Salah Home IconSalah Home

How to Start Praying Again: A Simple 14-Day Plan

To start praying again, pray the very next prayer today, then build up to all five in 14 days. A realistic day-by-day plan after months or years away.

Published
Reviewed by
Salah Home Operations Team
Last reviewed
Reading time
6 min read

Short answer

To start praying again, pray the very next prayer today, then build up over 14 days. Days 1–3: relearn wudu, Surah al-Fatiha and the number of rakats while praying what you can. Days 4–7: anchor each of the five prayers to a fixed part of your day. Days 8–11: fix the prayers you keep missing, usually Fajr and Dhuhr or Asr. Days 12–14: pray all five on time, and if you slip, pray it as soon as you can.

Coming back to prayer after a long break can feel overwhelming. Where do you even start? This plan breaks it down into four short stages over two weeks, so you are not trying to change everything overnight.

One important note before you begin: all five prayers are obligatory from day one. This plan is not about deciding which prayers count. It is about building a routine you can actually keep, so you never drift away again. Pray as many as you can every day, and use the plan to get to all five, consistently.

Day 1: How do you start praying again?

Pray the next prayer. That is the whole of day one.

  • Look up today's prayer times for your location
  • Make wudu as best you remember
  • Pray the next prayer that is due, even if you are unsure of some steps

Then make a short, sincere du'a: tell Allah you want to come back and ask Him to make it easy for you. If you are worried that you have been away too long, remember that Allah says, "Do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins" (Qur'an 39:53). The door is open.

Days 1–3: Relearn the basics

The first few days are about getting comfortable again. Many people avoid prayer because they have forgotten parts of it, so remove that barrier first.

  • Relearn wudu step by step
  • Relearn Surah al-Fatiha and at least two short surahs, such as al-Ikhlas and an-Nas
  • Review the number of rakats for each prayer: Fajr 2, Dhuhr 4, Asr 4, Maghrib 3, Isha 4 (see the five daily prayers explained)
  • Learn what to say in ruku, sujood, and the tashahhud

Pray as many prayers as you can. Many people find Maghrib and Isha the easiest to start with, because they fall at home in the evening.

Goal for days 1–3: pray at least two prayers every day without missing a day.

Days 4–7: Anchor each prayer to your day

Habits stick when they are attached to something you already do. For the rest of the first week, give every prayer a fixed "anchor":

Prayer Possible anchor
Fajr Before you check your phone in the morning
Dhuhr Before you eat lunch
Asr When you finish work or school, or your afternoon break
Maghrib As soon as you get home or hear the adhan
Isha Before your nighttime routine or getting into bed

Set phone reminders for each prayer time, and try to pray early in each window so a busy moment does not push it out.

Goal for days 4–7: pray at least three prayers a day, every day, and try the others whenever you can.

Days 8–11: Fix your hardest prayers

By now you will know which prayers you keep missing. For most people, it is Fajr (waking up) and Dhuhr or Asr (busy daytime hours).

  • For Fajr: sleep earlier, put your alarm across the room, and make the intention before bed. Our guide on how to wake up for Fajr has more tips
  • For Dhuhr and Asr: find a quiet space at work or school, block the time on your calendar, and keep a small prayer mat with you. See praying at work or school

Goal for days 8–11: pray four or five prayers a day, and make up any you miss as soon as you remember.

Days 12–14: Pray all five, consistently

The last three days are about putting it all together: all five prayers, every day, as close to on time as you can.

The Prophet ﷺ compared the five daily prayers to a river at a person's door that they bathe in five times a day, washing away their sins (Sahih al-Bukhari 528). Every prayer you pray is part of that cleansing.

Goal for days 12–14: pray all five prayers every day. If you miss one, pray it as soon as you can, and make sure the next one is on time.

What should you do when you miss a prayer?

You will miss a prayer at some point. What matters is what happens next:

  • Pray it as soon as you remember
  • Make sure the next prayer is on time
  • Don't let one miss turn into a break

The Prophet ﷺ said, "The most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant, even if it is little" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6464). Consistency beats perfection.

After 14 days: what comes next?

Two weeks is enough to restart the habit, but it takes longer for it to feel automatic. Keep going, and once your five daily prayers are steady:

  • Start making up missed prayers. Most scholars hold that missed obligatory prayers should be made up. Our guide to making up missed prayers (qada) shows how to do it gradually
  • Add the sunnah prayers, starting with the 2 rakats before Fajr
  • Pray at the masjid when you can, even once a week
  • Keep tracking, so you notice early if things start to slip

For more on the mindset side of coming back, see getting back into prayer after a long break.

Salah Home makes tracking simple: log each prayer with a tap, grow your streak over the 14 days and beyond, and earn Dates to build your own Salah Home, one prayer at a time.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start praying again after years?

Start by praying the very next prayer, even if you are unsure of some steps. Then relearn the basics, such as wudu, Surah al-Fatiha, and the number of rakats, and build up to all five prayers over the next two weeks. Repent sincerely, and remember that Allah forgives those who return to Him.

Is it okay to start with one or two prayers a day?

All five prayers are obligatory, so the goal is all five. If going straight to five feels impossible, starting with the prayers you can manage and adding more over the next few days is better than not starting at all. Pray as many as you can every day.

Can I build a prayer habit in 14 days?

Two weeks is enough to restart the habit and get to all five prayers, but it usually takes longer for it to feel automatic. Anchoring each prayer to an existing routine and tracking your progress help it stick beyond the first 14 days.

What if I've forgotten how to pray?

Pray as best you can now and relearn as you go. Review wudu, Surah al-Fatiha, a few short surahs, and the number of rakats for each prayer. Many masjids run classes for adults, and there is no shame in learning.

Do I need to make up the prayers I missed before starting again?

No. Start your daily prayers right away. Once they are steady, build a manageable plan to make up the prayers you missed.

Sources

Related reading