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How Many Rakats Are in Each Prayer? Complete Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha Guide

The five daily prayers contain 17 obligatory rakats: 2 in Fajr, 4 in Dhuhr, 4 in Asr, 3 in Maghrib, and 4 in Isha. Sunnah, nafl, and Witr prayers are additional and should not be confused with the required fard rakats.

The five daily prayers contain 17 obligatory rakats in total:

  • Fajr: 2 fard rakats
  • Dhuhr (Zuhr): 4 fard rakats
  • Asr: 4 fard rakats
  • Maghrib: 3 fard rakats
  • Isha: 4 fard rakats

This is the shortest and most important answer. A Muslim must distinguish these obligatory fard rakats from the additional Sunnah, nafl, and Witr prayers. Many online charts say that Isha has 9, 13, or 17 rakats, for example. Those totals may describe different combinations of voluntary and emphasized prayers; the obligatory Isha prayer itself remains 4 fard rakats for a resident.

Quick-reference table
Daily prayer Sunnah before Fard Sunnah after Other common additions
Fajr 2 emphasized 2
Dhuhr / Zuhr 4 emphasized in a widely followed arrangement 4 2 emphasized Additional nafl may be offered
Asr 4 recommended, not emphasized 4
Maghrib 3 2 emphasized Additional nafl may be offered
Isha 2 or 4 voluntary in common practice 4 2 emphasized Nafl and Witr

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught that five prayers are required during each day and night, with voluntary prayers offered beyond them (Sahih al-Bukhari 46). The precise pattern of Sunnah and nafl prayer can legitimately vary, so this article always identifies what is obligatory and what is additional.

Scholarly note: This guide presents mainstream Sunni prayer counts and explains common differences among the Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi‘i, and Hanbali schools. It is general education, not a personal fatwa. Follow a reliable local scholar or the established school you have learned, especially regarding Witr, travel, missed prayers, and Sunnah arrangements.


What Is a Rakat?

A rakat—more precisely transliterated as rak‘ah (plural: rak‘at)—is one complete unit of Salah. A normal rakat includes:

  1. Standing and Qur’anic recitation
  2. Bowing in ruku‘
  3. Standing upright again
  4. The first prostration, sujud
  5. Sitting briefly
  6. The second prostration

After the final rakat, the worshipper sits for the closing testimony and ends the prayer with Salam. A rakat is therefore a complete cycle, not every individual movement.

This is why questions such as “how many rakats are in wudu?” or “how many rakats are in sujood?” mix different concepts. Wudu is purification, and sujood is one posture inside a rakat. Neither is itself counted as a rakat.


How Many Obligatory Rakats Are in All Five Prayers?

There are 17 fard rakats across the five daily prayers:

Prayer Fard rakats Running daily total
Fajr22
Dhuhr46
Asr410
Maghrib313
Isha417

These counts are established through the transmitted practice of the Prophet ﷺ and the Muslim community. Although the Qur’an commands believers to establish prayer at its appointed times, the practical details of Salah are learned through the Prophetic Sunnah.

If someone asks, “How many rakats do Muslims have to pray each day?” the answer is 17 fard rakats. Sunnah prayers are immensely valuable and should not be treated lightly, but they should not be confused with the five obligatory prayers themselves.


Fard, Sunnah, Nafl, and Witr: Why Prayer Totals Look Different

Before counting each prayer, understand the categories.

Fard

Fard means obligatory. Deliberately abandoning an obligatory prayer is a grave matter. The daily fard counts—2, 4, 4, 3, and 4—do not change merely because someone follows a different Sunni madhhab.

Sunnah mu’akkadah

These are prayers the Prophet ﷺ regularly observed and strongly encouraged. Examples include the two rakats before Fajr and the two after Maghrib. A Muslim should value and maintain them, though they are not the fard prayer itself.

Sunnah ghayr mu’akkadah

These are recommended but less-emphasized voluntary prayers, such as four rakats before Asr in common Sunni practice.

