In essence, Salah is the second pillar of the Islamic religion, and it is the most direct way in which a Muslim communicates with Allah. As a new convert or even a parent teaching their children, starting the practice of prayer in Islam may seem daunting.. This guide walks you through everything — from purification to the opening Takbeer — so you can approach your Salah with confidence and proper form.

What Is Salah (Prayer) in Islam?

Salah is the Arabic word for the ritual prayer Muslims perform five times every day. It is an obligation commanded directly by Allah.

Allah says: “Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.” (An-Nisa: 103)

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed the first deed by which a servant will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection is his Salah. If it is complete, he is successful and saved, but if it is defective, he has failed and lost.” (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 413 — Hasan Sahih)

The five daily prayers:

• Fajr — before sunrise
• Dhuhr — midday
• Asr — afternoon
• Maghrib — just after sunset
• Isha — night

If you are new to Islam and want structured learning, the Iqra Islamic Studies for Adults program offers guided lessons tailored to beginners.

How to Start Prayer in Islam?

Learning how to start prayer in Islam begins before the first word is said. The prayer opens with intention, direction, and the Takbeer — in that exact order.

Step-by-step:

1. Niyyah (Intention) — Intend in your heart which prayer you are performing. This is an act of the heart, not the tongue.
2. Face the Qiblah — Turn toward the Ka’bah in Makkah.
3. Stand upright (Qiyam) — Feet shoulder-width apart, gaze toward the place of prostration.
4. Raise your hands — To the level of shoulders or earlobes, palms forward. 
5. Say Takbiratul Ihram — Say “Allahu Akbar.” This is the moment the prayer begins.
6. Place right hand over left — Rest them on the chest. 
7. Recite Du’a Al-Istiftah — The recommended opening supplication before Al-Fatihah.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “The key to prayer is purification; its beginning is the Takbeer and its end is the Tasleem.” (Sunan Abi Dawud 61; Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3 — Sahih, al-Albani)

Also read about: how many steps in wudu​

What You Need Before Starting Prayer

Conditions that must be met before Salah is valid:

• Being Muslim, sane, and of age
• Prayer time has entered
• Facing the Qiblah
• Awrah (private area) is covered
• Body, clothing, and prayer place are free from impurity
• Valid Wudu has been performed

How to Prepare for Salah: Purification and Wudu

Allah commands: “O you who have believed, when you rise to perform prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows, and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles.” (Al-Ma’idah: 6)

Steps of Wudu:

1. Intention in the heart + say “Bismillah”
2. Wash both hands three times
3. Rinse the mouth three times
4. Rinse the nose three times
5. Wash the face three times
6. Wash right arm then left up to elbows, three times each
7. Wipe the entire head once (front to back, back to front)
8. Wipe inside and outside of both ears once
9. Wash right foot then left up to ankles, three times each

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah does not accept the prayer of any of you who is in a state of impurity until he performs Wudu.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 6954; Sahih Muslim 225)

A person’s Wudu becomes voided when he or she goes to the toilet, breaks wind, sleeps deeply, faints, or when one has to take Ghusl.

Learn Wudu and Recitation at Iqra Quran Reading Course.

What to Recite at the Beginning of Salah?

1. Du’a Al-Istiftah — Sunnah

“Subhanakallahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud 775; Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 243)

2. Ta’awwudh — before Al-Fatihah

Say: “A’udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajeem”
Allah commands: “When you recite the Quran, seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the expelled.” (An-Nahl: 98)

3. Surah Al-Fatihah — obligatory in every rak’ah

The Prophet ﷺ said: “There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 756; Sahih Muslim 394)

4. Additional Surah — recommended in first two rak’ahs

Recite any short Surah or verses after Al-Fatihah. 

Correct pronunciation matters. The Iqra Tajweed Course helps learners recite with proper articulation.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make When Starting Prayer

• Saying Niyyah out loud — No authentic narration supports this. The heart is enough.
• Rushing the Takbeer — Must be said while fully standing before any movement.
• Wrong hand placement — Hands belong on the chest.
• Eyes wandering — Sunnah is to keep gaze at the place of prostration.
• Praying without valid Wudu — Invalidates the prayer entirely. 
• Mispronunciation of Surat Al-Fatihah — Mispronunciations that alter the meaning make the Salah invalid. Study Tajweed.
• Rush to move before the Imam — Do not move until the Imam recites the Takbir. 

Sign up now for Iqra’s Halaqas for ongoing guidance from qualified scholars.

How Children Can Learn to Start Prayer

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Command your children to pray when they are seven years old, and discipline them for it when they are ten, and separate them in their beds.” (Sunan Abi Dawud 495 — Hasan)

Practical steps for parents:

• Let them observe — Have children stand beside you and mimic movements naturally
• Teach Wudu first — Make it a daily routine with step-by-step guidance
• Memorize Al-Fatihah early — Verse by verse, short daily repetition
• Practice movements — Show Ruku’, Sujood, and hand placement on the prayer mat
• Encourage at seven, firm at ten — Build love for prayer first; structure comes later

The Iqra Kids Program offers age-appropriate Salah and Quran education for children. For Hifz alongside prayer, the Iqra Memorization Program provides a structured curriculum.

Conclusion

Knowing how to begin the act of praying in Islam is what builds the basis for all the rak’ahs. Performing wudu, making your intention, standing facing the Qiblah, and reciting “Allahu Akbar” – all these things have their role and importance before God. Correctness, patience, and knowledge are key.

May God accept our Salah and turn it into a light on the Day of Judgment. Ameen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do You Have to Make Niyyah Out Loud?

No. The Niyyah is made in the heart. Ibn al-Qayyim confirmed in Zad al-Ma’ad that the Prophet ﷺ would simply say “Allahu Akbar” when standing — nothing before it. Intending in the heart is sufficient and correct.

What Happens If I Make a Mistake During Prayer?

• Minor mispronunciation — Prayer is valid as long as Al-Fatihah’s meaning is not fundamentally changed
• Missed Sunnah act — Prayer remains valid; Sunnah acts do not invalidate Salah
• Doubt about rak’ahs — Build on what you are certain of, then perform Sujood As-Sahw before Tasleem 

Can I Read Prayer From a Paper or Phone?

• In Fard prayers — Scholars consider it disliked (makruh)
• In Nafl prayers — Permitted according to a number of scholars based on early Muslim practice
• Best approach — Use as a temporary aid while working toward memorization with the Iqra Memorization Program