Complete beginner guide
How to Pray Salah Step by Step with Wudu
This How to Pray Salah Step by Step guide is made for boys, girls, children, and new learners. Learn Wudu, Fard and Sunnah acts, prayer gestures, what to recite in Salah, English transliteration, translation, and the things that break Wudu or Salah.
Simple learning path
How to Pray Salah Step by Step without confusion
Salah becomes easier when it is learned in small parts. First, learn purification through Wudu. Then learn the prayer positions. After that, memorise the short Arabic recitations with transliteration and translation. This guide keeps each part separate so students can revise one step at a time.
Before prayer
How to Pray Salah Step by Step begins with Wudu
Wudu is the purification Muslims perform before offering Salah. Do each step calmly and wash properly without wasting water.
Make intention and say Bismillah
Make intention in your heart that you are doing Wudu for prayer, then say Bismillah.
Wash both hands
Wash both hands up to the wrists three times, including between the fingers.
Rinse mouth and nose
Rinse the mouth three times and clean the nose three times gently.
Wash the face
Wash the full face three times from hairline to chin and ear to ear.
Wash arms
Wash the right arm then left arm up to and including the elbows three times.
Wipe head and ears
Wipe the head once with wet hands and clean the ears.
Wash feet
Wash the right foot then left foot up to and including the ankles three times, including between toes.
Wudu checklist
How many Fard and Sunnah acts are in Wudu?
4 Fard acts of Wudu
- Wash the face once.
- Wash both arms including elbows once.
- Wipe at least part of the head.
- Wash both feet including ankles once.
Common Sunnah acts of Wudu
- Make intention and say Bismillah.
- Wash each part three times.
- Rinse mouth and nose.
- Use Miswak if available.
- Wash right side before left side.
- Wipe ears.
Note: Some details can differ slightly by school of thought. For children and beginners, first teach the agreed core method clearly, then refine details with a qualified teacher.
Prayer flow
How to pray Salah step by step
These are the main actions in one Rak‘ah. Repeat them according to the prayer you are offering: Fajr has 2 Fard, Zuhr has 4 Fard, Asr has 4 Fard, Maghrib has 3 Fard, and Isha has 4 Fard.
Face the Qiblah, make Niyyah in the heart, and stand respectfully.
Raise hands and say Allahu Akbar to begin the prayer.
Stand and recite Thana, Ta‘awwudh, Tasmiyah, Surah Al-Fatihah and another Surah.
Bow with back straight and recite the Ruku Tasbih.
Stand up from Ruku and praise Allah.
Go down to prostration and recite the Sujood Tasbih.
Sit briefly between the two prostrations.
Read Tashahhud, Durood, Dua, then turn for Salam.
Arabic, transliteration, translation
What to read when learning How to Pray Salah Step by Step
Opening Takbeer
اَللّٰهُ اَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the Greatest.
Thana
سُبْحَانَكَ اللّٰهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالٰى جَدُّكَ وَلَا اِلٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta‘ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk.
Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise is for You. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god besides You.
Ta‘awwudh and Tasmiyah
اَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْمِ
بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
A‘udhu billahi minash shaytanir rajeem. Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem.
I seek refuge in Allah from the rejected Satan. In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Surah Al-Fatihah
اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ اَلرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ مٰلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّيْنِ اِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَاِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِيْنُ اِهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيْمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِيْنَ اَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوْبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّآلِّيْنَ
Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘alameen. Ar-Rahmanir Raheem. Maliki yawmid deen. Iyyaka na‘budu wa iyyaka nasta‘een. Ihdinas siratal mustaqeem. Siratal ladhina an‘amta ‘alayhim ghayril maghdubi ‘alayhim wa lad-dalleen.
All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful, 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 You have favoured, not of those who earned anger, nor of those who went astray.
Ruku Tasbih
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal ‘Azeem
Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.
Standing after Ruku
سَمِعَ اللّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Sami‘allahu liman hamidah. Rabbana lakal hamd.
Allah hears the one who praises Him. Our Lord, all praise is for You.
Sujood Tasbih
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْاَعْلٰى
Subhana Rabbiyal A‘la
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Tashahhud
اَلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلّٰهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ اَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلٰى عِبَادِ اللّٰهِ الصَّالِحِيْنَ، اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُوْلُهُ
At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-saliheen. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.
All greetings, prayers, and pure words are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I testify that there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
Durood Ibrahim
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰى اِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى آلِ اِبْرَاهِيْمَ اِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ
Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta ‘ala Ibraheema wa ‘ala ali Ibraheem, innaka Hameedum Majeed.
O Allah, send mercy upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You sent mercy upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Surely You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
Tasleem
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ
As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah
Peace and the mercy of Allah be upon you.
Important rules
Rules for How to Pray Salah Step by Step correctly
Things that break Wudu
- Using the toilet.
- Passing wind.
- Deep sleep while unsupported.
- Bleeding or flowing impurity according to common Hanafi teaching.
- Vomiting a mouthful.
- Becoming unconscious.
Things that break Salah
- Talking deliberately.
- Laughing loudly.
- Eating or drinking.
- Turning the chest away from Qiblah.
- Doing excessive movement not part of prayer.
- Losing Wudu during prayer.
What you should not do in Namaz
- Do not look around without need.
- Do not rush the movements.
- Do not play with clothes, hair, phone, or watch.
- Do not recite so fast that words become unclear.
- Do not leave required positions without learning the correct method.
For children and families
How to Pray Salah Step by Step for boys and girls
For boys
Boys should learn modest clothing, clean body and clothes, facing the Qiblah, standing properly, and following each position with calmness. They should be encouraged to attend congregational prayer when appropriate and guided by parents or teachers.
For girls
Girls should learn modest covering for Salah, clean clothes, correct Wudu, and calm prayer movements. They should also learn rulings related to prayer times, purity, and when prayer is not performed due to menstruation, with age-appropriate explanation from parents or a female teacher.
When teaching How to Pray Salah Step by Step, parents should teach children gently. The goal is love for Salah, not fear. Correct mistakes slowly and praise effort.
Questions
FAQs about how to pray Salah step by step
Can children learn How to Pray Salah Step by Step online?
Yes. Children can learn How to Pray Salah Step by Step, Wudu, short Surahs, prayer actions, and daily duas through one-to-one online lessons.
Do I need to memorise everything first?
Start with the required basics, then keep improving your recitation and duas step by step.
What if I make a mistake?
Beginners should keep learning and ask a teacher. Some mistakes need correction, and some require repeating prayer.
Is Wudu required for every Salah?
Wudu is required before Salah, but one Wudu can be used for multiple prayers as long as it has not broken.
Start learning Namaz with a teacher
Book online lessons for Wudu, Salah, Quran reading, duas, Islamic studies, and How to Pray Salah Step by Step practice. A teacher can guide your child step by step with correction and revision.