Nafl

Nafl means voluntary. It brings reward and closeness to Allah but is not obligatory. The quantity can vary within the times and forms allowed by Islamic law.

Witr

Witr is the odd-numbered night prayer offered after Isha. The Hanafi school classifies it as wajib, while the majority of Sunni jurists classify it as a highly emphasized Sunnah. Its valid forms also differ by school.

The twelve regular Sunnah rakats

A well-known narration promises a house in Paradise for maintaining twelve Sunnah rakats: four before Dhuhr, two after Dhuhr, two after Maghrib, two after Isha, and two before Fajr (Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 415). Other authentic reports describe some variations, including two before Dhuhr. This breadth explains why trustworthy prayer charts may not be identical.


How Many Rakats Are in Fajr Prayer?

Fajr has 2 obligatory fard rakats. Before them are 2 strongly emphasized Sunnah rakats.

Fajr component Rakats Status
Sunnah before Fajr2Sunnah mu’akkadah
Fajr prayer2Fard
Common total42 Sunnah + 2 fard

Therefore:

  • If someone asks, “How many rakats in Fajr Salah?” answer 2 fard.
  • If they ask for the commonly prayed full Fajr sequence, answer 2 Sunnah plus 2 fard, for 4 rakats altogether.

The two Sunnah rakats of Fajr hold exceptional importance and should be kept short and consistent. They are performed after the Fajr time begins and before the two fard rakats.

Fajr, Subh, and the morning prayer refer to the same obligatory prayer. Do not count the Sunnah as part of the two fard rakats; they are separate prayers with separate intentions and Salam.


How Many Rakats Are in Dhuhr or Zuhr Prayer?

Dhuhr has 4 obligatory fard rakats. A widely observed arrangement includes four Sunnah rakats before the fard and two Sunnah rakats afterward.

Dhuhr component Rakats Status
Sunnah before Dhuhr4Emphasized in a widely followed arrangement
Dhuhr prayer4Fard
Sunnah after Dhuhr2Sunnah mu’akkadah
Additional prayer2Optional nafl in common South Asian charts
Common total10 or 12Depends on whether extra nafl is included

The crucial answer is:

Dhuhr or Zuhr contains 4 mandatory rakats. The larger total includes Sunnah and optional prayers.

Spellings such as Dhuhr, Zuhr, and occasionally Dhur refer to the same midday prayer. Some authentic narrations mention two rakats before Dhuhr, while another well-known regular-Sunnah arrangement mentions four. Follow the coherent practice taught by your madhhab or teacher rather than treating the variation as a contradiction.

How many fard rakats are in Dhuhr?

Exactly 4 fard rakats for a resident. A qualifying traveller may shorten them to 2 under the rules of Qasr.

How many Sunnah rakats are in Dhuhr?

A common arrangement is 4 before and 2 after. Some people add two more voluntary rakats after the emphasized Sunnah, producing the familiar South Asian total of 12 rakats for Dhuhr.


How Many Rakats Are in Asr Prayer?

Asr has 4 obligatory fard rakats. Four voluntary Sunnah rakats before the fard are recommended in a widely followed practice, but they are not emphasized at the same level as the two Sunnah of Fajr.

Asr component Rakats Status
Sunnah before Asr4Recommended / ghayr mu’akkadah
Asr prayer4Fard
Common total84 Sunnah + 4 fard

Therefore:

  • Mandatory Asr: 4 rakats
  • Common full sequence: 8 rakats

Some Muslims pray two voluntary rakats or do not pray the pre-Asr Sunnah on a particular day. This does not change the four fard rakats. The question “Asar namaz has how many rakats?” is therefore best answered by stating the obligatory number first: 4 fard.

There is no regular Sunnah prayer attached immediately after Asr, and voluntary prayer during the prohibited period after Asr requires detailed guidance.


How Many Rakats Are in Maghrib Prayer?

Maghrib has 3 obligatory fard rakats. Two emphasized Sunnah rakats are prayed afterward.

