Allah Almighty ordained upon Muslims five prayers in a day and night, and these are: Fajr, Zhuhr, 'Asr, Maghrib, and 'Ishā'.

I get ready for prayer

When the time of prayer comes, the Muslim purifies himself from the minor Hadath and the major Hadath, if any.

The major Hadath is what entails Ghusl.

The minor Hadath is what entails ablution.

The Muslim should perform prayer in pure clothing at a place free from impurities, while concealing his 'Awrah (the parts of the body that must be covered).

The Muslim wears proper clothing which covers his body in prayer. The man is not allowed to pray with the area between his navel and knees uncovered.

A woman must cover her entire body for prayer, except for the face and hands.

While performing Salah, the Muslim only says the words relevant to Salah, he listens to the Imam (the person leading the congregational prayer), and he does not turn left or right in Salah. If he is unable to memorize the words of Salah, he should mention Allah and glorify Him (by saying 'Subhān Allah') until the prayer ends. He is required to hasten to learn Salah and its words.

I learn how to pray

Step 1: I make the intention in my heart for the prayer I intend to perform.

After I perform ablution, I stand in the direction of the Qiblah (direction of the prayer towards Makkah), and I pray while standing if I am able to.

Step 2: I raise my hands to the level of my shoulders and say "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Most Great) with the intention of beginning the prayer.

Step 3: I say an opening Du'ā' (supplication) as reported from the Prophet (pbuh). One of the opening supplications is the following: "Subhānak Allahumma wa bihamdika wa tabārak-asmuka wa ta'āla jadduka, wa la ilaha ghayrak" (Glory and praise be to You O Allah. Blessed is Your Name and Exalted is Your Majesty, and there is none worthy of worship but You).

Step 4: I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan, saying: "A'ūdhu billāhi min ash-shaytān ar-rajīm" (I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan).

Step 5: I read Surat al-Fātihah (Ch. 1 of the Qur'an) in every Rak'ah (unit of the prayer): {Bismillah ar-Rahmān ar-Rahīm [In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful] (1) Al-hamdulillahi rabbil-'ālameen [Praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds] (2) Ar-Rahmān Ar-Raheem [The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful] (3) Māliki yawm ad-deen [Sovereign of the Day of Recompense] (4) Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een [It is You Who we worship, and it is You Who we ask for help] (5) Ihdina as-sirāt al-mustaqeem [Guide us to the straight path] (6) Sirāt-al-ladheena an'amta 'alayhim ghayril-maghdubi 'alayhim walla ad-dālleen [The path of those upon whom You have blessed, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray] (7)}

After al-Fātihah, I recite verses from the Qur'an (other than al-Fātihah) only in the first and second Rak'ah. This recitation is not obligatory but doing it yields a great reward.

Step 6: I say "Allahu Akbar" then I make Ruku' by bowing until my back is level, and my hands are on my knees with the fingers spread out, then I say while in Ruku' "Subhana rabbiy-al-azeem" (Glory is to my Lord, the Great).

Step 7: I rise from Ruku' while saying: "Sami' Allahu liman hamidah" (Allah hears the one who praises him) and raising my hands to the level of my shoulders. When I stand straight, I say: "Rabbanā wa lak al-hamd" (Our Lord, and to You is all praise).

Step 8: I say "Allahu Akbar" and prostrate on my hands, knees, feet, forehead and nose, then I say while prostrating: "Subhāna rabbiy-al-a'la" (Glory is to my Lord, the Most High).

Step 9: I say "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Most Great) and rise from prostration until I sit upright, resting on my left foot and keeping the right foot erect, saying: "Rabbi ighfir li" (My Lord, forgive me).

Step 10: I say "Allahu Akbar" and make a second prostration like the first one.

Step 11: I rise from prostration saying "Allāhu Akbar" until I stand upright. Then I do in the remaining Rak'ahs as I did in the first one.

After the second Rak'ah in the Zhuhr, 'Asr, Maghrib, and 'Ishā' prayers, I sit to recite the first Tashahhud, which is as follows: "At-tahiyyātu lillāh was-salawātu wat-tayyibāt, as-salāmu 'alayka ayyuha an-nabyy wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh; as-salāmu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibādillāh as-sālihīn; ashhadu an lā ilāha illa Allah, wa ashhadu anna muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasūluh." (All greetings, prayers, and good things are due to Allah. May the peace, blessings, and mercy of Allah be upon you, O Prophet. Peace be upon us and upon the pious servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.) Then I rise for the third Rak'ah.

After the last Rak'ah in every prayer, I sit to recite the last Tashahhud, which is as follows: "At-tahiyyātu lillāhi was-salawātu wat-tayyibātu, as-salāmu 'alayka ayyuha an-nabyy wa rahmatullāhi wa barakātuh; as-salāmu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibādillāh as-sālihīn; ashhadu an lā ilāha illa Allah, wa ashhadu anna muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasūluh. Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala āli muhammad kama sallayta 'ala Ibrāhīm wa 'ala āli Ibrāhīm, innaka hamīdun majīd; Allahumma bārik 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala āli Muhammad kama bārakta 'alā Ibrāhīm wa 'ala āli Ibrāhīm, innaka hamīdun majīd." (All greetings, prayers, and good things are due to Allah. May the peace, blessings, and mercy of Allah be upon you, O Prophet. Peace be upon us and upon the pious servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. O Allah, send Your peace upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You have sent Your peace upon Ibrāhīm and upon the family of Ibrāhīm; indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You have blessed Ibrāhīm and the family of Ibrāhīm; indeed, You are Praiseworthy, Glorious).

Step 12: After that, I make Taslīm to the right saying "As-salāmu 'alaykum wa rahmatullāh" and then to the left saying the same and intending to finish the prayer. Thus, I have performed the prayer.