Every Muslim wants to pray the way our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ prayed. In this guide we describe the Sunnah method of Salah step by step, using only well-known authentic hadith, mainly from Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. For each step you will find the Arabic text, an English translation, the hadith reference number and its authenticity grade.
Important: The translations here are our own simplified renderings of the meaning. Hadith numbers follow the standard numbering used on Sunnah.com. Hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim are accepted as authentic (Sahih) by the scholars of the Ummah. This article is for learning; for detailed rulings, please consult a qualified scholar.
Why Follow the Prophet’s Prayer?
The Prophet ﷺ did not only command prayer; he showed it with his own actions and told the Companions to copy him exactly.
صَلُّوا كَمَا رَأَيْتُمُونِي أُصَلِّي
Sallū kamā ra’aytumūnī uṣallī
Translation: Pray as you have seen me praying.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 631 (narrated by Malik ibn al-Huwayrith) | Authenticity: Sahih
He also taught a man who prayed hastily to go back and pray again three times, and then explained that every position must be done with calmness. This hadith is the foundation of the correct prayer:
ارْجِعْ فَصَلِّ فَإِنَّكَ لَمْ تُصَلِّ
Translation: Go back and pray, for you have not prayed. (He then taught him: say the Takbir, recite what you can of the Quran, bow until you are at rest in bowing, rise until you stand straight, prostrate until you are at rest in prostration, and sit until you are at rest.)
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 757, Sahih Muslim 397 (narrated by Abu Hurairah) | Authenticity: Sahih
Before You Begin
- Be in a state of wudu and purity, with clean clothes and a clean place.
- Face the Qiblah.
- Make the intention (niyyah) in your heart for the specific prayer. The intention is in the heart; the Prophet ﷺ did not teach a fixed spoken formula for it.
إِنَّمَا الأَعْمَالُ بِالنِّيَّاتِ
Innamal-a’mālu bin-niyyāt
Translation: Actions are only judged by intentions.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 1 (narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab) | Authenticity: Sahih
Step-by-Step: How the Prophet ﷺ Prayed
Step 1: Opening Takbir and Raising the Hands
The Prophet ﷺ began the prayer by saying “Allahu Akbar” while raising his hands. Authentic narrations mention raising them to the level of the shoulders, and also to the level of the ears. Both are Sunnah.
كَانَ يَرْفَعُ يَدَيْهِ حَذْوَ مَنْكِبَيْهِ إِذَا افْتَتَحَ الصَّلاَةَ
Translation: He used to raise his hands level with his shoulders when he began the prayer.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 735 (narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar) | Authenticity: Sahih
كَانَ إِذَا كَبَّرَ رَفَعَ يَدَيْهِ حَتَّى يُحَاذِيَ بِهِمَا أُذُنَيْهِ
Translation: When he said the Takbir, he raised his hands until they were level with his ears.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 391b (narrated by Malik ibn al-Huwayrith) | Authenticity: Sahih
Step 2: Placing the Right Hand over the Left
كَانَ النَّاسُ يُؤْمَرُونَ أَنْ يَضَعَ الرَّجُلُ الْيَدَ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى ذِرَاعِهِ الْيُسْرَى فِي الصَّلاَةِ
Translation: The people were commanded that a man should place his right hand on his left forearm in prayer.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 740 (narrated by Sahl ibn Sa’d) | Authenticity: Sahih
Placing the right hand over the left is established in Sahih al-Bukhari. The exact position (on the chest or below the navel) is reported in different narrations, and scholars have differed on it; see the section on differences below.
Step 3: The Opening Supplication (Dua al-Istiftah)
The Prophet ﷺ recited an opening supplication silently before the Quran. Two well-known authentic versions:
اللَّهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَاىَ كَمَا بَاعَدْتَ بَيْنَ الْمَشْرِقِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ
Allāhumma bā’id bainī wa baina khaṭāyāya kamā bā’adta bainal-mashriqi wal-maghrib
Translation: O Allah, put a distance between me and my sins as You have put a distance between the East and the West… (the hadith continues with asking to be cleansed from sins).
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 744 (narrated by Abu Hurairah) | Authenticity: Sahih
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ وَلاَ إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānaka-llāhumma wa bi-ḥamdika, wa tabāraka-smuka, wa ta’ālā jadduka, wa lā ilāha ghairuk
Translation: Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise is Yours. Blessed is Your Name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god besides You.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 776 (narrated by Aishah) | Authenticity: Sahih (al-Albani)
Step 4: Ta’awwudh, Basmalah and Surah Al-Fatihah
He then sought refuge in Allah from Shaytan, said the Basmalah and recited Surah Al-Fatihah, which is essential in every rak’ah.
لاَ صَلاَةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ
Translation: There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book (Al-Fatihah).
