This is a general overview. Details differ slightly between schools of thought, so learn from a trusted teacher or your local masjid as well.
Before you pray
- Be in a state of wudu: see how to make wudu.
- Clean body, clothes and place.
- Cover the awrah.
- Face the Qibla: see finding the Qibla.
- It must be the prayer's time.
- Make the intention in your heart for the prayer you are about to pray.
The five daily prayers
- Fajr: 2 rak'ahs, before sunrise
- Dhuhr: 4 rak'ahs, after midday
- Asr: 4 rak'ahs, in the afternoon
- Maghrib: 3 rak'ahs, after sunset
- Isha: 4 rak'ahs, at night
One rak'ah, step by step
- Takbir: raise your hands and say Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) to begin.
- Standing (qiyam): recite Surah Al-Fatihah, then in the first two rak'ahs another short surah or some verses.
- Bowing (ruku'): say Allahu Akbar, bow with your back straight and hands on your knees, and say Subhana Rabbiyal-Adhim (Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great).
- Rising: stand up saying Sami'Allahu liman hamidah, then Rabbana wa lakal-hamd.
- Prostration (sujud): say Allahu Akbar and prostrate with forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes on the ground. Say Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High).
- Sitting briefly between the two prostrations, then a second prostration.
That completes one rak'ah. After every second rak'ah you sit for the tashahhud. In the final sitting you add the salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ, then end the prayer by turning your head right and left saying As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah.
Learn it properly, posture by posture
HayatTime's Learn to Pray walks through every posture with illustrations and what to say, then checks what stuck with a practice mode. Once you know how, build the habit.
Quick answers
How many rak'ahs are in each prayer?
Fajr has 2 obligatory rak'ahs, Dhuhr 4, Asr 4, Maghrib 3 and Isha 4.
Do I need to know Arabic to pray?
The recitations of the prayer are in Arabic, but you can learn them gradually. Start with Surah Al-Fatihah, which is recited in every rak'ah, and ask a local imam for help as you learn.