أَهْلًا وَسَهْلًا
A gentle guide to the basics for new Muslims and reverts: what we believe, how to make wudhu, and how to pray step by step, with the Arabic, how to say it and what it means.
Your first steps
Whether you have just said your shahadah or are taking your first steps, welcome. This guide covers the basics, one small step at a time, so you can start practising with confidence.
The shahadah
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illallāh, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan rasūlullāh.
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
When you sincerely say these words, you are a Muslim. The Prophet ﷺ taught that accepting Islam wipes away everything that came before it, so you start with a clean page.
Sahih Muslim 121
The six pillars of faith
When the angel Jibril asked the Prophet ﷺ what faith (iman) is, he answered with six beliefs. These are the foundations of a Muslim's heart.
There is one God, Allah, with no partner, no equal and no child. He alone deserves worship.
Created from light, they worship Allah and carry out His commands, like Jibril who brought the revelation.
Allah sent revelation to His messengers. The Qur'an is the final book, preserved as it was revealed.
Allah sent prophets to every people, from Adam to Nuh, Ibrahim, Musa and 'Isa. Muhammad ﷺ is the last of them.
Everyone will be brought back to life and answer for what they did, and Allah will judge with perfect justice and mercy.
Nothing happens outside Allah's knowledge and will, the good and the hard alike. We do our part and trust Him with the rest.
Sahih Muslim 8 · Sahih al-Bukhari 50
What every Muslim builds their life on
Islam is built on five pillars, the actions every Muslim builds their life on.
Bearing witness that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His Messenger. You have already done this one.
Praying five times a day. It is the first thing to learn, and this guide shows you how.
Giving a set share of your savings to people in need each year, once your wealth reaches a minimum amount.
Fasting from dawn to sunset every day of Ramadan, if you are able.
The pilgrimage to Makkah, once in a lifetime, for those who can afford it and are able.
Sahih al-Bukhari 8
The full wash
Recommended. When Qays ibn Asim came to accept Islam, the Prophet ﷺ told him to have a bath.
Sunan Abi Dawud 355After marital relations or a wet dream, and for women when a period or bleeding after childbirth ends. You can't pray until you've done it.
Make the intention in your heart and say "Bismillah".
Wash your hands, then wash your private parts.
Do wudhu, the same as for the prayer.
Pour water over your head three times, so it reaches the roots of your hair.
Wash the rest of your body, starting with the right side, so water reaches everywhere.
Sahih al-Bukhari 248
Washing for the prayer
Before every prayer you need wudhu, a short wash with clean water. Allah describes it in the Qur'an, and the Prophet ﷺ said that cleanliness is half of faith.
Al-Ma'idah 5:6 · Sahih Muslim 223
Make the intention in your heart to do wudhu for the prayer, and begin with "Bismillah".
Wash both hands up to the wrists, three times.
Take water into your mouth, swirl it and spit it out, three times.
Sniff a little water into your nose and blow it out, three times.
From the hairline to the chin and from ear to ear, three times.
Your right arm up to and including the elbow, then the left, three times each.
With wet hands, wipe over your head from front to back and back again, then wipe your ears, once.
Your right foot up to and including the ankle, then the left, three times each. Get between the toes.
Sahih al-Bukhari 159
After wudhu, say
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan 'abduhu wa rasūluh.
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
Sahih Muslim 234
Five meetings with Allah each day
Salah is the heart of a Muslim's day: five short meetings with Allah, each at its own time.
Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
An-Nisa 4:103
From first light until sunrise
2 rak'ahsFrom just after midday until mid-afternoon
4 rak'ahsFrom mid-afternoon until sunset
4 rak'ahsJust after sunset until the light leaves the sky
3 rak'ahsFrom nightfall
4 rak'ahsExact times change every day with the sun. Use your local masjid's timetable or a prayer times app.
From Allahu Akbar to salam
This is a two-rak'ah prayer, like Fajr, from beginning to end. Every prayer is made of these same steps. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Pray as you have seen me pray." Sahih al-Bukhari 631
Stand facing the direction of the Ka'bah in Makkah (the qiblah). Make the intention in your heart for the prayer you are about to pray, for example "the two rak'ahs of Fajr". You don't need to say it out loud.
