar”, sit up calmly on the left foot with the right foot upright, then say “Allahu akbar” and make the second sujood the same way. Then rise for the second rak‘ah with “Allahu akbar”.


_Where scholars differ: Some scholars teach saying “Rabbighfir li” (O Lord, forgive me) in the sitting between the two sujoods; the Hanafi practice is to sit quietly for a moment._

### 10. The second rak‘ah

Stand, say Bismillah silently, recite al-Fatiha and a surah, and repeat ruku, qawmah and the two sujoods exactly as in the first rak‘ah. Thana and Ta‘awwudh are not repeated.


>  إِنَّآ أَعْطَيْنَـٰكَ ٱلْكَوْثَرَ
> Indeed, We have granted you, [O Muḥammad], al-Kawthar.
> — Quran 108:1 (Al-Kawthar 108:1): https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-kawthar/1
>
> فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَٱنْحَرْ
> So pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice [to Him alone].
> — Quran 108:2 (Al-Kawthar 108:2): https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-kawthar/2
>
> إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ ٱلْأَبْتَرُ
> Indeed, your enemy is the one cut off.
> — Quran 108:3 (Al-Kawthar 108:3): https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-kawthar/3

### 11. Qa‘dah: sitting for the Tashahhud

After the second sujood of the second rak‘ah sit on the left foot with the right foot upright and the hands on the thighs. Recite At-Tahiyyat; at “la ilaha” (in the Hanafi practice) raise the index finger and lower it at “illallah”. In a two-rak‘ah prayer, continue to Durood and dua; in a three- or four-rak‘ah prayer, stand up for the third rak‘ah after the Tashahhud.

- **Tashahhud (At-Tahiyyat)**: اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِينَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
  - Bangla pronunciation: আত্তাহিয়্যাতু লিল্লাহি ওয়াস সালাওয়াতু ওয়াত তাইয়্যিবাতু, আসসালামু আলাইকা আইয়্যুহান নাবিইয়্যু ওয়া রাহমাতুল্লাহি ওয়া বারাকাতুহু, আসসালামু আলাইনা ওয়া আলা ইবাদিল্লাহিস সালিহীন, আশহাদু আল্লা ইলাহা ইল্লাল্লাহু ওয়া আশহাদু আন্না মুহাম্মাদান আবদুহু ওয়া রাসূলুহু
  - Transliteration: At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat, as-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, as-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-salihin, ashhadu an la ilaha illallahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh
  - Meaning: All greetings, prayers and good words 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.
  - Source: [Sahih al-Bukhari 831](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/hadith/bukhari/831)

_Where scholars differ: Some schools point the finger throughout the Tashahhud, and they differ on the sitting posture (iftirash or tawarruk) in the final sitting. In the 3rd and 4th rak‘ahs of a fard prayer the Hanafi practice is al-Fatiha alone, without an extra surah._

### 12. Durood and dua in the final sitting

In the last sitting, after the Tashahhud, send blessings on the Prophet ﷺ with Durood Ibrahim, then make a dua from the Quran or Sunnah, for example Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah (2:201) or the dua before the salam.

- **Durood Ibrahim**: اللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ اللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
  - Bangla pronunciation: আল্লাহুম্মা সাল্লি আলা মুহাম্মাদিন ওয়া আলা আলি মুহাম্মাদিন, কামা সাল্লাইতা আলা ইবরাহীমা ওয়া আলা আলি ইবরাহীমা ইন্নাকা হামীদুম মাজীদ। আল্লাহুম্মা বারিক আলা মুহাম্মাদিন ওয়া আলা আলি মুহাম্মাদিন, কামা বারাকতা আলা ইবরাহীমা ওয়া আলা আলি ইবরাহীমা ইন্নাকা হামীদুম মাজীদ
  - Transliteration: Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka hamidum majid. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad, kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala ali Ibrahim, innaka hamidum majid
  - Meaning: O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.
  - Dua page: https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/dua/dua-durood-ibrahimiyya
- **Dua before the salam**: اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ وَمِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ
  - Bangla pronunciation: আল্লাহুম্মা ইন্নী আউযু বিকা মিন আযাবি জাহান্নাম, ওয়া মিন আযাবিল কাবরি, ওয়া মিন ফিতনাতিল মাহইয়া ওয়াল মামাত, ওয়া মিন শাররি ফিতনাতিল মাসীহিদ দাজ্জাল
  - Transliteration: Allahumma inni a‘udhu bika min ‘adhabi jahannam, wa min ‘adhabil-qabr, wa min fitnatil-mahya wal-mamat, wa min sharri fitnatil-masihid-dajjal
  - Meaning: 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.
  - Dua page: https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/dua/dua-before-salam-refuge

> وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَقُولُ رَبَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا فِى ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِى ٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّارِ
> But among them is he who says, "Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."
> — Quran 2:201 (Al-Baqarah 2:201): https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-baqarah/201

### 13. Salam (ending the prayer)

Turn the face to the right and say “As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah”, then to the left and say it again. The prayer is complete.

- **Salam**: اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ
  - Bangla pronunciation: আসসালামু আলাইকুম ওয়া রাহমাতুল্লাহ
  - Transliteration: As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah
  - Meaning: Peace and the mercy of Allah be upon you. (Said turning the face to the right, then to the left.)
  - Source: [Sunan Abi Dawud 996](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/hadith/abudawud/996)

## Common mistakes

- **Rushing without stillness (tuma’ninah)**: Pause fully in ruku, qawmah, sujood and the sitting. In the hadith of the man who prayed badly, the Prophet ﷺ told him to go back and pray again until he was calm in each position (Sahih al-Bukhari 757).
- **Not straightening the back in ruku and qawmah**: The back should be level in ruku and you should stand fully upright after it, before going into sujood.
- **Looking around or fidgeting**: Keep your eyes on the place of sujood and avoid unnecessary movement such as adjusting clothes again and again.
- **Mispronouncing al-Fatiha**: Practise the pronunciation with a teacher: confusing letters such as ص/س, ض/د, ح/ه or ع/ء can change the meaning. Use the tajweed pages to learn the rules.
- **Wrong direction or unclean place**: Check the qibla and the cleanliness of your clothes and prayer place before starting.
- **Forgetting the count of rak‘ahs**: If you forget the count, a scholar can explain the rules of sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) for your school.

## Short surahs for beginners

- [Al-'Asr](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-asr)
- [Al-Fil](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-fil)
- [Quraysh](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/quraysh)
- [Al-Ma'un](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-maun)
- [Al-Kawthar](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-kawthar)
- [Al-Kafirun](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-kafirun)
- [An-Nasr](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/an-nasr)
- [Al-Masad](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-masad)
- [Al-Ikhlas](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-ikhlas)
- [Al-Falaq](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/al-falaq)
- [An-Nas](https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/surah/an-nas)

Cite: How to pray salah. Noor Quran. https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/learn/salah

Canonical: https://holy-quran-noor.vercel.app/learn/salah