Wudu and prayer, step by step

Wudu (ablution)

Wudu is required before prayer. Washing each part three times is recommended; once is the minimum.

1. Intention and Bismillah

   Intend wudu in your heart and say "Bismillah".

   بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

   Bismillāh

2. Wash your hands

   Wash both hands up to the wrists three times.

3. Rinse mouth and nose

   Rinse your mouth, then draw water into your nose and blow it out, three times.

4. Wash your face

   Wash your face from the hairline to the chin and ear to ear, three times.

5. Wash your arms

   Wash your right arm up to and including the elbow three times, then the left.

6. Wipe head and ears

   Wipe your head with wet hands from front to back and back again, then wipe your ears, once.

7. Wash your feet

   Wash your right foot up to and including the ankle three times, then the left.

Wudu is broken by using the toilet or passing wind, deep sleep, or losing consciousness — then you need a new wudu before praying.

The five prayers and their units

Conditions of prayer: being in wudu, clean clothes and place, covering the body properly, facing the qiblah, the prayer time having started, and intention.

How to pray (two rak'ahs)

1. Opening takbir

   Stand facing the qiblah, intend the prayer in your heart, raise your hands and say:

   اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

   Allāhu akbar

   Allah is the Greatest

2. Recite Al-Fatihah

   Place your right hand over your left on your chest and recite Al-Fatihah, then any other part of the Quran you know.

   بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ۝ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ۝ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ۝ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ۝ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ۝ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ۝ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

   Bismillāhir-raḥmānir-raḥīm. Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-'ālamīn. Ar-raḥmānir-raḥīm. Māliki yawmid-dīn. Iyyāka na'budu wa iyyāka nasta'īn. Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm. Ṣirāṭal-ladhīna an'amta 'alayhim ghayril-maghḍūbi 'alayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn.

   In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful. All praise is for Allah, Lord of the 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 blessed, not of those who earned anger, nor of those who went astray. (Al-Fatihah 1:1–7)

3. Bowing (ruku')

   Say "Allahu Akbar" and bow with your hands on your knees and back straight, saying three times:

   سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ

   Subḥāna rabbiyal-'aẓīm

   Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great

4. Rising from bowing

   Rise saying, then stand upright:

   سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

   Sami'a-llāhu liman ḥamidah, rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd

   Allah hears whoever praises Him. Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise.

5. Prostration (sujud)

   Say "Allahu Akbar" and prostrate on seven parts — forehead with nose, both palms, both knees and toes — saying three times:

   سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى

   Subḥāna rabbiyal-a'lā

   Glory be to my Lord, the Most High

6. Sitting between prostrations

   Say "Allahu Akbar", sit calmly and say:

   رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي

   Rabbighfir lī

   My Lord, forgive me

7. Second prostration

   Say "Allahu Akbar" and prostrate again as before, then rise for the second rak'ah. That completes one rak'ah.

8. Second rak'ah and tashahhud

   Pray the second rak'ah like the first, then sit after its two prostrations and recite the tashahhud:

   التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

   At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu 'alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu 'alaynā wa 'alā 'ibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illallāh, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan 'abduhu wa rasūluh.

   All greetings, prayers and good things 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. (Al-Bukhari, Muslim)

9. Prayer upon the Prophet

   Then send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ:

   اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ، اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

   Allāhumma ṣalli 'alā Muḥammadin wa 'alā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta 'alā Ibrāhīma wa 'alā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik 'alā Muḥammadin wa 'alā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta 'alā Ibrāhīma wa 'alā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd.

   O Allah, honor Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You honored 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. (Al-Bukhari)

10. Ending with salam

    Turn your head to the right, then to the left, saying each time:

    السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

    As-salāmu 'alaykum wa raḥmatullāh

    Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah

For three- and four-rak'ah prayers: after the second rak'ah sit for the first tashahhud only (without the prayer upon the Prophet), then stand and complete the remaining rak'ahs reciting only Al-Fatihah, and finish with the final tashahhud and salam.

Frequently asked questions