Learning how to pray two units of prayer in Islam, called two rakats, is essential for beginners. Many obligatory or voluntary prayers include two rakats, such as Fajr or some voluntary prayers.
In this guide, you will learn how to perform two rakats step by step: preparation, intention, takbir, Al-Fatihah, ruku, sujud, tashahhud and final salam.
For the complete Salah guide, read our main page: how to pray in Islam.
What is a rak‘ah?
A rak‘ah is a unit of prayer. It includes standing, recitation, bowing, rising, two prostrations and sitting between the two prostrations.
Before starting: purification, qiblah and intention
Before prayer, perform wudu, face the qiblah and make the intention in your heart. It is not necessary to say the intention out loud.
First rak‘ah
The opening takbir
Raise your hands and say:
اللَّهُ أَكْبَرُ
Transliteration: Allahu Akbar.
Meaning: Allah is the Greatest.
Reciting Al-Fatihah
While standing, recite Surah Al-Fatihah. After it, you may recite another short surah or verses.
Ruku
Say Allahu Akbar and bow. In ruku, say:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.
Sujud
Say Allahu Akbar and prostrate. In sujud, say:
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
Meaning: Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Sitting between the two prostrations
Sit briefly and say:
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Meaning: My Lord, forgive me.
Then perform the second prostration. The first rak‘ah is complete.
Second rak‘ah
Stand for the second rak‘ah and repeat the same structure: Al-Fatihah, optional recitation, ruku, rising, two prostrations, then sitting for tashahhud.
Tashahhud and final salam
After the second prostration of the second rak‘ah, sit and recite the tashahhud. Then end the prayer by turning to the right and left, saying:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ الله
Meaning: Peace and Allah’s mercy be upon you.
Common mistakes
- praying without purification;
- forgetting the intention in the heart;
- reciting too quickly;
- not pausing between positions;
- neglecting ruku or sujud;
- giving up out of fear of mistakes.
Learning two rakats with method
Practice slowly with reliable support, then gradually correct your movements and words.
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FAQ — Two rakats in Islam
What are two rakats?
Two rakats are two units of prayer performed one after another, ending with tashahhud and salam.
Which obligatory prayer has two rakats?
Fajr has two obligatory rakats.
Conclusion
Learning two rakats helps you understand the basic structure of Salah: intention, takbir, recitation, ruku, sujud, tashahhud and salam.
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