Fajr prayer

The dawn prayer, performed before sunrise

How many rakats is Fajr?

How many rakats is Fajr? 2 sunnah before the fardh, 2 fardh. This page lists 4 in the site’s total column, which sums every category in the table.

Rakats breakdown

Sunnah (Before)

Fardh

Sunnah (After)

Nafl

Witr

Total Rakats

Sunnah and witr in this table follow one common presentation (Hanafi) where schools differ; obligatory (fardh) rakats are the same across Sunni schools. Minor variations appear in other schools.

Overview

Fajr is the first of the five daily prayers and holds special significance. It consists of 2 Sunnah Muakkadah (emphasized Sunnah) followed by 2 Fardh rakats. The time for Fajr begins at true dawn and extends until just before sunrise, though it's best to pray it early. The Quran specifically mentions the dawn prayer as being witnessed by angels. Those two sunnah rakats are part of the site's rawatib pattern.

When it is prayed

From true dawn (Fajr Sadiq) until just before sunrise

"Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed."

— Quran 17:78

Read verse

Key reminders

The two sunnah before Fajr are part of the emphasized rawatib pattern on this site
Angels witness this prayer
Best prayed early in its time
Protection of Allah for those who pray it

Tahajjud
Night prayer before Fajr if you wake later in the night.
Daily prayers
See where Fajr sits in the order of the five daily prayers.

Sources

"Whoever prays Fajr is under the protection of Allah. Do not put yourselves in a position where Allah has to call you to account."

— Sahih Muslim 657

Read full reference

"The two rak'ahs of Fajr are better than this world and everything in it."

— Sahih Muslim 725