Maghrib component Rakats Status
Maghrib prayer3Fard
Sunnah after Maghrib2Sunnah mu’akkadah
Additional prayer2Optional nafl in common charts
Common total5 or 7Depends on optional nafl

Thus:

  • If asked, “How many rakats in Maghrib Salah?” the obligatory answer is 3.
  • If counting the regular Sunnah, the usual total is 5.
  • If an additional two nafl are included, a common chart shows 7.

Maghrib is not shortened during travel. It remains three fard rakats for a qualifying traveller.


How Many Rakats Are in Isha Prayer?

Isha has 4 obligatory fard rakats. The confusion around Isha arises because people frequently count pre-Isha voluntary prayer, two Sunnah afterward, additional nafl, and Witr in the same total.

The essential Isha count

Isha component Rakats Status
Isha prayer4Fard
Sunnah after Isha2Sunnah mu’akkadah
Witr1, 3, or another recognized odd formWajib in Hanafi law; emphasized Sunnah for the majority

If someone asks simply, “How many rakats in Isha Salah?” the clearest answer is:

Isha contains 4 fard rakats. Two Sunnah rakats are normally prayed afterward, followed later by Witr.

Why do some charts say Isha has 17 rakats?

A common Hanafi-influenced South Asian chart counts:

Common Isha sequence Rakats
Sunnah ghayr mu’akkadah before fard4
Fard4
Sunnah mu’akkadah after fard2
Nafl2
Witr wajib3
Nafl after Witr2
Total17

This chart is a useful devotional schedule, but it does not mean all 17 are equally obligatory. Only the 4 fard rakats are the obligatory Isha prayer itself; Hanafis additionally treat the 3 Witr as wajib.

Other Sunni Muslims may pray 4 fard, 2 Sunnah, and 1 or 3 Witr, resulting in a smaller total without neglecting the obligatory Isha prayer.

How many Isha rakats while travelling?

A qualifying traveller shortens the 4 fard Isha rakats to 2. The 2 Sunnah after Isha, voluntary prayers, and Witr have separate rulings. The Hanafi school gives Witr particular importance even during travel. Consult your school regarding Sunnah prayers during a journey.


A Common Hanafi Daily Rakat Chart

Many people searching in English use a South Asian prayer chart. The following explains the familiar Hanafi-oriented totals while keeping legal categories clear:

Prayer Common sequence Total shown
Fajr2 Sunnah + 2 fard4
Dhuhr4 Sunnah + 4 fard + 2 Sunnah + 2 nafl12
Asr4 Sunnah + 4 fard8
Maghrib3 fard + 2 Sunnah + 2 nafl7
Isha4 Sunnah + 4 fard + 2 Sunnah + 2 nafl + 3 Witr + 2 nafl17
Daily totalIncludes fard, Sunnah, nafl, and Witr48

Do not misunderstand the number 48. It is not the daily fard requirement. It is one commonly taught devotional schedule. The universal fard total remains 17.


How Many Rakats Are in Jummah Prayer?

The congregational Jummah fard prayer is 2 rakats, offered behind the imam after the khutbah. It replaces the four fard rakats of Dhuhr for those attending a valid Friday congregation.

Sunnah prayers before and after Jummah vary by school and circumstance. This is why people quote totals such as 2, 6, 10, 12, or 14.

A common Hanafi Jummah arrangement

Jummah component Rakats Status
Sunnah before the khutbah/fard4Sunnah
Jummah prayer behind imam2Fard
Sunnah after Jummah4Sunnah
Further Sunnah after that2Sunnah in the common arrangement
Common subtotal12Categories are not equal

Some charts add further nafl. Other schools structure the prayers around Jummah differently. Authentic reports mention four rakats after Jummah (Sahih Muslim 881a) and also that the Prophet ﷺ prayed two rakats at home afterward (Sahih al-Bukhari 937). Scholars reconcile and apply these narrations in different established ways.

The decisive answer remains: Jummah itself is 2 fard rakats in congregation. A person who is not attending a valid Jummah normally prays the regular 4 fard rakats of Dhuhr, not a private two-rakat Jummah.


How Many Rakats Are in Witr Prayer?