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 756 (narrated by Ubadah ibn as-Samit) | Authenticity: Sahih
Step 5: Saying Ameen
إِذَا أَمَّنَ الإِمَامُ فَأَمِّنُوا فَإِنَّهُ مَنْ وَافَقَ تَأْمِينُهُ تَأْمِينَ الْمَلاَئِكَةِ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِنْ ذَنْبِهِ
Translation: When the Imam says Ameen, say Ameen, for whoever’s Ameen coincides with the Ameen of the angels, his previous sins will be forgiven.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 780 (narrated by Abu Hurairah) | Authenticity: Sahih
After Al-Fatihah, the Prophet ﷺ recited another portion of the Quran in the first two rak’ahs.
Step 6: Ruku (Bowing)
He said “Allahu Akbar” and bowed, keeping his back straight and his head level with it, and remained calm in that position.
وَكَانَ إِذَا رَكَعَ لَمْ يُشْخِصْ رَأْسَهُ وَلَمْ يُصَوِّبْهُ وَلَكِنْ بَيْنَ ذَلِكَ
Translation: When he bowed, he neither raised his head nor lowered it, but kept it between the two (level).
Reference: Sahih Muslim 498 (narrated by Aishah) | Authenticity: Sahih
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subḥāna Rabbiyal-‘Aẓīm
Translation: Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 772 (narrated by Hudhayfah) | Authenticity: Sahih
Step 7: Rising from Ruku (Qawmah)
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ … رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Sami’a-llāhu liman ḥamidah … Rabbanā laka-l-ḥamd (also narrated: wa laka-l-ḥamd)
Translation: Allah hears the one who praises Him … Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 789 (narrated by Abu Hurairah) | Authenticity: Sahih
He stood fully upright and calm before going down into prostration (Sahih Muslim 498).
Step 8: Sujud (Prostration)
أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أَسْجُدَ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَعْظُمٍ
Translation: I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones: the forehead (and he pointed to his nose), both hands, both knees and the toes of both feet.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 812 (narrated by Ibn Abbas) | Authenticity: Sahih
اعْتَدِلُوا فِي السُّجُودِ، وَلاَ يَبْسُطْ أَحَدُكُمْ ذِرَاعَيْهِ انْبِسَاطَ الْكَلْبِ
Translation: Be balanced in prostration, and let none of you spread his forearms on the ground like a dog.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 822 (narrated by Anas ibn Malik) | Authenticity: Sahih
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
Subḥāna Rabbiyal-A’lā
Translation: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 772 (narrated by Hudhayfah) | Authenticity: Sahih
Step 9: Sitting Between the Two Prostrations (Jalsah)
He sat calmly between the two prostrations and made this supplication:
اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَارْحَمْنِي وَعَافِنِي وَاهْدِنِي وَارْزُقْنِي
Allāhummaghfir lī, warḥamnī, wa ‘āfinī, wahdinī, warzuqnī
Translation: O Allah, forgive me, have mercy on me, grant me well-being, guide me and provide for me.
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 850 (narrated by Ibn Abbas) | Authenticity: Hasan (al-Albani)
He then made the second prostration in the same way. In the odd rak’ahs, a narration reports that he sat briefly before standing up (Sahih al-Bukhari 823).
Step 10: The Tashahhud
After every two rak’ahs he sat and recited the Tashahhud, sitting on his left foot with the right foot upright (Sahih Muslim 498).
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ، وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt…
Translation: 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.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 831 (narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas’ud) | Authenticity: Sahih
رَفَعَ إِصْبَعَهُ الْيُمْنَى الَّتِي تَلِي الإِبْهَامَ فَدَعَا بِهَا
Translation: He raised his right finger that is next to the thumb (the index finger) and supplicated with it.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 580a (narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar) | Authenticity: Sahih
Step 11: Durood (Salawat) on 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
Translation: O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon 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.
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 3370 (narrated by Ka’b ibn Ujrah) | Authenticity: Sahih
Step 12: Supplication Before the Salam
إِذَا تَشَهَّدَ أَحَدُكُمْ فَلْيَسْتَعِذْ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ أَرْبَعٍ، مِنْ عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ وَمِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ، وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ
Translation: When one of you has finished the Tashahhud, let him seek refuge with Allah from four things: the punishment of Hell, the punishment of the grave, the trials of life and death, and the evil of the trial of the False Messiah (Dajjal).
Reference: Sahih Muslim 588a (narrated by Abu Hurairah) | Authenticity: Sahih
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي ظُلْمًا كَثِيرًا، وَلاَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ، فَاغْفِرْ لِي مَغْفِرَةً مِنْ عِنْدِكَ، وَارْحَمْنِي إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Translation: O Allah, I have wronged myself greatly, and none forgives sins except You. So grant me forgiveness from You and have mercy on me; You are the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful. (Taught by the Prophet ﷺ to Abu Bakr to say in his prayer.)
