Learn Salah Step by Step
Step-by-step prayer guidance with verified human recitations, precise bodily postures, and recognized scholarly variations from authentic sources.
Niyyah & Takbirat al-Ihram
Form the conscious intention in your heart, stand straight facing the Qiblah, and raise both hands level with your shoulders or earlobes while reciting 'Allahu Akbar'.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the Greatest.
Step Breakdown & Substeps
Decide in your heart which prayer you are praying (e.g., 2 Rak'ahs Fard of Fajr for the pleasure of Allah). Vocalizing the intention out loud is not reported from the Prophet ﷺ.
Raise both hands simultaneously with palms open facing the Qiblah, up to shoulder level or the lobes of the ears.
Say 'Allahu Akbar' audibly enough for yourself to hear. Do not lengthen the vowel 'A' in Allah ('Aa-llahu') or the 'B' in Akbar ('Ak-baar').
Head upright with eyes looking calmly toward the place of prostration (Sujud on the floor). Do not look around or look up toward the ceiling.
Raise both hands smoothly with arms relaxed, either level with the shoulders or level with the earlobes.
Fingers naturally open, neither tightly clamped nor widely splayed, with palms facing directly toward the Holy Ka'bah.
Spine fully upright and erect without stiffening or slouching.
Legs straight with weight evenly distributed on both feet.
Feet spaced moderately apart (about a hand-span, 4-8 inches) with toes pointing forward toward the Qiblah.
- ✗ Dragging out the vowels as 'Aa-llahu Akbar' or 'Allahu Ak-baar'.
→ Pronounce with crisp Arabic vowels: 'Allahu Akbar'. Lengthening turns it into a question or changes the holy name.
- ✗ Grasping or touching the earlobes with thumb and fingers.
→ The Prophet ﷺ had his palms facing the Qiblah with fingertips level with the ears, without grabbing the ears.
- ✗ Rushing into prayer without setting a conscious intention in the heart.
→ Pause for two seconds before raising your hands to remember you are standing before the Creator of the universe.
"When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ stood for prayer, he would raise his hands until they were level with his shoulders, then he said Takbir."