Ibadah

Salah according to the four schools

Four living schools. One prayer. Nur is not a fatwa desk — this is a map so a beginner can see where the imams differed, then follow a teacher.

الصلاة

  1. Face the qibla. Make wudu. Cover awrah. The time of the prayer has entered.
  2. Stand, if you can. Intend the prayer in the heart. Say Allahu akbar.
  3. Recite al-Fatihah. Then a surah in the first two units of Fajr, Maghrib, and Isha, and in all of Zuhr and Asr according to the school.
  4. Bow (ruku). Then rise. Then two sajdahs with a sit between them.
  5. The last sitting: tashahhud, salawat on the Prophet ﷺ, then salam to the right — and the left, as the school teaches.

الحنفية

Hanafi — Abu Hanifah

  1. Takbir. Hands below the navel.

    Opening only for raf.

  2. Thana silently. Taawwudh. Silent basmala. Fatihah. A surah.

    Follower does not recite with the imam.

  3. Ruku — Allahu akbar without raising the hands. Tasbih three times.

  4. Rise: samia Allahu liman hamidah. Two sajdahs.

  5. First sitting after two units: tashahhud. Stand for the rest.

    Witr is three like Maghrib.

  6. Last sitting: tashahhud, salawat, dua. Salam right, then left.

Where they differ

PointHanafiMalikiShafiiHanbali
Hands after the opening takbirBelow the navel, right over left.At the sides (sadl) in the famous Maliki practice. Some Malikis fold.On the chest, right over left.Below the navel, or on the chest — both reported.
Raising the hands (raf al-yadayn)At the opening takbir only.At the opening takbir only, in the famous practice.At opening, before ruku, after ruku, and after standing from the second tashahhud.At those same four places.
Basmala before al-FatihahSilent. Not counted as an ayah of the Fatihah in this school.Not recited in the obligatory prayer in the famous practice.Recited. It is an ayah of the Fatihah. Loud in loud prayers.Silent.
Fatihah behind the imamThe follower does not recite in a congregational prayer.Recites if the imam is silent; in a loud prayer, listens.Recites silently even behind a loud imam.Recites if the imam is silent; in a loud prayer, the famous view is to listen.
AminSilent.Silent in the famous practice.Loud in loud prayers.Loud in loud prayers.
QunutIn Witr, before ruku.In Fajr, after ruku — a recommended practice in the school.In Fajr, after ruku.In Witr, after ruku.
WitrThree units, like Maghrib: two sittings, one salam.One unit after a separate even prayer (shaf).At least one unit. Often one, or three with two salams.At least one unit. Three with two salams is common.
SalamTwo: right and left.One to the right is the fard; a second is practiced.Two: right and left.Two: right and left.

Pray as you have seen me pray. Take the details from a teacher of the school you follow. New Muslims · Books of the four schools · The verse of wudu