Witr means “odd.” Its rakats must form an odd number.

  • In the Hanafi school, Witr is 3 rakats and is classified as wajib.
  • In other Sunni schools, 1 rakat is a valid minimum, while 3 and other odd-numbered forms are also recognized.

The Prophet ﷺ described night prayer as two rakats at a time and instructed a person fearing the approach of dawn to finish with one rakat that makes the prayer odd (Sahih al-Bukhari 990).

Follow one reliable method. Do not combine the Hanafi three-rakat structure with pieces of another school’s Witr method without understanding either.

How many rakats of Witr after Tahajjud?

Pray Witr once during the night. If you delayed it until after Tahajjud, conclude with the recognized Witr form of your school—3 in Hanafi practice, or an accepted odd form in the other schools. If you already prayed Witr before sleeping and later wake for Tahajjud, you may pray pairs of voluntary rakats but do not repeat Witr.


How Many Rakats Are in Tahajjud?

Tahajjud has a minimum of 2 rakats and no single universally required total. Night prayer is generally offered two rakats at a time.

Common choices include:

  • 2 rakats
  • 4 rakats
  • 6 rakats
  • 8 rakats, followed by Witr

‘A’ishah reported that the Prophet ﷺ did not exceed eleven rakats in his regular night prayer in Ramadan or outside it, described as eight rakats followed by three (Sahih al-Bukhari 1147). Other reports and juristic discussions provide additional detail.

The lesson is not that every worshipper must always pray exactly eleven. Pray two at a time with sincerity, calmness, and whatever Qur’an you can recite, then end with Witr according to your school.


How Many Rakats Are in Qiyam al-Layl?

Qiyam al-Layl is a broad term for voluntary night worship. It has no fixed obligatory number. Begin with 2 rakats and continue in pairs according to strength and time, then close with Witr.

Tahajjud is often used for night prayer after sleeping and waking, whereas Qiyam al-Layl can refer more broadly to night worship after Isha. The rakat principle is the same: voluntary night prayer is offered two by two.

There is also no special fixed number of rakats required solely because it is Laylat al-Qadr. Pray as much as you can with sincerity and avoid invented guarantees attached to a particular number.


How Many Rakats Are in Taraweeh?

Taraweeh is the Ramadan night prayer. Sunni communities have long practiced more than one recognized count.

  • 20 rakats is the established congregational practice emphasized in the Hanafi, Shafi‘i, and Hanbali traditions and is also known in Maliki practice.
  • 8 rakats followed by Witr is also practiced by Muslims who connect it to reports of the Prophet’s regular night prayer.
  • Some Maliki communities historically observed a larger number.

Taraweeh is voluntary Ramadan night worship, not one of the 17 daily fard rakats. Follow the imam of a sound congregation and do not turn a recognized juristic difference into hostility. Completing the prayer with the imam is more important than arguing in the mosque over a number.

The number prayed at a particular mosque—including al-Masjid al-Haram in Makkah—may follow that mosque’s announced arrangement for the year. A local administrative practice does not erase the broader scholarly history.


How Many Rakats Are in Duha, Ishraq, and the Sunrise Prayer?

Duha prayer

The minimum Duha prayer is 2 rakats. People commonly pray 2, 4, 6, or 8. Jurists discuss the preferred or maximum number differently. The Prophet ﷺ encouraged Duha prayer, and Abu Hurayrah reported being advised to maintain it (Sahih al-Bukhari 1178).

Ishraq or sunrise prayer

Ishraq is commonly prayed as 2 rakats after the prohibited period at sunrise has passed—usually when the sun has risen clearly. Many scholars treat it as an early Duha prayer rather than a completely separate category.

Do not pray voluntary rakats at the exact moment the sun is rising. Use reliable local timing and allow the prohibited period to pass.

Chasht prayer

“Chasht” is a South Asian name generally referring to Duha prayer later in the morning. It begins with 2 rakats and may be increased in pairs.


How Many Rakats Are in Istikhara Prayer?

