How to Pray 2 Rakah Salah

(Simple step-by-step Guide – Sunnah Method)

1st RAKAH

1. Stand Straight (Before You Start)

 

  • Have Wudu
  • Wear clean clothes
  • Face the Qiblah
  • Make intention in your heart

2. Say Takbir

 

  • Raise hands up to your shoulders or ears
  • Say: الله أكبر
    Allahu Akbar

3. Fold Your Hands and Recite

 

Place your right hand over your left and begin recitation:

  • Surah Al-Fatihah
  • A short Surah


Notes:

  • Keep your eyes on the place of
  • Maintain khushu’ (focus); do not look around

4. Ruku (Bow)

 

Say 3 times:

  • سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
    Subhana Rabbiyal ‘Azeem


How to perform:

  • Keep your back straight and level (like a flat table)
  • Hold your knees with your hands
  • Keep your head aligned with your back


*You can raise your hands before going into Ruku and after rising from it.

5. Stand Up (After Ruku)

 

  • سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
    Sami‘Allāhu liman ḥamidah

    Then:

    رَبَّنَا لَكَ الْحَمْدُ
    Rabbanā laka al-ḥamd

6. 1st Sajdah

 

  • Say 3 times:

    سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
    Subḥāna Rabbiyal A‘lā

Go down on 7 body parts:

  • Forehead and nose (together)
  • Two hands (palms flat)
  • Two knees
  • Toes of both feet (bent, touching ground)

Notes:

  • Keep elbows raised (not flat)
  • Face Qiblah and stay calm & still

7. Sit Between Two Sajdahs

 

  • Say (twice):

    رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
    Rabbighfir lī

8. 2nd Sajdah

 

  • Say 3 times:

    سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
    Subḥāna Rabbiyal A‘lā

2nd RAKAH

 

Repeat:

    • Surah Al-Fatihah + short surah
    • Ruku → Stand → Two Sajdahs

9. Final Sitting (Tashahhud)

  • Sunnah Way (Common)
  • Sit on your left foot
  • Keep right foot upright (toes pointing forward)
  • Recite Tashahhud 
  • Also Sunnah (especially in final rakah)
  • Sit on your buttock
  • Both legs come out on the right side
  • Eyes on the pointing finger
  •  
  • التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ
    السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
    السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ
    أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
    وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
  • Send blessings upon the Prophet ﷺSalawat (Durood Ibrahim)

    اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
    كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
    إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
    اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ
    كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ
    إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ

  • Recite a short duas

    رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلَاةِ وَمِنْ ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاءِ
    رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ

    and/or

    رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً
    وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً
    وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

    and/or

    اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ
    وَمِنْ عَذَابِ جَهَنَّمَ
    وَمِنْ فِتْنَةِ الْمَحْيَا وَالْمَمَاتِ
    وَمِنْ شَرِّ فِتْنَةِ الْمَسِيحِ الدَّجَّالِ

10. End the Prayer (Salam)

 

  • Turn head to the right and say:

    السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
    Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah

  • Turn head to the left and repeat

  • السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
    Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullah

After Salam

 

  • Say 3 times:

    أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ

    Astaghfirullah
  • It is recommended to read additional duas as well