How to Pray Namaz - Step by Step
Namaz (salah) is the five-times-daily prayer - the second pillar of Islam and the first deed judged on the Last Day. This guide walks through a complete two-rakah prayer exactly as taught by the Prophet, peace be upon him.
Also searched as: namaz ka tarika | how to pray salah | namaz padhne ka tarika | namaz steps | salah steps
How to
Steps in order
- 1Raise both hands to the ears saying Allahu Akbar (takbir) and fold them below the navel.
- 2Recite Sana, then Surah Al-Fatiha, then any short surah - standing (qiyam).
- 3Bow (ruku) saying Subhana Rabbiyal-Azim three times, back level.
- 4Stand straight (qawmah), then prostrate (sajdah) saying Subhana Rabbiyal-Ala three times - forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes on the ground.
- 5Sit briefly (jalsa), prostrate a second time, then stand for the second rakah.
- 6After two rakahs sit and recite Tashahhud, Durood-e-Ibrahim and a dua, then turn the face right and left saying As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah.
Before you begin
You need wudu (ablution), clean clothes and body, a clean place, and to face the qibla. Know which prayer and how many rakahs you are praying - Fajr 2, Zuhr 4, Asr 4, Maghrib 3, Isha 4.
Make the intention (niyyah) in your heart for the specific prayer. Women pray the same steps with modest posture differences taught in their tradition.
What invalidates the prayer
Speaking deliberately, laughing, eating or drinking, turning the chest away from the qibla, and losing wudu all break the prayer - repeat wudu and pray again.
Small doubts about rakah count are fixed by sujood as-sahw (prostration of forgetfulness) at the end; learn its exact method from a teacher.
Sources & review
Quran 2:43; prayer described in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim
Learn personal details from a qualified teacher; minor school differences exist.
Educational content — not a fatwa. See methodology and disclaimer.
Reviewed • 2026-01-01Our methodology
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How many rakahs are in each prayer?
Fajr 2, Zuhr 4, Asr 4, Maghrib 3, Isha 4 obligatory rakahs - plus established sunnah rakahs before and after.
What should I recite in prayer?
Surah Al-Fatiha in every rakah followed by another passage, plus Sana, Tashahhud, Durood and duas - exact wordings are on our dua pages.
Do men and women pray identically?
The structure is the same; posture details for women (hands, prostration, sitting) are taught traditionally - learn them from a qualified teacher.
Duas
Related duas
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