Intention: Sahih al-Bukhari 1
Raise your hands to the level of your shoulders or ears and say:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
From now on, keep your eyes on the place where your forehead will touch the ground, and focus only on the prayer.
Sahih al-Bukhari 735 · Sunan Abi Dawud 61
Place your right hand over your left on your chest or just below it. Quietly say the opening dua, then seek refuge in Allah:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānaka-llāhumma wa biḥamdika, wa tabāraka-smuka, wa ta'ālā jadduka, wa lā ilāha ghayruk
Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
A'ūdhu billāhi minash-shayṭānir-rajīm
I seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, the accursed.
Right hand over left: Sahih al-Bukhari 740 · Opening dua: Sunan Abi Dawud 775
Recite Surah Al-Fatihah, the opening chapter of the Qur'an. It is recited in every rak'ah of every prayer, so it is the first thing to learn.
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 1
Bismillāhir-raḥmānir-raḥīm
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ 2
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-'ālamīn
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds
ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 3
Ar-raḥmānir-raḥīm
The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
مَٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ 4
Māliki yawmid-dīn
Sovereign of the Day of Recompense
إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُ 5
Iyyāka na'budu wa iyyāka nasta'īn
It is You we worship and You we ask for help
ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ 6
Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm
Guide us to the straight path
صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ غَيۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ 7
Ṣirāṭal-ladhīna an'amta 'alayhim ghayril-maghḍūbi 'alayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn
The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favour, not of those who have earned anger or of those who are astray
At the end, say "Āmīn" (O Allah, accept).
Sahih al-Bukhari 756
In the first two rak'ahs, recite any other part of the Qur'an you know after Al-Fatihah. Surah Al-Ikhlas is short and a lovely one to start with:
قُلۡ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَدٌ 1
Qul huwallāhu aḥad
Say, "He is Allah, the One
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَدُ 2
Allāhuṣ-ṣamad
Allah, the Eternal Refuge
لَمۡ يَلِدۡ وَلَمۡ يُولَدۡ 3
Lam yalid wa lam yūlad
He neither begets nor is born
وَلَمۡ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَدُۢ 4
Wa lam yakun lahū kufuwan aḥad
Nor is there to Him any equivalent."
Sahih al-Bukhari 757
Say "Allāhu akbar" and bow, with your hands on your knees and your back straight and level. Say three times:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-'aẓīm
Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great
Sahih Muslim 772
Stand up straight, saying the first line as you rise. Once you are standing still, say the second:
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Sami'allāhu liman ḥamidah
Allah hears the one who praises Him
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd
Our Lord, and to You belongs all praise
Sahih al-Bukhari 789
Say "Allāhu akbar" and go down into prostration, with seven parts of you on the ground: your forehead and nose, both hands, both knees and the toes of both feet. Say three times:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subḥāna rabbiyal-a'lā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High
This is when you are closest to Allah. Once you are comfortable, you can add your own duas here, in any language, in voluntary prayers.
Seven parts: Sahih al-Bukhari 812 · Words: Sahih Muslim 772
Say "Allāhu akbar" and sit up, resting on your left foot with your right foot upright. Say:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbighfir lī
My Lord, forgive me
Sunan Abi Dawud 874
Say "Allāhu akbar" and make a second prostration exactly like the first, saying "Subḥāna rabbiyal-a'lā" three times.
That completes one rak'ah. Say "Allāhu akbar" and stand up for the next one, starting again from Al-Fatihah.
After the second rak'ah, sit as you did between the prostrations, with your hands on your knees or thighs, and recite the tashahhud. Point with your right index finger.
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
At-taḥiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu 'alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu 'alaynā wa 'alā 'ibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illallāh, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan 'abduhu wa rasūluh.
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.
In a 3 or 4 rak'ah prayer, this is the middle sitting: stop here, say "Allāhu akbar" and stand up for the rest.
