Rak'at Table: How Many Rak'ahs in Each Prayer
A clear table of the obligatory (fard) and emphasised sunnah rak'ahs for Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, witr and Jumu'ah, with school differences.
This guide explains common views and sources. It is not a fatwa. For your own situation, ask a scholar or imam you trust.
Each daily prayer has a fixed number of obligatory rak'ahs that every school agrees on, plus recommended rak'ahs before or after it. The table below is the one most people are looking for; the notes underneath explain the few places where schools differ.
The main table
| Prayer | Sunnah before | Fard (obligatory) | Sunnah after | Total commonly prayed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr | 2 (emphasised) | 2 | none | 4 |
| Dhuhr | 4 (Hanafi: emphasised as 4; others: 2 emphasised, 4 recommended) | 4 | 2 (emphasised); Hanafis often add 2 more | 10–12 |
| Asr | 4 (non-emphasised; some pray 2) | 4 | none (and no voluntary prayer after it until Maghrib) | 4–8 |
| Maghrib | 2 (non-emphasised, between adhan and iqamah; not Hanafi) | 3 | 2 (emphasised) | 5–7 |
| Isha | 2 (non-emphasised, between adhan and iqamah; not Hanafi) | 4 | 2 (emphasised), then witr | 6–8 + witr |
| Witr | – | 1 or 3 (see below) | – | 1 or 3 |
| Jumu'ah (replaces Dhuhr) | 4 (Hanafi, Shafi'i); none fixed (Maliki, Hanbali) | 2 | 2 or 4 (Hanafi: 4 + 2; Shafi'i: 2 or 4) | 6–10 |
Obligatory total for the day: 17 rak'ahs (2 + 4 + 4 + 3 + 4). The emphasised sunnahs add 10 or 12 (Hanafi count: 2 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 12; many others: 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10, with the "twelve rak'ahs" hadith reported by Muslim counted as 2 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 2). Witr is separate.
Notes on the differences
Dhuhr: four before, or two?
Hanafis pray four rak'ahs before Dhuhr with one salam as an emphasised sunnah, then two after. Shafi'is and Hanbalis count two before and two after as emphasised, with an additional two before and two after as recommended. Malikis treat the extra rak'ahs around Dhuhr as recommended rather than a fixed number. All of them are praying the same prayer; only the label differs.
Witr: one or three?
Witr is the odd-numbered prayer that closes the night prayer (Bukhari 998). Hanafis pray three rak'ahs with one salam (like Maghrib, with qunut in the third) and consider it wajib, a duty just below fard. The majority consider it an emphasised sunnah and pray one, three (with two salams, or one salam without a middle sitting), five or more. See witr prayer.
Asr and Maghrib: the "before" rak'ahs
Two rak'ahs before Maghrib and before Isha, between the adhan and the iqamah, are based on a report in al-Bukhari; Shafi'is and Hanbalis regard them as recommended, Hanafis do not pray them before Maghrib. Four before Asr are recommended but not emphasised in all schools.
Ja'fari practice
Ja'fari Muslims count the same 17 obligatory rak'ahs and a set of nafilah rak'ahs: 2 before Fajr, 8 before Dhuhr, 8 before Asr, 4 after Maghrib, 2 (prayed sitting) after Isha, and 11 for the night prayer including a one-rak'ah witr. In total 34 voluntary rak'ahs a day for the devoted.
When travelling
The four-rak'ah fard prayers become two (qasr). Most of the sunnah rak'ahs are left on the road; Fajr's sunnah and witr are kept. Maghrib stays three.
A realistic way to build up
| Stage | What you pray |
|---|---|
| 1. Foundation | The 17 fard rak'ahs, on time. Use the prayer times and consistency tips. |
| 2. Add the easy sunnahs | 2 before Fajr (prayed at home before leaving), 2 after Maghrib, 2 after Isha and 1–3 witr. |
| 3. Add Dhuhr | 4 (or 2) before, 2 after. |
| 4. Complete | 4 before Asr, 2 before Maghrib and Isha for those who pray them, duha and tahajjud. |
The timing of sunnah prayers explains when each one may be prayed and the windows to avoid.
Reading the table in a mosque
When you walk into a mosque for Dhuhr, you will see people praying four quiet rak'ahs before the iqamah, four with the imam, then two (or two plus two) after. If you arrive late, pray the fard with the imam first; the sunnah before Dhuhr can be prayed afterwards in the Hanafi and Shafi'i view. For Jumu'ah, the two fard rak'ahs are prayed aloud with the imam after the khutbah; see Jumu'ah.
For your own situation, especially about which sunnahs to prioritise when time is short, ask a scholar or imam you trust.
Useful tools
Questions and answers
What is the minimum I must pray each day?
The obligatory rak'ahs: 2 + 4 + 4 + 3 + 4 = 17. Hanafis add witr (3) as wajib, a step below fard, making 20.
Do the sunnah rak'ahs come before or after the fard?
It depends on the prayer. Fajr's sunnah is before; Maghrib's and Isha's are after; Dhuhr has both. Asr has no emphasised sunnah, only an optional one before it.
What is the difference between sunnah mu'akkadah and ghayr mu'akkadah?
Mu'akkadah (emphasised) means the Prophet prayed it regularly; leaving it habitually is discouraged. Ghayr mu'akkadah (non-emphasised) means he prayed it sometimes; it is good to pray and no issue to leave.
Can I pray the two sunnah rak'ahs of Fajr after the fard if I arrive late?
Hanafis and Malikis say pray them after sunrise rather than straight after the fard; Shafi'is and Hanbalis allow them right after the fard. All agree they can be made up after sunrise.
How many rak'ahs is tarawih?
Twenty rak'ahs in most mosques following the practice from the time of Umar; eight in some. Both are voluntary night prayer and both are accepted practice.
Sources
- Sahih al-Bukhari 998 (witr as the last of the night prayer)
- Sahih Muslim (the twelve sunnah rak'ahs each day and night)
- Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim (the Prophet's regular sunnah prayers)