How to pray for kids: the salah step by step
We pray five times a day. This page walks your child through the postures of the prayer, from the takbir to the salam, the way the free Hudhudo prayer course teaches them: each posture with a picture, the Arabic sentences in Hana's voice, and what they mean.
After that: the whole Fajr prayer rak'ah by rak'ah, the words of the tashahhud, the five prayers with their times and number of rak'ahs, and how we behave in the prayer.
The Hudhudo team · Updated
Getting ready for the prayer
قَبْلَ الصَّلَاةِ نَسْتَعِدّ.
Before the prayer we get ready.
أَتَوَضَّأ.
I make wudu.
أَلْبَسُ ثِيَابًا نَظِيفَةً تَسْتُرُنِي.
I put on clean clothes that cover me.
أُصَلِّي فِي مَكَانٍ نَظِيف.
I pray in a clean place.
وَنَضَعُ الْهَاتِفَ وَالْأَلْعَابَ بَعِيدًا.
And we put the phone and the toys away.
أَتَّجِهُ إِلَى الْقِبْلَة.
I face the qibla.
The postures of the prayer, step by step
Step 1:تَكْبِيرtakbirsaying: Allahu akbar
أَقِفُ عَلَى السَّجَّادَةِ وَأَتَّجِهُ إِلَى الْقِبْلَة.
I stand on my prayer mat and face the qibla.
وَأَنْوِي فِي قَلْبِي أَنْ أُصَلِّيَ لِلَّه.
And in my heart I intend: I am going to pray for Allah.
أَرْفَعُ يَدَيَّ وَأُكَبِّر.
I raise my hands and say: Allahu akbar.
What we say here
اللهُ أَكْبَر
Allahu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
Step 2:قِيَامqiyamthe standing
ثُمَّ أَضَعُ يَدِيَ الْيُمْنَى عَلَى الْيُسْرَى، عَلَى أَعْلَى الْبَطْن.
Then I put my right hand over my left hand, on my upper belly.
هٰذَا هُوَ الْقِيَام. نَقِفُ بِهُدُوءٍ وَلَا نَلْتَفِت.
This is the qiyam. We stand still and do not look around.
فِي كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ نَقْرَأُ سُورَةَ الْفَاتِحَة.
In every rak'ah we recite surah al-Fatiha.
Step 3:رُكُوعrukuthe bowing
بَعْدَ الْقِيَامِ نَرْكَع.
After the standing we bow: that is the ruku.
أُكَبِّرُ وَأَرْكَع. ظَهْرِي مُسْتَقِيمٌ وَيَدَايَ عَلَى رُكْبَتَيّ.
I say Allahu akbar and bow. My back is straight and my hands are on my knees.
فِي الرُّكُوعِ نُسَبِّحُ رَبَّنَا ثَلَاثَ مَرَّات.
In the ruku we praise our Rabb three times: subhana rabbiyal-adheem.
What we say here
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيم
subhana rabbiyal-adheem
How perfect is my Rabb, the Mighty (3 times)
Step 4:اِعْتِدَالi'tidalstanding up straight again
ثُمَّ أَقُومُ مِنَ الرُّكُوعِ وَأَقِفُ مُسْتَقِيمًا.
Then I come up from the ruku and stand straight again.
وَنَحْمَدُ اللهَ وَنَحْنُ نَقُوم.
And as we stand up we praise Allah: sami'a Allahu liman hamidah, rabbana wa lakal-hamd.
هٰذَا هُوَ الِاعْتِدَال.
This is the i'tidal: standing up straight again.
What we say here
سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه
sami'a Allahu liman hamidah
Allah hears the one who praises Him
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْد
rabbana wa lakal-hamd
Our Rabb, all praise is Yours
Step 5:سُجُودsujudforehead down on the ground
بَعْدَ الِاعْتِدَالِ نَسْجُد.
After the i'tidal we go down in sujud.
أُكَبِّرُ وَأَسْجُدُ عَلَى سَبْعَةِ أَعْضَاء: الْجَبْهَةِ وَالْأَنْفِ، وَالْيَدَيْنِ، وَالرُّكْبَتَيْنِ، وَأَطْرَافِ الْقَدَمَيْن.
I say Allahu akbar and go down in sujud on seven places: my forehead with my nose, my two hands, my two knees and the toes of my feet.
فِي السُّجُودِ نُسَبِّحُ رَبَّنَا ثَلَاثَ مَرَّات.