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 834 (narrated by Abu Bakr as-Siddiq) | Authenticity: Sahih
Step 13: Ending with the Salam
كُنْتُ أَرَى رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يُسَلِّمُ عَنْ يَمِينِهِ وَعَنْ يَسَارِهِ
As-salāmu ‘alaikum wa raḥmatullāh
Translation: I used to see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ give the salam to his right and to his left.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 582 (narrated by Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas) | Authenticity: Sahih
After the Prayer
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ السَّلاَمُ وَمِنْكَ السَّلاَمُ تَبَارَكْتَ ذَا الْجَلاَلِ وَالإِكْرَامِ
Translation: After finishing the prayer, he sought forgiveness three times (Astaghfirullah) and said: O Allah, You are Peace and from You is peace; blessed are You, O Possessor of Majesty and Honour.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 591 (narrated by Thawban) | Authenticity: Sahih
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Translation: Whoever glorifies Allah (SubhanAllah) 33 times, praises Him (Alhamdulillah) 33 times and declares His greatness (Allahu Akbar) 33 times after every prayer, then completes one hundred with: “There is no god but Allah alone, without partner; His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He has power over all things”, his sins will be forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea.
Reference: Sahih Muslim 597a (narrated by Abu Hurairah) | Authenticity: Sahih
The Prophet’s Daily Prayers and Love for Salah
- Night prayer: Aishah (RA) reported that he did not pray more than eleven rak’ahs at night, in Ramadan or outside it (Sahih al-Bukhari 1147).
- Long standing: He stood in night prayer until his feet swelled, and said: “Should I not be a grateful servant?” (Sahih al-Bukhari 1130).
- Two rak’ahs before Fajr: He was more regular in these than in any other voluntary prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 1169).
- Twelve Sunnah rak’ahs: “Whoever prays twelve rak’ahs in a day and night, a house will be built for him in Paradise” (Sahih Muslim 728). Their common description: 2 before Fajr, 4 before Zuhr and 2 after, 2 after Maghrib and 2 after Isha (Jami at-Tirmidhi).
- Coolness of the eyes: He said that the coolness of his eyes was placed in prayer (Sunan an-Nasa’i).
Where Authentic Narrations Differ
Some actions were reported from the Prophet ﷺ in more than one way. The great Imams of the Ummah, may Allah have mercy on them, all sought to follow the Sunnah; their differences come from different authentic narrations and how they understood them. Both practices below are based on evidence:
| Issue | Narration 1 | Narration 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Raising hands height | To the shoulders (Bukhari 735) | To the ears (Muslim 391b) |
| Raising hands at ruku (Raf’ al-Yadain) | Raised when bowing and rising (Bukhari 735; Muslim 391) | Ibn Mas’ud raised only at the beginning (Tirmidhi 257; Imam at-Tirmidhi called it Hasan, while some scholars graded it weak) |
| Position of hands | Right over left forearm (Bukhari 740); chest is mentioned in some narrations | Below the navel is mentioned in other narrations, which scholars graded differently |
| Brief sitting before standing | Reported in Bukhari 823 | Many scholars viewed it as done when needed (e.g., in old age) |
Whichever authentic practice you follow, your prayer is valid. What the Prophet ﷺ emphasised most was calmness, humility (khushu) and completing each position properly.
Quick Summary Table
| Step | What to Do | Key Hadith |
|---|---|---|
| Takbir | Say Allahu Akbar, raise hands | Bukhari 735, Muslim 391b |
| Hands | Right hand over left | Bukhari 740 |
| Opening dua | Allahumma ba’id… or Subhanaka… | Bukhari 744, Abu Dawud 776 |
| Recitation | Al-Fatihah in every rak’ah | Bukhari 756 |
| Ameen | Say Ameen after Al-Fatihah | Bukhari 780 |
| Ruku | Back straight, Subhana Rabbiyal Azim | Muslim 498, 772 |
| Rising | Sami’allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana lakal hamd | Bukhari 789 |
| Sujud | Seven bones, Subhana Rabbiyal A’la | Bukhari 812, 822; Muslim 772 |
| Jalsah | Allahummaghfir li warhamni… | Abu Dawud 850 |
| Tashahhud | At-tahiyyatu lillah…, point the finger | Bukhari 831, Muslim 580 |
| Durood | Allahumma salli ala Muhammad… | Bukhari 3370 |
| Dua | Refuge from four things | Muslim 588, Bukhari 834 |
| Salam | Right then left | Muslim 582 |
| After prayer | Astaghfirullah, tasbih 33/33/33 + 1 | Muslim 591, 597 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is this method according to any particular sect?
This article presents the Prophet’s prayer directly from authentic hadith. Where authentic narrations differ, we show both. All the major Sunni schools base their method on the Sunnah.
Which hadith books are the most authentic?
Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim are regarded by scholars as the most authentic collections of hadith after the Quran.
What does Sahih or Hasan mean?
Sahih means authentic with a strong, connected chain of reliable narrators. Hasan means good and acceptable, slightly below Sahih. Da’if means weak.
Is my prayer valid if I follow my local mosque’s method?
Yes. The well-known methods of the Sunni schools are based on evidence. Focus on calmness and completing each position properly, as the Prophet ﷺ taught.
Conclusion
The Prophet ﷺ told us to pray as we saw him pray. Learn these steps, recite the masnoon supplications with understanding, and above all pray with calmness and humility. May Allah accept our prayers and make Salah the coolness of our eyes. Ameen. Also see our simple Namaz step-by-step guide.