Sahih al-Bukhari 6265 · Pointing: Sahih Muslim 580
In the final sitting, after the tashahhud, send blessings 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
Allāhumma ṣalli 'alā Muḥammadin wa 'alā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta 'alā Ibrāhīma wa 'alā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik 'alā Muḥammadin wa 'alā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta 'alā Ibrāhīma wa 'alā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd.
O Allah, send prayers on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers on 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.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3370
Turn your head to the right and say the salam, then turn to the left and say it again. Your prayer is complete.
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salāmu 'alaykum wa raḥmatullāh
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah
Sunan Abi Dawud 996 · Sunan Abi Dawud 61
Same steps, different lengths
Every prayer follows the same pattern. The only difference is the number of rak'ahs and where you sit. In the first two rak'ahs you recite Al-Fatihah and a surah; in the third and fourth, Al-Fatihah only.
Fatihah only in the last rak'ahs: Sahih al-Bukhari 776
The month of the Qur'an
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, when the Qur'an was first revealed. Every day of the month, Muslims fast from dawn (Fajr) until sunset (Maghrib).
O you who have believed, decreed upon you is fasting as it was decreed upon those before you that you may become righteous.
Al-Baqarah 2:183
A pre-dawn meal to keep you going.
No food, drink or marital relations. Guard your tongue and temper too.
Break your fast, often with dates and water.
See when Ramadan starts with the Ramadan countdown.
Giving and the pilgrimage
Once a year, if your savings stay above a minimum amount (the nisab) for a full lunar year, you give 2.5% of them to those Allah names in the Qur'an, such as the poor and the needy. Your local masjid can help you work it out.
At-Tawbah 9:60The pilgrimage to Makkah in the month of Dhul Hijjah, once in a lifetime, for whoever is able to make the journey and afford it. There's no rush: it's for when you are ready and able.
Ali 'Imran 3:97What to avoid
Halal means allowed and haram means forbidden. Most things in life are halal. A few things are clearly haram, and it is worth knowing them from the start.
Almost everything: fruit, vegetables, grains, fish, dairy, and meat slaughtered in the name of Allah. Ask at your local masjid where people buy halal meat near you.
Al-Ma'idah 5:3 · Al-Ma'idah 5:90
Keeping the ties of kinship
Becoming Muslim doesn't mean leaving your family. Islam asks you to keep treating your parents and relatives with kindness, even if they are not Muslim.
…accompany them in this world with appropriate kindness.
Luqman 31:15
When Asma's mother, who was not Muslim, came to visit her, the Prophet ﷺ told her: "Yes, keep good relations with her." Sahih al-Bukhari 2620
Remembering Allah through the day
You will hear these a lot. They are small ways of remembering Allah through the day.
Peace be upon you. The Muslim greeting. The reply is "Wa alaykum assalam" (and upon you be peace).
In the name of Allah. Said before eating, starting a task, leaving home.
All praise is for Allah. Said when something good happens, after eating, after sneezing, and when asked how you are.
Glory be to Allah. Said when you are amazed by something.
What Allah has willed. Said when you admire something or someone.
If Allah wills. Said about anything you plan to do in the future.
Allah is the Greatest. Said in the prayer and in moments of awe.
I seek Allah's forgiveness. Said after a mistake, and often through the day.
May Allah reward you with good. The Muslim way of saying thank you.
"May Allah send blessings and peace upon him." Said or written after the Prophet Muhammad's name.
Where to go from here
Learn the prayer first. Start with Al-Fatihah, and pray what you can while you learn.
Find your local masjid. Introduce yourself to the imam. Many masjids run classes and support groups for new Muslims.
Read the Qur'an with its meaning. A little each day.
Make dua in your own words. Any time, in any language. Allah hears you.
Be patient with yourself. Faith grows step by step, and every step counts.
Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured.
Ar-Ra'd 13:28
Download the whole guide as a free booklet to read offline, print, or give to someone who has just taken their shahadah.
This guide covers the basics as the Prophet ﷺ taught them, with a reference for each step. Muslims differ on some small details of the prayer, and all of them are valid. For anything you are unsure about, ask a trusted teacher or the imam at your local masjid.