How Many Rakats in Asr Prayer?
Asr has 4 fard rakats and no confirmed sunnah. Praying 4 rakats before it is recommended, though not confirmed.
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Asr Rakats at a Glance
| Part | Rakats | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sunnah before Asr | 4 (recommended) | Recommended, not confirmed. The Prophet ﷺ said: may Allah have mercy on one who prays four before Asr (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi). |
| Asr fard | 4 | Obligatory. The recitation is silent. |
| Sunnah after Asr | 0 | None. No voluntary prayer is offered after Asr until sunset. |
| Total | 4 | 8 if you add the recommended 4 before it |
How the Asr Rakats Are Prayed
Asr is prayed like Dhuhr: four rakats, silently, with the first tashahhud after the second rakah and the final tashahhud and salam after the fourth. Al-Fatiha and a surah are recited in the first two rakats and Al-Fatiha alone in the last two.
When Is Asr Prayed?
Asr begins when Dhuhr ends and lasts until sunset. Do not delay it until the sun turns yellow without a reason. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever misses Asr is as one who lost his family and wealth (Bukhari, Muslim), and that whoever catches one rakah of Asr before sunset has caught the prayer (Bukhari, Muslim).
The “middle prayer” Allah tells us to guard in Surat Al-Baqarah (2:238) is Asr, as the Prophet ﷺ explained (Sahih Muslim).
Praying While Travelling
A traveller shortens Asr to 2 rakats. The Hanafi school makes this obligatory and the other schools make it permitted and preferred.
Where the Madhhabs Differ
The Hanafi school recommends 4 rakats before Asr as a non-confirmed sunnah. The Shafi’i and Hanbali schools also recommend praying 2 or 4 before it, without treating them as confirmed. The Maliki school does not single out a regular sunnah before Asr. In every school the fard itself is always 4.
Keep Count in Asr
If you lose count mid-prayer, build on the number you are sure of and finish with sajdah sahw; the forgetting during prayer guide covers each case. Prayer Memory can keep the count for you: a silent haptic tap on Apple Watch, or a manual counter on iPhone and Android. Get it on the App Store or Google Play. All the counts side by side: rakat guide.
Sources
- General guidance from widely cited hadith; where the schools differ, follow a scholar you trust.
- Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi: mercy on one who prays four before Asr.
- Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim: catching a rakah of Asr before sunset; the one who misses Asr.
- Sahih Muslim: Asr is the middle prayer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Asr is 4 fard rakats. There is no confirmed sunnah, but praying 4 rakats before it is recommended.
Silently, like Dhuhr.
There is no confirmed sunnah. Four rakats before it are recommended, and no voluntary prayer is offered after Asr until sunset.
Until sunset. Whoever catches one rakah before the sun sets has caught the prayer, but delaying it to the last moments without a reason is disliked.
Never lose count in salah again
Prayer Memory keeps the count for you, silently, so you can give your attention to the prayer. Free to download, with an optional Pro upgrade inside the app.
