How to pray salah
The basic two-rakah sequence and the five daily prayers.
Hanafi overview · Sources checked: 8 November 2026
The sequence
- Prepare with wudu, clean clothing and space, appropriate covering, qibla direction and the prayer time; intend the prayer.
- Begin with takbir; standing, recite the opening supplication, Al-Fatihah and a Quran passage.
- Bow, stand upright, then make two prostrations with a sitting between them. Rise for the second rakah.
- Repeat recitation, bowing and prostrations. In the final sitting recite tashahhud, blessings and supplication, then give salam.
Points to understand
This sequence summarises two rakahs prayed individually. Three- and four-rakah obligatory prayers have a sitting after the second rakah and a final sitting. The table separates common Hanafi prayer components. Congregational recitation and following the imam require further instruction.
How many rakahs in the five prayers?
| Prayer | Before: sunnah | Obligatory | After: sunnah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sabah / Fajr | 2 | 2 | — |
| Öğle / Dhuhr | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| İkindi / Asr | 4 | 4 | — |
| Akşam / Maghrib | — | 3 | 2 |
| Yatsı / Isha | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Particular circumstances and practical tools
How to learn
First learn the sequence, then the names of the recitations. This page does not teach Arabic pronunciation. Compare the source with a teacher and ask about unfamiliar parts rather than filling in gaps yourself.