How to learn namaz step by step

The short answer: learn namaz in small pieces. First learn wudu and the movements, then the words one at a time, starting with Surah Al-Fatihah. Pray every day while you learn, and have a teacher listen to your recitation so the words are correct from the start. Most beginners can pray a full salah in four to six weeks.

Before you pray

• Be in a state of wudu (ablution).
• Make sure your body, clothes and the place you pray are clean.
• Cover yourself properly: for men at least from the navel to the knees; for women everything except the face and hands.
• Face the Qibla, the direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah. A phone compass app can show it.
• Check that the time for the prayer has started.
• Make the intention in your heart for the prayer you are about to pray, for example "two rak'ahs of Fajr".

Step 1: Make wudu

Wudu is the washing before prayer. Do each part in this order:

1. 1Intention and BismillahIntend in your heart that you are making wudu for Allah, and say "Bismillah".
2. 2Wash your handsWash both hands up to the wrists three times, between the fingers too.
3. 3Rinse your mouthTake water into your mouth with your right hand, swirl it and spit it out, three times.
4. 4Clean your noseSniff a little water into the nose with your right hand and blow it out with your left, three times.
5. 5Wash your faceWash the whole face three times: from the hairline to the chin, and from ear to ear.
6. 6Wash your armsWash the right arm up to and including the elbow three times, then the left arm.
7. 7Wipe your head and earsWith wet hands, wipe over the head once, then wipe the inside and back of the ears.
8. 8Wash your feetWash the right foot up to and including the ankle three times, between the toes too, then the left foot.

Wudu stays valid until something breaks it, such as using the toilet, passing wind or deep sleep.

Step 2: Pray two rak'ahs, position by position

This is how to pray a two-rak'ah prayer, such as the Fajr fard. Learn this first; three and four rak'ah prayers build on it (see below).

1. 1Stand and say Takbir

   Stand facing the Qibla. Raise your hands to your ears (many women raise them to the shoulders) and say the opening Takbir. From now on you are in salah: keep your eyes on the place of sajdah. Then fold your hands; schools differ on whether below the navel or on the chest, and your teacher will show you your family's practice.

   اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ

   Allahu Akbar

   Meaning: Allah is the Greatest.

2. 2Recite the opening praise (Thana)

   Quietly recite the opening praise. It is said only in the first rak'ah.

   سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالٰى جَدُّكَ وَلَا إِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ

   Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghairuk.

   Meaning: Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise. Blessed is Your name, high is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.

3. 3Seek refuge and say Bismillah

   Quietly seek Allah's protection from Shaytan, then say Bismillah before Al-Fatihah.

   أَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْمِ

   A'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim.

   Meaning: I seek protection with Allah from Shaytan, the rejected one.

4. 4Recite Surah Al-Fatihah

   Recite Al-Fatihah. Every rak'ah of every prayer includes it. At the end say "Ameen" (O Allah, accept).

   بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ١ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٢ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٣ مَٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ ٤ إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُ ٥ ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ ٦ صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ غَيۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ٧

   Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim. 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 'alaihim, ghairil-maghdubi 'alaihim wa lad-dallin.

   Meaning: In the name of Allah, the Most Kind, the Most Merciful. All praise is for Allah, Lord of all the worlds, the Most Kind, the Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgement. You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help. Guide us on the straight path: the path of those You have blessed, not of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray.

5. 5Recite another surah

   In the first two rak'ahs, recite a short surah or a few ayat after Al-Fatihah. Al-Ikhlas is the easiest to start with.

   قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ١ ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ ٢ لَمۡ يَلِدۡ وَلَمۡ يُولَدۡ ٣ وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدُۢ ٤

   Qul huwallahu ahad. Allahus-samad. Lam yalid wa lam yulad. Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan ahad.

   Meaning: Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, on whom everything depends. He has no child, and He was not born. And there is nothing like Him.

6. 6Bow (Ruku)

   Say "Allahu Akbar" and bow, hands on your knees and back straight. Say the words of ruku at least three times.

   سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْمِ

   Subhana Rabbiyal-'Azim (3 times)

   Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.

7. 7Stand up again (Qawmah)

   Rise to standing while saying the first line, then, standing straight, say the second.

   سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهٗ

   Sami'Allahu liman hamidah.

   Meaning: Allah hears the one who praises Him.

   رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ

   Rabbana lakal-hamd.

   Meaning: Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.

