Salah guide · rak'ahs
How many rakats in each prayer
The fard, the sunnah before and after, and Witr for each of the five prayers, then Jumu'ah, Eid, Taraweeh and the night prayer.
Fajr 2, Dhuhr 4, Asr 4, Maghrib 3 and Isha 4: 17 fard rak'ahs a day. With the regular sunnah prayers and Witr, a common daily count is Fajr 4, Dhuhr 10 or 12, Asr 4 (8 with the optional sunnah), Maghrib 5 and Isha 9 to 13.
The five daily prayers
| Prayer | Sunnah before | Fard | Sunnah after | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr | 2 (confirmed) | 2 | — | 4 |
| Dhuhr | 4 (Hanafi) or 2 (others) | 4 | 2 | 8 to 10 |
| Asr | 4 (optional) | 4 | — | 4 to 8 |
| Maghrib | — | 3 | 2 (confirmed) | 5 |
| Isha | 4 (optional) | 4 | 2 (confirmed) + Witr | 9 to 13 |
The confirmed sunnah prayers come from two reports. Umm Habibah: twelve rak'ahs a day earn a house in Paradise (Sahih Muslim 728), listed as 4 before Dhuhr, 2 after, 2 after Maghrib, 2 after Isha and 2 before Fajr (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 415). Ibn 'Umar remembered ten, with 2 before Dhuhr (Sahih al-Bukhari 1180). The 2 before Fajr were the ones the Prophet ﷺ never left (Sahih al-Bukhari 1169): “better than the world and what is in it” (Sahih Muslim 725).
The 4 before Asr: “May Allah have mercy on a person who prays four before Asr” (Sunan Abi Dawud 1271, Jami' at-Tirmidhi 430).
Hanafis count 4 confirmed rak'ahs before Dhuhr; Shafi'is and Hanbalis 2 confirmed. Malikis treat the regular sunnahs as recommended without fixed counts, apart from the 2 of Fajr. Witr is wajib (3 rak'ahs) for Hanafis and a strongly encouraged sunnah for the other schools.
Jumu'ah, Eid, Witr, Taraweeh and Tahajjud
| Prayer | Rak'ahs | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jumu'ah | 2 fard | Replaces Dhuhr on Friday, after the khutbah. Sunnah after: 4 (Sahih Muslim 881) or 2 at home (Sahih al-Bukhari 937). Hanafis also pray 4 before. |
| Eid al-Fitr / al-Adha | 2 | With extra takbirs. No adhan, no iqamah, no sunnah before it at the prayer place (Sahih al-Bukhari 989). |
| Witr | 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 or 11 | The last prayer of the night (Sahih al-Bukhari 998). Hanafis pray 3 with one salam. |
| Taraweeh | 8 or 20 | Ramadan night prayer, in sets of 2. 20 is the practice of the four schools; 8 follows 'A'ishah's report of 11 with Witr (Sahih al-Bukhari 2013). |
| Tahajjud | 2 or more, in pairs | “The night prayer is two by two” (Sahih al-Bukhari 990). The Prophet ﷺ usually prayed 11 with Witr (Sahih al-Bukhari 2013). |
| Duha | 2 to 8 | Mid-morning prayer (Sahih Muslim 720; 8 on the day of the conquest of Makkah, Sahih al-Bukhari 357). |
| Tahiyyat al-masjid | 2 | On entering a mosque, before sitting (Sahih al-Bukhari 444). |
Eid takbirs: Hanafis say 3 extra in each rak'ah. Shafi'is say 7 in the first and 5 in the second. Malikis and Hanbalis say 6 in the first (7 with the opening takbir) and 5 in the second. The Eid prayer itself is wajib for Hanafis, a confirmed sunnah for Malikis and Shafi'is, and a communal obligation for Hanbalis.
When travelling
A traveller shortens the four-rak'ah prayers (Dhuhr, Asr, Isha) to 2 (Qur'an 4:101; Sahih Muslim 686). Fajr stays 2 and Maghrib stays 3. Hanafis hold that shortening is required for the traveller; the other schools hold that it is a concession.
Frequently asked questions
How many fard rak'ahs are there in a day?
Seventeen: Fajr 2, Dhuhr 4, Asr 4, Maghrib 3 and Isha 4.
How many rak'ahs is Isha with sunnah and Witr?
Commonly 4 fard, 2 sunnah after and 3 Witr, which is 9. Some also pray 4 optional rak'ahs before, making 13.
How many rak'ahs is Jumu'ah?
Two fard rak'ahs after the khutbah, replacing Dhuhr. Many also pray 4 sunnah after it (Sahih Muslim 881) and, in the Hanafi school, 4 before it.
Is Taraweeh 8 or 20 rak'ahs?
Both are prayed. The four schools hold 20, based on the practice in 'Umar's time. Others pray 8, based on 'A'ishah's report that the Prophet ﷺ did not pray more than 11 including Witr (Sahih al-Bukhari 2013). Both are valid night prayer.
Do I have to pray the sunnah prayers?
They are not obligatory, but the Prophet ﷺ kept the confirmed ones regularly and encouraged them strongly. They also make up for shortfalls in the fard prayers (Sunan Abi Dawud 864).
The salah guide
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Download Niyat for iPhone Get it on Google PlayThis guide explains common practice with its sources. It is not a fatwa. Where your situation is unusual, ask a scholar you trust.