Fard Prayer

✓ Check the Prayer Time

Fajr begins at true dawn and ends at sunrise. Use your local masjid timetable or an Islamic app.

✓ Perform Wudu (Ablution)

Be in a state of ritual purity. Full steps of wudu are explained here: How to Perform Wudu.

✓ Clean and Proper Clothing

Covering the 'awrah (private areas):

✓ Face the Qiblah (while standing on a clean mat)

Stand facing the direction of the Ka'bah (Makkah). Use a qiblah app if unsure, and make sure you are standing on a clean area, preferably on a prayer mat (sajjādah) or any clean surface suitable for prayer.

✓ Make the Intention (Niyyah)

Intentions are in the heart; no need to say them out loud. Examples:

Start the Prayer (Takbīr)

1. Stand upright facing the qiblah with hands at your sides. Your feet should be set at shoulder width distance, with your toes pointing straight ahead. Keep your gaze fixed on the spot where your forehead will touch the ground during prostration.
2. Make the intention (Niyyah) in your heart: "I intend to pray 2 rak'ahs of Fard prayer of Fajr for the sake of Allah."
3. Raise both hands to your ears/shoulders (with your palms directed toward the Ka'bah) and say: "Allāhu akbar"
4. Place your right hand over your left on your chest (or navel depending on school).

Standing (Qiyām): Recitation

1. Subhaanak Allahumma wa bi hamdika, wa tabaarakasmuka, wa ta'aalaa jadduka, wa laa ilaaha ghayruk.
2. It is optional to say silently: A'ūdhu billāhi min ash-shayṭān ir-rajīm
3. Say silently: Bismillāh ir-Raḥmān ir-Raḥīm and then recite Surah Al-Fātiḥah:

   Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil 'ālamīn
   Ar-raḥmānir raḥīm
   Māliki yawmid-dīn
   Iyyāka na'budu wa iyyāka nasta'īn
   Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm
   Ṣirāṭal-ladhīna an'amta 'alayhim ghayril-maghḍūbi 'alayhim walāḍ-ḍāllīn

4. After completing Surah Al-Fātiḥah, say "Ameen."
5. After Al-Fātiḥah recite a short surah (for example: Ikhlās, Kafirun, Falaq or Nas).

   Surah Ikhlāṣ (transliteration)

   Bismillāhir-raḥmānir-raḥīm
   Qul huwa Allāhu aḥad
   Allāhuṣ-ṣamad
   Lam yalid wa lam yūlad
   Wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan aḥad

Bowing (Ruku')

1. Say "Allāhu akbar" and bow from the waist until your back is roughly horizontal and your hands rest on your knees.
2. In ruku', say three times: "Subḥāna rabbiyal-`aẓīm"
3. Remain still and focused in ruku'; do not rush.

Rise from Ruku' (Qawmah)

1. Rise from ruku' saying: "Sami'a Allāhu liman ḥamidah"
2. When upright say: "Rabbana laka l-ḥamd"

Prostration (Sujūd)

1. Say "Allāhu akbar" and go down to prostrate so your forehead, both palms, both knees and toes touch the ground. Place your hands on the ground before your knees. Keep your forearms raised and maintain some space between your arms and your sides while in prostration.
2. In sujūd say three times: "Subḥāna rabbiyal-a'lā"
3. Rise from sujūd and sit briefly for the jalsah (between the two prostrations). Say when rising from sujūd: "Allahu Akbar". Place your hands near your knees with fingers spread, pause briefly, and say: "Rabbighfir li"
4. Say "Allahu Akbar" when going down into the second sujūd, then say three times: "Subḥāna rabbiyal-a'lā"

End of First Rak'ah

Second Rak'ah: Stand and Repeat

1. Rise to standing while saying "Allāhu akbar" (qiyam for the 2nd rak'ah).
2. Say silently: Bismillāh ir-Raḥmān ir-Raḥīm and then recite Surah Al-Fātiḥah again:

   Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil 'ālamīn
   Ar-raḥmānir raḥīm
   Māliki yawmid-dīn
   Iyyāka na'budu wa iyyāka nasta'īn
   Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm
   Ṣirāṭal-ladhīna an'amta 'alayhim ghayril-maghḍūbi 'alayhim walāḍ-ḍāllīn

3. After completing Surah Al-Fātiḥah, say "Ameen."
4. After Al-Fātiḥah recite a short surah:

   Sūrah An-Nās

   Bismillāhir-raḥmānir-raḥīm
   Qul a'ūdhu birabbin-nās
   Malikin-nās
   Ilāhin-nās
   Min sharri l-waswāsi l-khannās
   Alladhī yuwaswisu fī ṣudūrin-nās
   Minal-jinnati wan-nās

Bowing (Ruku')

1. Say "Allāhu akbar" and bow from the waist until your back is roughly horizontal and your hands rest on your knees.
2. In ruku', say three times: "Subḥāna rabbiyal-`aẓīm"
3. Remain still and focused in ruku'; do not rush.

Rise from Ruku' (Qawmah)

1. Rise from ruku' saying: "Sami'a Allāhu liman ḥamidah"
2. When upright say: "Rabbana laka l-ḥamd"

Prostration (Sujūd)

1. Say "Allāhu akbar" and go down to prostrate so your forehead, both palms, both knees and toes touch the ground. Place your hands on the ground before your knees. Keep your forearms raised and maintain some space between your arms and your sides while in prostration.
2. In sujūd say three times: "Subḥāna rabbiyal-a'lā"
3. Rise from sujūd and sit briefly for the jalsah (between the two prostrations). Say when rising from sujūd: "Allahu Akbar". Place your hands near your knees with fingers spread, pause briefly, and say: "Rabbighfir li"
4. Say "Allahu Akbar" when going down into the second sujūd, then say three times: "Subḥāna rabbiyal-a'lā"

Final Sitting: Tashahhud (At-tahiyyāt)

1. After the second sujūd of the second rak'ah, stay seated in the position of Jalsah for the final tashahhud.
2. Recite the full tashahhud:

   Aṭ-tahiyyātu lillāhi waṣ-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibātu. As-salāmu 'alayka ayyuhā an-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu 'alaynā wa 'alā 'ibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu an lā ilāha illallāh wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan 'abduhu wa rasūluh.

3. Send blessings on the Prophet (peace be upon him) (durūd):

   Allāhumma ṣalli 'alā Muḥammad wa 'alā āli Muḥammad,
   kamā ṣallayta 'alā Ibrāhīm wa 'alā āli Ibrāhīm,
   innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd.
   
   Allāhumma bārik 'alā Muḥammad wa 'alā āli Muḥammad,
   kamā bārakta 'alā Ibrāhīm wa 'alā āli Ibrāhīm,
   innaka Ḥamīdun Majīd.

4. After this recite a short prayer (optional, recommended):

   Dua-e-Masura

   Allāhumma innī ẓalamtu nafsī ẓulman kathīran,
   wa lā yaghfiru adh-dhunūba illā anta,
   faghfir lī maghfiratan min 'indika,
   warḥamnī,
   innaka anta al-Ghafūru r-Raḥīm.

5. Finish the prayer by turning your face to the right and saying: "As-salāmu 'alaykum wa raḥmatullāh", then to the left and repeat: "As-salāmu 'alaykum wa raḥmatullāh". This completes the prayer.

Important phrases to say in movements