8. 8Prostrate (Sajdah)

   Say "Allahu Akbar" and go down into sajdah: forehead and nose, both palms, both knees and the toes of both feet touch the ground. Say the words of sajdah at least three times.

   سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلٰى

   Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la (3 times)

   Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

9. 9Sit, then make a second sajdah

   Say "Allahu Akbar" and sit up for a moment (jalsah). Many also say "Rabbighfir li" here. Then say "Allahu Akbar" and make a second sajdah exactly like the first. That completes one rak'ah.

   رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ

   Rabbighfir li.

   Meaning: My Lord, forgive me. (Optional in some schools.)

10. 10Stand for the second rak'ah

    Say "Allahu Akbar" and stand. Pray the second rak'ah the same way, starting from Bismillah and Al-Fatihah (no opening praise this time), then another surah, ruku, standing and two sajdahs.

11. 11Sit for Tashahhud (Attahiyyat)

    After the second sajdah of the second rak'ah, sit and recite the Tashahhud. Many raise the right index finger at the words of the shahadah; the exact practice differs between schools.

    التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهٗ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلٰى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصّٰلِحِيْنَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهٗ وَرَسُوْلُهٗ

    At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alaika ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alaina wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-salihin. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu wa ash-hadu 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.

12. 12Send blessings on the Prophet (Durood Ibrahimi)

    In the final sitting, after the Tashahhud, recite the Durood Ibrahimi.

    اللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ، اللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ

    Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammad, kama sallaita '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.

    Meaning: O Allah, send Your mercy on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent it on 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.

13. 13Make a short dua

    Before ending, make a short dua. This one, from the Quran, is commonly taught to beginners.

    رَبِّ ٱجۡعَلۡنِي مُقِيمَ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِيۚ رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلۡ دُعَآءِ ٤٠ رَبَّنَا ٱغۡفِرۡ لِي وَلِوَٰلِدَيَّ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ يَوۡمَ يَقُومُ ٱلۡحِسَابُ ٤١

    Rabbij-'alni muqimas-salati wa min dhurriyyati, Rabbana wa taqabbal du'a. Rabbanagh-fir li wa li-walidayya wa lil-mu'minina yawma yaqumul-hisab.

    Meaning: My Lord, make me steadfast in prayer, and my children too. Our Lord, accept my prayer. Our Lord, forgive me, my parents and the believers on the Day the reckoning takes place. (Quran 14:40–41)

14. 14End with Salam

    Turn your head to the right and say the salam, then turn to the left and say it again. Your prayer is complete.

    السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ

    As-salamu 'alaikum wa rahmatullah.

    Meaning: Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.

Praying three or four rak'ahs

• After the second rak'ah, sit and recite only the Tashahhud, then say “Allahu Akbar” and stand for the third rak'ah.
• In the third and fourth rak'ahs of a fard prayer, recite Al-Fatihah only, with no extra surah.
• In the last rak'ah, sit for the final sitting: Tashahhud, Durood Ibrahimi, a dua, then Salam.

How many rak'ahs in each prayer

The fard rak'ahs are the same in every school. The Sunnah prayers shown are as commonly taught in South Asian (Hanafi) families; other schools count some of them a little differently, and your teacher follows your family's practice.

An easy 6-week plan

Ten to fifteen minutes a day is enough. Keep praying every day while you learn.

1. Week 1Wudu, the positions of salah and "Allahu Akbar". Practise the movements without words.
2. Week 2Surah Al-Fatihah, a few lines a day, with correct sounds.
3. Week 3A short surah (Al-Ikhlas), and the words of ruku, standing and sajdah.
4. Week 4The opening praise (Thana) and the Tashahhud (Attahiyyat).
5. Week 5Durood Ibrahimi and the closing dua.
6. Week 6Pray full two-rak'ah prayers with a teacher listening, then three and four rak'ahs.

Learning with a teacher

Reading the words is the easy part. Saying them correctly, especially letters like ع, ح and ض in Al-Fatihah, is much easier with someone listening. In our Learn Namaz course, a qualified male or female teacher shows each position on camera, listens to every word and corrects it gently, in live one-to-one classes of 30 minutes. Parents of young children can also see our salah classes for kids and the guide to teaching kids salah step by step.

Quranic text (Al-Fatihah, Al-Ikhlas and Ibrahim 14:40–41): King Fahd Glorious Quran Printing Complex, Uthmanic Hafs v18. Pronunciation guides are approximate; learn the exact sounds from a teacher.