Salat al-Istikhara consists of 2 non-obligatory rakats, followed by the supplication seeking Allah’s guidance. The Prophet ﷺ taught the companions to offer two rakats outside the obligatory prayer before making the Istikhara du‘a (Sahih al-Bukhari 1166).

Istikhara is for a permissible decision. It is not a method for asking whether to perform an obligation or commit something prohibited, and it does not require seeing a dream.


How Many Rakats Are in Eid Prayer?

Both Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha prayers consist of 2 rakats. They contain additional takbirs, but those takbirs do not increase the number of rakats.

A narration describes Friday prayer, Eid prayer, and the traveller’s shortened prayer as two rakats in their respective forms (Sunan Ibn Majah 1063).

The extra takbirs differ by madhhab:

  • A widely followed majority method uses seven additional takbirs in the first rakat and five in the second, with details about whether the opening or movement takbirs are included in the count.
  • The common Hanafi method uses three extra takbirs in each rakat, placed differently.

Follow the imam. Both prayers are still only 2 rakats.


How Many Rakats Are in Janazah Prayer?

Janazah prayer is not structured in rakats because it has no ruku‘ and no sujood. It is a standing funeral prayer with four takbirs in the standard Sunni form.

The Prophet ﷺ prayed Janazah with four takbirs for al-Najashi (Sahih al-Bukhari 1333). Therefore, the technically correct answer to “How many rakats in Janazah?” is:

Janazah has no rakats. It is performed standing with four takbirs, recitation, supplication, and Salam.

Do not call the four takbirs “four rakats.”


How Many Rakats Are Prayed While Travelling?

A qualifying traveller may shorten the four-rakat fard prayers to two. This is called Qasr. The Qur’an expressly permits shortening the prayer during travel (Qur’an 4:101).

Prayer Resident fard count Traveller’s Qasr count
Fajr22 — unchanged
Dhuhr42
Asr42
Maghrib33 — unchanged
Isha42

Thus a traveller praying all five shortened fard prayers performs 11 fard rakats instead of 17: 2 + 2 + 2 + 3 + 2.

The distance that establishes travel, the permitted length of stay, and whether Qasr is obligatory or recommended differ among Sunni schools. Shortening also differs from combining prayers. Do not assume that every trip, commute, or difficult day automatically creates traveller status.

How many rakats in Maghrib Qasr?

Maghrib is not shortened. It remains 3 fard rakats.

How many rakats in Isha Qasr?

The Isha fard is shortened from 4 to 2 rakats for a qualifying traveller. Witr and Sunnah prayers are separate from the shortened fard.


How Many Rakats Are in a Missed or Qada Prayer?

A missed fard prayer is normally made up with the same fard count:

  • Missed Fajr: 2 fard
  • Missed Dhuhr: 4 fard
  • Missed Asr: 4 fard
  • Missed Maghrib: 3 fard
  • Missed Isha: 4 fard

The interaction between travel status and a missed four-rakat prayer can differ according to when the prayer became due, when it is made up, and which school is followed. The order of multiple missed prayers and whether associated Sunnah prayers are made up also contain legal detail.

If many prayers have been missed, do not become hopeless. Repent sincerely, protect every current prayer, and obtain a realistic make-up plan from a qualified scholar.


Questions That Confuse Rakats With Other Acts

How many rakats are in wudu?

None. Wudu is ritual purification, not a prayer. After wudu, a person may offer two voluntary rakats, often called Tahiyyat al-Wudu, but those rakats are a separate prayer. Bilal رضي الله عنه described praying after purification as a cherished practice (Sahih al-Bukhari 1149).

How many rakats are in sujood?

Sujood is prostration within a rakat. A normal rakat has two prostrations, but sujood itself does not contain rakats.

How many rakats are in the Adhan?

None. The Adhan is the call to prayer.

How many rakats are in the Qur’an or Surah al-Fatihah?

None. The Qur’an is Allah’s revealed Book, and al-Fatihah is its opening surah. Al-Fatihah is recited within prayer, but a surah does not contain rakats.

How many rakats are in suhoor?