In the sujud we praise our Rabb three times: subhana rabbiyal-a'la.
What we say here
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
subhana rabbiyal-a'la
How perfect is my Rabb, the Most High (3 times)
Step 6:جُلُوسjulusthe sitting
ثُمَّ أَجْلِسُ قَلِيلًا وَأَدْعُو رَبِّي.
Then I sit up for a moment and ask my Rabb to forgive me: rabbighfir li.
هٰذَا هُوَ الْجُلُوسُ بَيْنَ السَّجْدَتَيْن.
This is the sitting between the two sujuds.
ثُمَّ نَسْجُدُ مَرَّةً ثَانِيَة.
Then we go down in sujud once more.
What we say here
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
rabbighfir li
My Rabb, forgive me
Step 7:تَشَهُّدtashahhudthe sitting at the end, index finger raised
فِي آخِرِ الصَّلَاةِ نَجْلِسُ لِلتَّشَهُّد.
At the end of the prayer we sit for the tashahhud.
أَجْلِسُ وَأَقُولُ التَّشَهُّد، وَأَرْفَعُ سَبَّابَتِي.
I sit and say the tashahhud, and I raise my index finger.
وَنَرْفَعُ السَّبَّابَةَ عِنْدَ الشَّهَادَة.
And at the shahada we raise our index finger.
Step 8:تَسْلِيمtaslimthe salam at the end
ثُمَّ أُسَلِّمُ عَنْ يَمِينِي، ثُمَّ عَنْ يَسَارِي.
Then I greet to my right, then to my left: as-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah.
بِالتَّسْلِيمِ تَنْتَهِي الصَّلَاة.
With the salam the prayer is finished.
What we say here
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ الله
as-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah
Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy
نَبْدَأُ بِالتَّكْبِيرِ وَنَنْتَهِي بِالتَّسْلِيم.
We begin with the takbir and end with the salam.
A whole prayer: Fajr has two rak'ahs
صَلَاةُ الْفَجْرِ رَكْعَتَان.
The Fajr prayer has two rak'ahs.
فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الْأُولَى أَقْرَأُ الْفَاتِحَة، ثُمَّ سُورَةً قَصِيرَة.
In the first rak'ah I recite al-Fatiha, and then a short surah.
مِثْلَ سُورَةِ الْإِخْلَاص.
Like surah al-Ikhlas.
ثُمَّ أَرْكَعُ وَأَسْجُدُ كَمَا تَعَلَّمْنَا.
Then I do the ruku and the sujud, as we learned.
بَعْدَ السَّجْدَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ أَقُومُ لِلرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَة.
After the second sujud I stand up for the second rak'ah.
فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ نَقْرَأُ الْفَاتِحَةَ وَسُورَةً قَصِيرَةً أَيْضًا.
In the second rak'ah we also recite al-Fatiha and a short surah.
بَعْدَ الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ أَجْلِسُ لِلتَّشَهُّد.
After the second rak'ah I sit for the tashahhud.
أَقُولُ التَّشَهُّد، ثُمَّ الصَّلَاةَ عَلَى النَّبِيّ، ثُمَّ أَدْعُو.
I say the tashahhud, then the blessings on the Prophet, and then I make du'a.
ثُمَّ نُسَلِّمُ عَنِ الْيَمِينِ وَعَنِ الْيَسَار.
Then we say salam to the right and to the left.
هٰذِهِ صَلَاةُ الْفَجْرِ كَامِلَة!
This is the whole Fajr prayer!
The words of the tashahhud
فِي الْجُلُوسِ الْأَخِيرِ نَقُولُ التَّشَهُّد.
In the last sitting we say the tashahhud.
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَات
at-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat
All greetings, prayers and good words are for Allah
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُه
as-salamu alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللهِ الصَّالِحِين
as-salamu alayna wa ala ibadillahis-salihin
Peace be upon us and upon all the good servants of Allah
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله
ashhadu an la ilaha illallah
I bear witness: there is no god but Allah (here you raise your index finger)
وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُه
wa ashhadu anna muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluh
And I bear witness: Muhammad is His servant and His messenger
Blessings on the Prophet
بَعْدَ التَّشَهُّدِ نُصَلِّي عَلَى النَّبِيّ.
