A kid-friendly quick reference: what must be in place before you pray, how many rakats each prayer is, and the prayer itself step by step with every recitation.
| Prayer | When | Fard | Sunnah |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr الفجر | Dawn, before sunrise | 2 | 2 before (strongly emphasized) |
| Dhuhr الظهر | Midday, after the sun passes its highest point | 4 | 4 before · 2 after |
| Asr العصر | Afternoon, while the sun is still bright | 4 | 4 before (optional) |
| Maghrib المغرب | Just after sunset | 3 | 2 after |
| Isha العشاء | Night, once darkness has settled | 4 | 2 after · then Witr (usually 3) |
Witr is essential (wajib) in the Hanafi school and an emphasized sunnah in the others. Sunnah counts follow widely-taught practice — schools differ on details; follow your family’s madhab.
Stand facing the qibla and make the intention in your heart for the prayer you are about to pray.
Raise your hands to your ears/shoulders and begin.
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu akbar
Allah is the Greatest.
Fold your hands and recite: the opening dua, then seek refuge, then Bismillah, then Surah al-Fatiha. In the first two rakats, follow al-Fatiha with a short surah.
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَى جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subhanaka llahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabaraka smuka, wa taʿala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayruk
Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You.
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ
Aʿudhu billahi mina sh-shaytani r-rajim
I seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan, the rejected.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillahi r-rahmani r-rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Say "Allahu akbar", bow with a straight back, hands on knees.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhana rabbiya l-ʿazim (×3)
Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.
Stand back up straight.
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ — ثُمَّ: رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Samiʿa llahu liman hamidah — then: Rabbana wa laka l-hamd
Allah hears the one who praises Him. Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.
Say "Allahu akbar" and prostrate, with your forehead, nose, palms, knees and toes touching the ground.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana rabbiya l-aʿla (×3)
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Sit up briefly, then make a second sujud the same way.
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي، رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbi ghfir li, rabbi ghfir li
My Lord, forgive me; my Lord, forgive me.
Stand up for the next rakah and repeat from al-Fatiha. After every two rakats, sit for the tashahhud.
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
At-tahiyyatu lillahi wa s-salawatu wa t-tayyibat. As-salamu ʿalayka ayyuha n-nabiyyu wa rahmatu llahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu ʿalayna wa ʿala ʿibadi llahi s-salihin. Ashhadu an la ilaha illa llah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ʿabduhu wa rasuluh
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 the last rakah, stay seated after the tashahhud: add the salawat and a dua of your choice.
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
Allahumma salli ʿala Muhammadin wa ʿala ali Muhammad, kama sallayta ʿala Ibrahima wa ʿala ali Ibrahim, innaka hamidun majid. Allahumma barik ʿala Muhammadin wa ʿala ali Muhammad, kama barakta ʿala Ibrahima wa ʿala ali Ibrahim, innaka hamidun majid
O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, send Your grace upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You graced Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim; You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
Finish the prayer by greeting to the right and the left.
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salamu ʿalaykum wa rahmatu llah
Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.
Every recitation above — plus the after-prayer adhkar and everyday duas — is on the duas page with full sources.