How Many Rakats in Fajr Prayer?
Fajr has 2 fard rakats, preceded by 2 confirmed sunnah rakats: 4 rakats in total.
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Fajr Rakats at a Glance
| Part | Rakats | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Sunnah before Fajr | 2 | Confirmed (mu’akkadah). The Prophet ﷺ said these two rakats are better than the world and everything in it (Sahih Muslim). |
| Fajr fard | 2 | Obligatory. The recitation is aloud. |
| Sunnah after Fajr | 0 | None. Voluntary prayer is not offered between Fajr and sunrise. |
| Total | 4 | 2 sunnah + 2 fard |
How the Fajr Rakats Are Prayed
Fajr is two rakats with a single tashahhud, after the second rakah, then the salam. The imam recites Al-Fatiha and a surah aloud in both rakats, and the Sunnah is to make the recitation longer than in other prayers.
In the two sunnah rakats before Fajr the Prophet ﷺ usually recited Surat Al-Kafirun in the first and Surat Al-Ikhlas in the second (Sahih Muslim). The two are prayed lightly and quickly. Aisha reported that he did not hurry to any voluntary prayer the way he did to these two (Bukhari, Muslim).
When Is Fajr Prayed?
Fajr begins at true dawn, when the white light spreads across the horizon, and ends at sunrise. Pray it early in its time if you can; it is a prayer the angels of night and day witness (Quran 17:78).
Praying While Travelling
Fajr is not shortened when you travel: it stays 2 rakats. The 2 sunnah rakats before it are among the few voluntary prayers the Prophet ﷺ kept while travelling.
Where the Madhhabs Differ
All four schools treat the two rakats before Fajr as the strongest of the sunnah prayers; the Hanafi school regards them as close to wajib. If the iqamah has already started when you arrive, most scholars say to join the fard first and pray the two sunnah rakats after it or after sunrise.
Keep Count in Fajr
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.
- Sahih Muslim: the two rakats of Fajr are better than the world and what is in it; Surat Al-Kafirun and Al-Ikhlas in the two sunnah rakats.
- Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim: Aisha on hurrying to the two rakats of Fajr.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fajr is 2 fard rakats. Together with the 2 confirmed sunnah rakats before it, you pray 4 rakats.
Aloud. The imam recites Al-Fatiha and a surah aloud in both rakats of the fard.
No. There is no sunnah after Fajr, and voluntary prayer is not offered between Fajr and sunrise.
You can pray the 2 sunnah rakats after the fard prayer or after sunrise; scholars differ on the exact timing, so follow your school.
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.
