How many obligatory Rakats do Muslims pray each day?

There are 17 obligatory (Fard) Rakats across the five daily prayers: 2 in Fajr, 4 in Dhuhr, 4 in Asr, 3 in Maghrib, and 4 in Isha.

Can a beginner pray while reading from notes or an app?

Yes. While learning the Arabic phrases, beginners and new Muslims may hold notes or follow Imantree’s ad-free guided prayer tutorial until memorized.

Deutsch Türkçe العربية Русский Français Indonesia

Imantree › How to Pray Salah

How to Pray Salah Step by Step – Complete Islamic Prayer Guide

Salah (ritual prayer) is the second pillar of Islam and a direct daily conversation between a believer and Allah. Below you will find the complete Rakat chart for all five daily prayers and a clear 10-step walkthrough with Uthmani Arabic, phonetic transliteration, and English translation.

Prerequisites before Salah: ritual purity (Wudu), clean attire and prayer spot, modest covering (Awrah), facing the Qibla direction toward Mecca, and entering the valid prayer window. → How to Perform Wudu

Listen in Imantree — verse by verse audio recitation, tafsir, Hifz mode and bookmarks.

App Store Google Play 🌐 Open Web App 📱 Phone QR

Rakat Chart for the 5 Daily Prayers

Prayer	Sunnah Before	Fard (Obligatory)	Sunnah After	Witr	Total
Fajr (Dawn)	2	2	–	–	4 Rakats
Dhuhr (Noon)	4 (or 2+2)	4	2	–	10 Rakats
Asr (Afternoon)	4 (Optional)	4	–	–	4 Fard (+4)
Maghrib (Sunset)	–	3	2	–	5 Rakats
Isha (Night)	4 (Optional)	4	2	1–3	4 Fard + 2 Sunnah + Witr

10 Step-by-Step Actions of a 2-Rakat Prayer

1. Intention (Niyyah) & Opening Takbir

اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ

Allāhu Akbar

Stand upright facing the Qibla, make the intention in your heart for the specific prayer, raise both hands to your ears/shoulders, and say “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest).

2. Opening Supplication (Subhanaka)

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ

Subḥānakallāhumma wa biḥamdika, wa tabārakasmuka, wa taʿālā jadduka, wa lā ilāha ghayruk.

Place your right hand over your left on your chest/navel and quietly recite the opening glorification, followed by seeking refuge (“Aʿūdhu billāhi minash-shayṭānir-rajīm”).

3. Recite Surah Al-Fatihah

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. Alḥamdu lillāhi Rabbil-ʿālamīn…

Recite Surah Al-Fatihah in full while standing in every Rakat, finishing softly with “Āmīn”.

4. Recite an Additional Short Surah (e.g., Al-Kawthar)

إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ ۝ فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ وَانْحَرْ ۝ إِنَّ شَانِئَكَ هُوَ الْأَبْتَرُ

Innā aʿṭaynākal-kawthar. Faṣalli li-Rabbika wanḥar. Inna shāniʾaka huwal-abtar.

In the first two Rakats, recite another short surah or passage of the Quran after Al-Fatihah.

5. Bowing (Ruku)

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ (٣ مرات)

Subḥāna Rabbiyal-ʿAẓīm (3×)

Say “Allahu Akbar”, bow with your back straight and hands resting on your knees, and say three times: “Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.”

6. Rising from Ruku (Qawmah)

سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ — رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ

Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah — Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd.

Stand back up calmly (“Allah hears whoever praises Him — Our Lord, to You belongs all praise”).

7. Prostration (Sujud — Twice)

سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى (٣ مرات)

Subḥāna Rabbiyal-Aʿlā (3×)

Say “Allahu Akbar” and prostrate with forehead, nose, both palms, knees, and toes touching the ground, saying 3× “Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.” Sit up briefly between the two prostrations, perform the second Sujud, then stand up to repeat Steps 3–7 for the second Rakat.

8. Sitting for Tashahhud (At-Tahiyyat)

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… Ashhadu an lā ilāha illallāh wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh.

After completing the second prostration of the second Rakat, sit calmly and recite At-Tahiyyat including the Testimony of Faith.

9. Salawat (Durood Ibrahim) & Closing Dua

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ — رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad… Rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanatan wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanatan wa qinā ʿadhāban-nār.

In the final sitting of the prayer, send blessings upon Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and recite the Rabbana supplication for good in this world and the Hereafter.

10. Concluding Taslim (Salam)

السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ

As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh.

Turn your head to the right saying “Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you”, then turn to the left repeating the greeting to complete your prayer.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many obligatory Rakats do Muslims pray each day?: There are 17 obligatory (Fard) Rakats across the five daily prayers: 2 in Fajr, 4 in Dhuhr, 4 in Asr, 3 in Maghrib, and 4 in Isha.
Can a beginner pray while reading from notes or an app?: Yes. While learning the Arabic phrases, beginners and new Muslims may hold notes or follow Imantree’s ad-free guided prayer tutorial until memorized.