How to pray: step by step

Pray as you have seen me pray.al-Bukhari 631

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) transmitted the prayer gesture by gesture, and his community has practised it uninterruptedly since.

A rak'a step by step

1. Standing, facing the qibla, the intention in the heart, then the opening takbir: "Allahu akbar", palms at shoulder level (or ears, a difference among schools).
2. Standing (qiyam): right hand over the left: on the chest (Malikis, Shafi'is, Hanbalis), below the navel (Hanafis); the obligatory recitation of the Fatiha, then another sura or verses.
3. Bowing (ruku'): "Allahu akbar", back straight, hands on the knees, saying "Subhana rabbiya al-'azim" three times.
4. Rising (i'tidal): "Sami'a Allahu liman hamidah" standing, then "Rabbana wa lakal-hamd".
5. Prostration (sujud): "Allahu akbar", seven limbs on the ground (forehead and nose, two palms, two knees, toes), "Subhana rabbiya al-a'la" three times. It is the closest moment to Allah: multiply supplication in it (Muslim 482).
6. Sitting up, then the second prostration.
7. Standing for the second rak'a.

The tashahhud and the end

Seated, one recites the tashahhud ("Greetings to Allah, prayers and good deeds...", Muslim 402), the prayer upon the Prophet in the final sitting, then the salam to the right then the left: "As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah".

The Fatiha is obligatory

No prayer for the one who does not recite the Fatiha.al-Bukhari 756

The daily sunnahs

Twelve rak'as: whoever prays them every day, Allah builds him a house in Paradise.Muslim 728

Two before dhuhr and two after, two after maghrib, two after isha, and two before fajr. And concentration: "Pray the prayer of the departing one", look at the place of prostration, do not turn about.