How many rakats in Maghrib?
5 rakats: 3 fard, then 2 sunnah. Maghrib is the only prayer with 3 fard rakats. Hanafi charts show 7, adding 2 nafl.
| Count | Sunnah before | Fard | Sunnah after | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The twelve sunnah | – | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Hanafi charts | – | 3 | 2 + 2 nafl | 7 |
In order
- 3 rakats fard
- 2 rakats sunnah
- 2 rakats nafl optional, on Hanafi charts
The only three-rakat prayer
Every other prayer’s fard is 2 or 4 rakats; Maghrib’s is 3, and it stays 3 when travelling: it’s never shortened. Its 2 sunnah after are among the twelve in the hadith of Umm Habibah (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 415).
When is Maghrib?
Maghrib begins at sunset, and its time is the shortest of the day: it runs until Isha, when the twilight has gone. See today’s prayer times for New York City and nearby.
A good one to pray together
Maghrib comes as the day ends, when a family is most likely to be home together, which makes it a good prayer to start praying as a family.
Questions people ask
Is Maghrib shortened when travelling?
No. It stays 3 rakats; only the four-rakat prayers are shortened. Most schools allow joining it with Isha when travelling; the Hanafi school doesn’t, outside Hajj.
How many fard rakats are in Maghrib?
Three, in every school.
The rakats of Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr 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.