Common mistakes in salah, and how to fix them
The most common mistakes in salah are rushing the positions, mistakes in Al-Fatihah and moving before the imam. Each comes with a clear warning in authentic hadith. Here are ten common mistakes, the evidence for each and the simple fix, so your prayer can be complete.
Last updated: 4 October 2026
Ten common mistakes in salah
| Mistake | Evidence | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing the positions | A man prayed quickly and the Prophet ﷺ told him three times: “Go back and pray, for you have not prayed”, then taught him to be at rest in each position (Sahih al-Bukhari 757). Pause until each bone settles. | Stay still for a moment in ruku‘, standing up, sujud and sitting. |
| Mistakes in Al-Fatihah | Al-Fatihah is a pillar of the prayer in most schools: “There is no prayer for one who does not recite the Opening of the Book” (Sahih al-Bukhari 756). Errors that change meaning, such as “an‘amtu” for “an‘amta”, are serious. | Have your Al-Fatihah checked by a teacher; see common tajweed mistakes. |
| Moving before the imam | “Does the one who raises his head before the imam not fear that Allah will turn his head into that of a donkey?” (Sahih al-Bukhari 691). | Move only after the imam has completed his movement and takbir. |
| Looking up or around | The Prophet ﷺ warned against raising the gaze to the sky in prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 750). Looking around is a theft Shaytan takes from the prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 751). | Look at the place of sujud. |
| Not resting in sujud on seven parts | “I have been commanded to prostrate on seven bones: the forehead (and nose), the hands, the knees and the ends of the feet” (Sahih al-Bukhari 812). | Keep the nose and forehead down, and the toes on the floor. |
| Laying the forearms on the floor | The Prophet ﷺ forbade spreading the forearms like a dog in sujud (Sahih al-Bukhari 822). | Raise the forearms off the ground, and keep the elbows away from the sides (for men). |
| Reciting silently without moving the lips | Most scholars say recitation must at least move the tongue and lips; reading in the heart alone is not recitation. | Whisper the words, even in silent prayers. |
| Delaying the prayer to the end of its time | “The most beloved deed to Allah is prayer at its proper time” (Sahih al-Bukhari 527). | Pray early in its time, especially ‘Asr and ‘Isha in UK winters. |
| Praying without proper wudu | Prayer is not accepted without purification (Sahih Muslim 224). Missing the heels in washing is a common error (Sahih al-Bukhari 165). | See how to perform wudu. |
| Clothes that do not cover the ‘awrah | Men must cover from the navel to the knee (and the shoulders in some schools); women all but the face and hands. Short tops that ride up in sujud are a common UK problem. | Check your clothing in sujud, not only standing. |
The most important fix: Al-Fatihah
You recite Al-Fatihah at least seventeen times a day. Having a teacher listen to it once is the single best thing you can do for your salah. See Surah Al-Fatihah for the verse-by-verse tajweed points, and surahs to recite in salah to build your repertoire.
For the full step-by-step prayer, see how to pray salah; for the du‘as said in it, our daily duas.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if I make a mistake in salah?
For forgetting a necessary part, perform the prostration of forgetfulness (sujud as-sahw): two prostrations at the end of the prayer. If you miss a pillar, such as ruku‘ or Al-Fatihah, you must make up that rak‘ah.
Is my prayer valid if my tajweed is not perfect?
Minor mistakes in tajweed do not invalidate the prayer. Mistakes that change the meaning of Al-Fatihah are more serious, and you should work to correct them as soon as you can.
Can I read from my phone in salah?
In the obligatory prayer, recite what you know by heart. Some scholars allow reading from a mushaf in voluntary night prayers. Memorising more short surahs is the better solution; see surahs to recite in salah.
Get your salah recitation checked
Three free one-to-one lessons in UK time. Your teacher listens to your Al-Fatihah first.