Etiquette & Sunnahs of Salah (Prayer) in the Quran & Sunnah

1. Prayer has fixed times — guard them.

Allah says:

فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ قِيَـٰمًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمْ ۚ فَإِذَا ٱطْمَأْنَنتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَـٰبًا مَّوْقُوتًا

Once you have finished your Salāh, then, remember Allah while standing, sitting and reclining. As soon as you are secure, perform Salāh as due. Surely, Salāh is an obligation on the believers that is tied up with time. (Surah an-Nisa 4:103)

Lesson: Prayer is not left to mood or convenience; it is an appointment with Allah at prescribed times.

2. Guard all the prayers strictly, especially the middle prayer.

Allah says:

حَـٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَـٰنِتِينَ

Take due care of all the prayers, and the middle prayer, and stand before Allah in total devotion. (Surah al-Baqarah 2:238)

Lesson: The command is to guard the prayers — prayed properly, on time, and standing before Allah in obedience.

3. Be humble and focused in your prayer (khushu‘).

Allah says:

ٱلَّذِينَ هُمْ فِى صَلَاتِهِمْ خَـٰشِعُونَ

who concentrate their attention in humbleness when offering Salāh (prayers) (Surah al-Mu’minun 23:2)

Lesson: The very first quality of the successful believers that Allah mentions is humility and attentiveness inside the prayer.

4. Let your prayer hold you back from evil outside it.

Allah says:

ٱتْلُ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ

Recite (O Prophet) what is revealed to you of the Book, and establish Salāh . Surely Salāh restrains one from shameful and evil acts. Indeed remembrance of Allah is the greatest of all things. Allah knows what you do. (Surah al-‘Ankabut 29:45)

Lesson: A prayer performed with presence restrains its owner from shameful and wrong deeds; if it does not, its adab needs repair.

1. Pray at the beginning of the time — it is the most beloved deed to Allah.

Asked which deed is most beloved to Allah, the Prophet ﷺ answered: “Prayer at its proper time,” then kindness to parents, then jihad in Allah’s path.

2. Pray as you have seen the Prophet ﷺ praying.

His instruction was: “Pray as you have seen me praying.” Learning his described manner of prayer is itself an act of worship.

3. Come to the prayer walking calmly — do not hurry or run.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “When you come to the prayer, come walking with tranquillity and dignity; whatever you catch, pray, and whatever you miss, complete.”

4. Pray in congregation — it is worth twenty-seven prayers.

The prayer in congregation is twenty-seven times more excellent than the prayer a man prays alone.

5. Straighten the rows and close the gaps.

The Prophet ﷺ would straighten the rows himself and say: “Straighten your rows, for straightening the row is part of perfecting the prayer” — and he warned against leaving gaps for Shaytan.

6. Pray facing a sutrah (a barrier placed in front).

He instructed: “When one of you prays, let him pray towards a sutrah and stand close to it” — and he would pray towards his spear or a saddle when travelling.

7. Never walk in front of someone who is praying.

He said: “If the one who passes in front of a praying person knew what (sin) is upon him, standing for forty would be better for him than passing in front of him.”

8. Be still and unhurried in every posture — bow and prostrate with rest.

To the man who prayed hastily he said: “Go back and pray, for you have not prayed.” He taught him to bow until he was at rest in bowing, to rise until he stood straight, and to prostrate until he was at rest in prostration.

9. Do not let your eyes wander or turn your head around in prayer.

Turning about in prayer, he said, is a snatching — Shaytan snatches it from the servant’s prayer. Keep the gaze lowered and the body still.

10. Do not raise your eyes towards the sky while praying.

He spoke severely about people who raise their eyes to the sky in prayer: “Let them stop that, or their sight will be snatched away.”

11. Do not spit in front of you or in the mosque while praying.

He said: “Spitting in the mosque is a sin, and its expiation is to bury it.” In the prayer a worshipper stands before Allah — nothing leaves his mouth carelessly.

12. Prostrate on the seven bones, and do not tuck up your hair or clothes.

“I was commanded to prostrate on seven bones: the forehead (with the nose), the two hands, the two knees and the two feet — and not to gather up the clothes or the hair.”

13. In prostration, do not spread the forearms on the ground like a dog.

He commanded moderation in prostration: “None of you should spread his forearms as a dog spreads them.” The elbows are kept raised and away from the sides.

14. Follow the imam — do not precede him or move with him ahead of time.

“The imam is only appointed to be followed: when he says takbir, say takbir; when he bows, bow; and do not bow until he bows.”

15. If a mistake slips into the prayer, repair it with the two prostrations of forgetfulness.

The Prophet ﷺ once prayed five rak‘ahs. When he had finished and was told about it, he turned, faced the people, and prostrated two prostrations — teaching the ummah sujud al-sahw, the two prostrations that repair a prayer disturbed by a mistake. When doubt or error enters your prayer, this is its remedy, not despair.

16. The five prayers wash sins away — like a river at your door.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “If there were a river at the door of one of you, and he bathed in it five times a day, would any dirt remain on him?” They said: “No dirt would remain at all.” He said: “That is the likeness of the five prayers, by which Allah wipes away sins.”

17. If dinner is served, begin with your dinner.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “If the supper is served, start having it before praying the Maghrib prayer — and do not be hasty in finishing it.” A settled body helps a present heart stand before Allah.

18. Say Ameen when the imam says it.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “When the imam says ‘Ameen’, say ‘Ameen’ — for whoever’s Ameen coincides with the Ameen of the angels, his past sins will be forgiven.”

19. The first deed you will be asked about is the prayer.

The Prophet ﷺ said: “Indeed, the first deed by which a person will be called to account on the Day of Resurrection is his prayer.” Guard the account that opens all accounts.