After the tashahhud we send blessings on the Prophet.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّد
allahumma salli ala muhammadin wa ala ali muhammad
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and his family
كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيم
kama sallayta ala ibrahima wa ala ali ibrahim
as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and his family
إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد
innaka hamidun majid
You are the Praised, the Glorious
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّد
allahumma barik ala muhammadin wa ala ali muhammad
O Allah, bless Muhammad and his family
كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيم
kama barakta ala ibrahima wa ala ali ibrahim
as You blessed Ibrahim and his family
إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد
innaka hamidun majid
You are the Praised, the Glorious
After the prayer
وَبَعْدَ التَّسْلِيمِ نَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ ثَلَاثَ مَرَّات.
And after the salam we ask Allah for forgiveness three times: astaghfirullah.
أَسْتَغْفِرُ الله
astaghfirullah
I ask Allah for forgiveness (3 times, after the salam)
The five prayers
لِكُلِّ صَلَاةٍ وَقْتُهَا.
Every prayer has its own time.
| Prayer | Time | Rak'ahs |
|---|---|---|
 الْفَجْرal-fajr | Fajr: when the first light appears, before the sun rises. | two rak'ahs |
 الظُّهْرadh-dhuhr | Dhuhr: when the sun has just passed the middle of the sky. | four rak'ahs |
 الْعَصْرal-'asr | Asr: after Dhuhr, when the shadows grow long. | four rak'ahs |
 الْمَغْرِبal-maghrib | Maghrib: after the sun has set. | three rak'ahs |
 الْعِشَاءal-'isha | Isha: when the sunset light is gone and the night is dark. | four rak'ahs |
A prayer of three or four rak'ahs
بَعْدَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ نَجْلِسُ لِلتَّشَهُّدِ الْأَوَّل.
After two rak'ahs we sit for the first tashahhud.
نَقُولُ التَّشَهُّد، ثُمَّ نَقُومُ وَنُكْمِلُ الصَّلَاة.
We say the tashahhud, then we stand up and finish the prayer.
فِي الرَّكْعَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ وَالرَّابِعَةِ نَقْرَأُ الْفَاتِحَةَ فَقَط.
In the third and fourth rak'ah we recite only al-Fatiha.
وَفِي الْجُلُوسِ الْأَخِيرِ نَتَشَهَّدُ وَنُسَلِّم.
And in the last sitting we say the tashahhud and the salam.
إِذَا سَمِعْنَا الْأَذَانَ قُمْنَا لِلصَّلَاة.
When we hear the adhan, we get up for the prayer.
نُصَلِّي كُلَّ صَلَاةٍ فِي وَقْتِهَا.
We pray every prayer on time.
In the prayer we are calm
فِي الصَّلَاةِ نَكُونُ هَادِئِين.
In the prayer we are calm.
لَا أَلْتَفِتُ، وَلَا أَرْفَعُ بَصَرِي إِلَى السَّمَاء.
I do not look around, and I do not look up at the sky.
لَا أَلْعَبُ بِيَدَيَّ وَلَا بِثِيَابِي.
I do not play with my hands or my clothes.
لَا أَتَكَلَّمُ وَلَا أَضْحَكُ فِي الصَّلَاة.
I do not talk or laugh in the prayer.
لَا أَمُرُّ أَمَامَ مَنْ يُصَلِّي.
I do not walk in front of someone who is praying.
إِذَا صَلَّيْنَا مَعًا وَقَفْنَا فِي صَفٍّ مُسْتَقِيم.
When we pray together, we stand in a straight row.
A tip for parents
Pray where your child can see you. To practise, outside the prayer: stand side by side, do the movements together and say the words aloud.
Your child's teacher at the mosque or weekend school stays the one who corrects the details; this page helps you repeat at home.
Questions parents ask
How do we start at home?
Start with the movements of one rak'ah: stand side by side and do them together. Then add the words one posture at a time, with the play buttons on this page or in the free prayer course.
My child does not know Al-Fatiha or the tashahhud yet.
That is where most children start. The prayer course teaches the tashahhud piece by piece in Hana's voice, and Al-Fatiha verse by verse with the reciter. The Surah Al-Fatiha page has the whole surah with recitation.
How many rak'ahs does each prayer have?
Fajr has two, Dhuhr four, Asr four, Maghrib three and Isha four. The table on this page shows the time of each prayer.
Practise wudu and the prayer in the free course
The Hudhudo prayer course is free forever: wudu, the movements, the words and the five prayers, with Hana's voice.