How many rakats in Fajr?
4 rakats: 2 sunnah, then 2 fard. The fard is 2 in every school, and the 2 sunnah before it are among the twelve the Prophet ﷺ prayed regularly. Hanafi charts show the same 4.
| Count | Sunnah before | Fard | Sunnah after | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The twelve sunnah | 2 | 2 | – | 4 |
| Hanafi charts | 2 | 2 | – | 4 |
In order
- 2 rakats sunnah
- 2 rakats fard
The two sunnah before Fajr
Of all the voluntary prayers, these two were the ones the Prophet ﷺ kept most regularly (Sahih al-Bukhari 1169), and he said the two rakats before Fajr are better than the world and everything in it (Sahih Muslim 725).
When is Fajr?
Fajr begins at true dawn, when light spreads along the horizon, and its time ends at sunrise. See today’s prayer times for New York City and nearby.
When travelling
Fajr stays 2 rakats. Only the four-rakat prayers (Dhuhr, Asr and Isha) are shortened.
Questions people ask
How many fard rakats are in Fajr?
Two, in every school.
What if I wake up after sunrise?
Pray it as soon as you can. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever sleeps through a prayer or forgets it should pray it when they remember (Sahih Muslim 684).
The rakats of Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha, or all five on one free rakat chart to print. Different schools count the optional rakats differently; ask your local imam what yours teaches.