None. Suhoor is the pre-dawn meal eaten before fasting. It is not a prayer.

How many rakats are “in Ramadan”?

The five daily fard prayer counts remain the same in Ramadan. Taraweeh and other night prayers are additional voluntary worship.


Frequently Asked Questions

How many rakats are in each of the five prayers?

Fajr has 2 fard rakats, Dhuhr 4, Asr 4, Maghrib 3, and Isha 4.

How many obligatory rakats are prayed each day?

There are 17 obligatory rakats across the five daily prayers.

Why do some prayer charts show more than 17 rakats?

They include Sunnah, nafl, and Witr prayers. These categories do not all have the same legal status as the fard rakats.

How many rakats are in Fajr Namaz?

Fajr has 2 fard rakats, preceded by 2 strongly emphasized Sunnah rakats. The common full sequence is 4 rakats in two separate prayers.

How many rakats are in Dhuhr prayer?

Dhuhr has 4 fard rakats. A common arrangement adds 4 Sunnah before and 2 Sunnah after, for 10; some charts add 2 nafl, making 12.

How many rakats are in Asr prayer?

Asr has 4 fard rakats. Four recommended Sunnah rakats before them produce a common total of 8.

How many rakats are in Maghrib prayer?

Maghrib has 3 fard rakats. Two Sunnah rakats afterward make the usual total 5; optional nafl can increase it.

How many rakats are in Isha prayer?

Isha has 4 fard rakats. Two Sunnah rakats and Witr are additional. The familiar total of 17 reflects a detailed Hanafi devotional chart, not 17 obligatory rakats.

How many rakats are in Friday prayer?

The Jummah fard prayer is 2 rakats behind the imam after the khutbah. Sunnah rakats around it vary by school.

How many rakats are in Tahajjud?

Begin with 2 and pray additional pairs. There is no single obligatory Tahajjud total. Eight followed by Witr is a common pattern.

How many rakats are in Taraweeh?

Twenty is a long-established congregational Sunni practice, while eight followed by Witr is also practiced. Follow a sound congregation without hostility over recognized differences.

How many rakats are in Witr?

Hanafis pray 3 rakats of Witr. Other Sunni schools permit 1 as the minimum and recognize other odd-numbered forms.

How many rakats are in Duha prayer?

The minimum is 2. People commonly pray 2, 4, 6, or 8.

How many rakats are in Istikhara?

Istikhara begins with 2 non-obligatory rakats, followed by the prescribed supplication.

How many rakats are in Eid prayer?

Eid prayer has 2 rakats. Extra takbirs do not create extra rakats.

How many rakats are in Janazah?

Janazah is not divided into rakats. It is a standing prayer with four takbirs and no bowing or prostration.

How many rakats does a traveller pray?

A qualifying traveller prays 2 Fajr, 2 Dhuhr, 2 Asr, 3 Maghrib, and 2 Isha fard rakats—a total of 11—when applying Qasr.

Are Sunnah rakats compulsory?

They are not the fard obligation, but emphasized Sunnah prayers carry great importance and should be maintained. Hanafis classify Witr separately as wajib.

Do women pray a different number of rakats?

No. The fard rakat counts are the same for men and women. Some posture and congregational rulings have school-specific details, but the number of daily fard rakats does not change.


Final Summary

If you remember only one table, remember this:

Prayer Obligatory fard rakats
Fajr2
Dhuhr4
Asr4
Maghrib3
Isha4
Total17

Then learn the additional prayers in their proper categories:

  • Maintain the emphasized Sunnah prayers, especially the two before Fajr.
  • Learn the regular Sunnah pattern taught by your madhhab.
  • Pray Witr according to a recognized method.
  • Add nafl prayer without confusing it with the fard obligation.
  • Use the travel concession only when its conditions are met.
  • Respect legitimate differences in Taraweeh, Witr, Jummah Sunnah, and other voluntary prayers.

The purpose of counting is not to reduce worship to arithmetic. Correct counting protects the structure of Salah; sincere presence, humility, and obedience give that structure life.


Primary References