Prayer (Salat) is the second pillar of Islam and the most direct daily link between the believer and God. If you are a beginner, here is the essential to start serenely.
Before prayer: the ablutions (Wudu)
Before each prayer, one performs the ablutions, a purification with water:
- Wash the hands
- Rinse the mouth and nose
- Wash the face
- Wash the forearms up to the elbows
- Wipe the head with wet hands
- Wash the feet up to the ankles
The five prayers and their times
- Fajr: at dawn, before sunrise
- Dhuhr: after the sun passes its zenith
- Asr: in mid-afternoon
- Maghrib: just after sunset
- Isha: at nightfall
The times change every day and according to your city. Check our Mawaqit Salat tool for exact times, and Find my Qibla for the direction of prayer.
The steps of a unit of prayer (Rakaa)
- Stand facing Mecca and form the intention
- Raise the hands saying “Allahu Akbar”
- Recite Surah Al-Fatiha, then another passage of the Quran
- Bow (Ruku)
- Straighten up
- Prostrate (Sujud) twice
- Sit down then conclude with the greetings
Advice for beginners
- Start by memorizing Surah Al-Fatiha.
- Do not seek perfection: regularity takes precedence over quantity.
- Gradually learn the invocations in Arabic and their meaning.
“The first thing the servant will be questioned about on the Day of Judgment is the prayer.”
To go further, visit our complete page on prayer.