1. Raise both of your hands next to your ears with both of your palms facing forward and say ‘Allahu Akbar’ (this is called Takbiratul Ihram) while yours hands are raised. Your feet should be parallel and facing forward also. You should be looking slightly below where your head will be during Sujood.

2. Afterwards, bring both of your hands down simultaneously and place both of your hands slightly above your navel. Your right hand must rest on top of your left arm between your wrist and elbows. Do not grab your hands, elbows or fold your arms. Your right hand should be used to grab your left arm and hold that position always when you are standing. You should always be looking down slightly in front of where your right hand is while standing. This spot is also slightly below where your head will be during Sujood.

3. The first rakath of each part of your salah must be started by reciting dua Subhaa-naka Allah-humma… followed by reciting A’audhu bil-laahe minash shaytwaanir-rajeem, Bismilaahir rahmaanir raheem.’ (Ta’awwudh followed by Tasmiyah)

4. Then recite Surah Fatiha followed by any other Surahs or passages in the Quran. This step is repeated at the beginning of each following rakaths unless you are praying fard prayer with more than 2 rakaths. In that case, for the 3rd and 4th rakath you only need to recite surah Fatiha.

5. After completing the surah or passage of your choice, say ‘Allahu Akbar’ as you bend down to bow while standing and place both hands on your knees (this is called Rukoo’). Move your hands to your knees by sliding both hands in their respective direction along your body and legs until you get to the knees. Keep your legs straight and your back and head parallel to the floor. You should be looking slightly in front of your feet at the center. Say ‘Subhana Rab-bi yal A’dzeem’ 3 times while in Rukoo’.

6. Next, to get up from Rukoo’ and say ‘Sami Allahu liman hamidah’ as you are getting up. While standing, your hands must be in a free changing state and you should still be looking at the point slightly below where your head will be during Sujood. Say ‘Rab-banaa lakal hamd’ while you stand.

7. Afterwards, bow down completely on the floor (this is called Sujood) as you say ‘Allahu Akbar.’ Note: While you are in Sujood this is the closest you can be to Allah (SWT). To make Sujood slide your hands from the hanging state through your body and legs to above your knee as you are also bending your legs forward to make contact with the ground. Once your legs are on the ground, slide your hands in parallel and together to where your forehead makes contact with the ground. Seven points of your body should be making contact with the floor (forehead/nose, palms, knees and feets). While in Sujood you should be looking directly downwards. Say ‘Subhana Rab-bi yal A’ala’ 3 times in Sujood.

8. Say ‘Allahu Akbar’ as you get up from Sujood and sit up straight with your legs folded and your palms resting on your knee. Your fingers should be in front of your knees. In addition, for the right feet only, you must bend all the toes except the small toe. You should be looking slightly in front of your knees at the center which is slightly below where your head will be during Sujood. You should continue to slide your hands as you sit up from Sujood. While sitting, say ‘Allahum magh fir lee war hamni once.

9. Say ‘Allahu Akbar’ again and go back to the Sujood for a second time. Similar to step 7, you are sliding your hands next to where you are bowing your head and looking directly downwards. Likewise, you will again say ‘Subhana Rab-bi yal A’ala’ 3 times in Sujood. After getting up from the second Sujood, you will have completed one rakath or unit of prayer.

10. Say ‘Allahu Akbar’ again while getting back up to stand and then repeat steps 2-9 but exclude step 3 since it is only done in the first rakath of every prayer. When getting up, slide your hands above your knee and then get up using your legs. Note: do not push up on the ground with your hands unless you cannot get up using your legs.

11. Similar to step 10, say ‘Allahu Akbar’ while getting up but you will remain seated instead of standing if you are on your 2nd or 4th rakath. If you are praying a salah with 3 rakath then you will be sitting after the third rakath. You should be sitting in the same manner described in step 8 but you will need to recite something different. This step and step 12 is called the Tashahhud. Your gaze should be set slightly in front of your knees at the center for as long as you are seated.

12. You will always have to say this dua while sitting for Tashahhud. At-tha hhe-yaathu lil-laahe… While saying this dua, point with your right finger only when you are saying this part of the dua ‘ashhadu al-laa ilaha illal-laahu’ and then return your finger to the original position.

12a. If you are praying your final rakath of the prayer, step 12 will be followed by the following three duas respectively: ‘Allahuma swali a’ala’, ‘Allahuma baarik a’ala’, Allahuma in-ni zwalamthu. This step is always the second to last step to perform before concluding the prayer. You can start the next part of your prayer afterwards from the Niyat step.

12b. If you have more rakaths to do, you will say ‘Allahu Akbar’ following step 12 and stand back up. You will repeat steps 2-11 until you are at your final rakath where you will do step 12a. Exclude step 3 and step 10 as needed. The first time you reach step 12b you will have completed 2 rakaths.

13. Finally, to complete the prayer, you will slowly look down and turn your head in a circular motion to look at your right shoulder and say ‘As-salaamu a’alaikum wa rahmathulla’. You then slowly rotate your head and look at the left shoulder in the same manner and say the same thing and lastly bring your head back to the center to finish the prayer. This is called Taslim.

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Note to future self: add female version of salah.