**Step 1: Intention (Niyyah)**
Say in your heart you want to pray to Allah.
**Step 2: Takbeer (Start Prayer)**
Raise your hands and say: الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar) meaning "Allah is the Greatest."
**Step 3: Surah Al-Fatiha**
Recite:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٧﴾
In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. The Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us on the Straight Path, the path of those You have blessed—not of those who earned Your anger or went astray.
**Step 4: A short Surah or some verses**
You can say Surah Al-Ikhlas:
قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ ﴿١﴾ اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ ﴿٢﴾ لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ﴿٣﴾ وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ ﴿٤﴾
Say, "He is Allah, [who is] One, Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born, nor is there to Him any equivalent."
**Step 5: Ruku (Bowing)**
Say الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar) and bow down. Then say 3 times: سبحان ربي العظيم (Subhana Rabbi al-‘Azim) meaning "Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great."
**Step 6: Stand up**
Say: سمع الله لمن حمده (Sami' Allahu liman hamidah) meaning "Allah hears the one who praises Him."
Then say: ربنا ولك الحمد (Rabbana wa lakal hamd) meaning "Our Lord, to You is all praise."
**Step 7: Sujood (Prostration)**
Say الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar) and go down to prostrate.
Say 3 times: سبحان ربي الأعلى (Subhana Rabbi al-A'la) meaning "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High."
**Step 8: Sit up from sujood**
Say الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar) and sit briefly.
**Step 9: Second Sujood**
Say الله أكبر (Allahu Akbar) and prostrate again.
Say 3 times: سبحان ربي الأعلى (Subhana Rabbi al-A'la).
**Step 10: Stand up for next rak’ah or finish**
If more rak’ahs, stand and repeat steps 3-9.
**Step 11: Tashahhud (Sitting and Testification)**
After last rak’ah, sit and say:
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
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.
**Step 12: Salawat on the Prophet ﷺ**
Say:
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
O Allah, send prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.
**Step 13: Ending the prayer**
Turn your head to the right and say السلام عليكم ورحمة الله (As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah) meaning "Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you."
Then turn your head to the left and say the same.
**Takeaway:**
Try to pray with calm and meaning. It is your special time to talk to Allah.
Allah knows best.