VOLUME 1 / LESSON NO: 10 - RAK'AHS (CYCLES) OF PRAYER

Q 1: How many Rak'ahs (parts or cycles) are Fard (obligatory) in the 5 daily prayers?

A. 17 Rak'ahs are obligatory i.e. Fajr = 2, Zuhr = 4, Asr = 4, Maghrib = 3, and 'Ishaa = 4.

Q 2: How many Rak'ahs are Sunnat-e-Muakkadah (emphasised Sunnah) in the five time prayers?

A. 12 Rak'ahs are Sunnat-e-Muakkadah: 2 in Fajr before Fard, 6 in Zuhr (4 before Fard & 2 after Fard), 2 in Maghrib after Fard, and 2 in Isha after Fard.

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

A. Sunnat-e-Ghair-Muakkadah and Nafil prayers include:

• 2 Nafil after Zuhr
• 4 or 2 Sunnat-e-Ghair Muakkadah before Asr
• 2 Nafil after Maghrib
• 2 or 4 Sunnat-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 the five time prayers?

A. Total 48 Rak'ahs are offered in the five daily prayers:

• Fajr: 4 Rak'ahs (2 Sunnat & 2 Fard)
• Zuhr: 12 Rak'ahs (4 Sunnat, 4 Fard, 2 Sunnat & 2 Nafil)
• Asr: 8 Rak'ahs (4 Sunnat-e-Ghair-Muakkadah & 4 Fard)
• Maghrib: 7 Rak'ahs (3 Fard, 2 Sunnat & 2 Nafil)
• Isha: 17 Rak'ahs (4 Sunnat-e-Ghair-Muakkadah, 4 Fard, 2 Sunnat, 2 Nafil, 3 Witr & 2 Nafil)