Rak’ahs of Salaat

Q 1: How many Rak’ahs (part) are Fard (obligatory) in prayers five times a day?

A. 17 Rak’ahs are obligatory i.e.

Fajr: 2,

Zuhr: 4,

Asr: 4,

Maghrib: 3,

‘Ishaa: 4.

Q 2: How many Rak’ahs are Sunnah-e-Muakkadah (emphasised Sunnah) in all the five times prayers?

A. 17 Rak’ahs are Sunnah-e-Muakkadah i.e.

Fajr: 2 (pre-Fard),

Zuhr: 6 (4 pre-Fard & 2 post-Fard),

Maghrib: 2 (post-Fard),

Isha: 2 (post-Fard)/

Q 3: How many Rak’ahs are Sunnat-e-Ghair Muakkadah (non-emphasised Sunnah) or Nafil (optional, voluntary prayer) in all the five time prayers?

A. Following are Sunnah-e-Ghair Muakkadah and Nafil in all the five time prayers:

2 Nafil after Zuhr,

4 or 2 Rak’ahs Sunnah-e-Ghair Muakkadah before Asr,

2 Nafil after Maghrib and

2 or 4 Rak’ahs Sunnah-e-Ghair Muakkadah before Isha’s Fard, 2 Sunnat-e-Ghair Muakkadah after Isha’s Fard followed by 2 Nafil,

3 Witr (essential prayer) and 2 Nafil.

No particular number of Nafil prayers has been reported.

Q 4: How many Rak’ahs are offered in all the five time prayers?

A. Total 48 Rak’ahs are offered in all the five time   prayers i.e.

Fajr: 4 Rak’ahs (2 Sunnah & 2 Fard),

Zuhr: 12 Rak’ahs (4 Sunnah, 4 Fard, 2 Sunnah & 2 Nafil),

Asr: 8 Rak’ahs (4 Sunnah-e-Ghair Muakkadah & 4 Fard),

Maghrib: 7 Rak’ahs (3 Fard, 2 Sunnah & 2 Nafil) and

Isha: 17   Rak’ahs (4 Sunnah Ghair Muakkadah, 4 Fard, 2 Sunnah, 2 Nafil, and 3 Witr & 2 Nafil).

Q 5: Is Witr prayer Fard or Sunnat?

A. Three Rak’ahs of Witr are neither Fard nor Sunnah but are Wajib (essential) which are offered with Isha prayer.