Number Of Rakats For The Five Obligatory Prayers

There are five obligatory prayers in Islam that is, Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha, in which they differ in rakats. It is important to know the number of rakats of the prayer performing or else it will regard as invalid.

1. Fajr Prayer.

2 rakats sunnat Mu’akkaadah, 2 Rakats Fard (obligatory).

2. Zuhr Prayer

2 or 4 rakats sunnat Mu’akkadah, 4 rakats fard, 2 rakats sunnat Mu’akkadah and an unspecified number of nafl as time and capacity allows.

Ibn Umar (R.A) said “I prayed alone with Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W.) 2 rakats before and 2 rakats after the Zuhr prayer.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

It is a familiar practice tooffer 4 rakats sunnat before Zuhr prayer, but this Hadith proves that 2 rakats sunnat before the Zuhr prayer is also allowed.

3. Asr Prayer

2 or 4 rakats sunnat ghair Mu’akkada, 4 rakats fard. Ali (R.A) said “Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W.) used to pray 4 rakats before Asr prayer separating them with a salutations….” (Tirmidhi)

Another Hadith narrated by Ali (R.A) says, “Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W) used to pray rakats before Asr prayer.” (Abu Dawood)

4. Maghrib Prayer.

2 rakats nafl, 3 rakats fard, 2 rakats sunnat Mu’akkadah and an unspecified number of nafl as time and capacity allows.

Abdullah bin Mughaffal reported the Prophet (S.A.W.) as saying “Pray before the Maghrib prayer”, adding when saying it the third time. “This applies to those who wish to do so.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

That was because he did not wish people to treat it as a compulsory sunnat.

2 rakats nafl after the sunset and before the maghrib prayer allowed for those who wish to do so. For this above Hadith is a sure proof. However, some people forbid this and others find it very strange if they see a person offer 2 rakats nafl before Maghrib.

5. Isha Prayer.

An unspecified number of nafl rakats according to the time and capacity, 4 rakats fard, 2 rakats sunnat Mu’akkadah, unspecified number of nafl as time and capacity allows and 3 witr.

Some people insist very emphatically upon the offering of 4 rakats optional sunnat before the isha prayer but during our entire research we could not find a single proof, any practice or order from the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) or his companions to justify this claim. Certainly it is allowed to pray nafl while waiting for Jama’at.

Some people offer 2 rakats nafl after the witr prayer. However, there is an authentic Hadith which states that the witr prayer should be offered after all the nafl which a person wishes to pray have been offered.

Ibn Umar (R.A.) reported that the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said “Make witr as the last prayer of your night prayer.” (Mishkat)