What are the numbers of rakats for each Salat?

Shortened Question:

What are the numbers of rakats for each Salat?

What are the times of the times of each Salat?

What is to recited in each Salat?

Question:

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

Jazakallah for your questions. We commend your enthusiasm for studying Deen.

The Fajr Salat commences from the time the broad whiteness in the sky becomes visible. The time for Fajr Salat continues until just before the sun rises. (Bahishti Zewar; pg. 133; Zam Zam Publishers; Ed 2005)

The Fajr salat is comprised of two rakats.  Surah Faatihah and another surah or a portion of another surah should be recited in each rakat.

Two rakats  of sunnah should be performed before the Fajr Salat. One should recite Surah Faatihah and another surah or a portion of  another surah in each of these two rakats.

The Zuhr Salat commences at midday when the sun moves away from the zenith. The time for Zuhr continues until everything is twice its length in addition to the length it was at midday. (Bahishti Zewar; pg. 133; Zam Zam Publishers; Ed 2005)

Zuhr Salat comprises of four rakats. For the first two rakats Surah Faatihah and another surah or a section of another surah should be recited. Surah Faatihah alone should be recited in the remaining two rakats.

Four rakats of sunnah should be performed before the Zuhr Salat and two rakats after. Surah Faatihah and another surah or a portion of another surah should be recited in each of these six rakats of sunnah.

The time for Asr salat commences as soon as the time for Zuhr Salat terminates as mentioned above. Asr time remains until the sun sets. However, it is disliked to perform salat when the colour of the sun changes to pale yellow. (Bahishti Zewar; pg. 134; Zam Zam Publishers; Ed 2005)

Asr Salat comprises of four rakats. For the first two rakats Surah Faatihah and another surah or a section of another surah should be recited. Surah Faatihah alone should be recited in the remaining two rakats.

The time for Maghrib salat commences immediately after sunset and extends until the whiteness (white twilight) remains in the sky.[i]

Maghrib Salat comprises of three rakats. For the first two rakats Surah Faatihah and another surah or a portion of another surah should be recited. Surah Faatihah alone should be recited in the remaining rakat.

Two rakats of sunnah should be performed after the Maghrib Salat. Surah Faatihah and another surah or a portion of another surah should be recited in each of these two rakats of sunnah.

Esha Salat commences after Maghrib time has ended. Esha time continues until the time for Fajr sets in. However, it is disliked to perform Esha Salat after Mid night. (Bahishti Zewar; pg. 134; Zam Zam Publishers; Ed 2005)

Esha Salat Comprises of four rakats. For the first two rakats Surah Faatihah and another surah or a section of another surah should be recited. Surah Faatihah alone should be recited in the remaining two rakats.

Two rakats of sunnah should be performed after the Isha Salat. Surah Faatihah and another surah or a section of another surah should be recited in each of these two rakats of sunnah.

In addition to the five fard (obligatory) daily salat is the Witr salat which is wajib (compulsory). A wajib act is close to a fard. It is a major sin to leave out an act that is wajib. (Bahishti Zewar; pg. 212; Zam Zam Publishers; Ed 2005)

Witr salat is to be performed after the sunnah salat of Isha.

Witr salat comprises of three rakats. For all the three rakats Surah Faatihah and another surah or a portion of another surah should be recited.

After the third rakat one should raise the hands to the ear then clasp it again and recite dua-e-qunut. After the dua-e-qunut one should continue into ruku and complete the third rakat as normal. (Ibid)

It is recommended to recite the following Surahs in the Fard Salat as follows:

Fajr and Zuhr: From Suratul Hujurat to Suratul Inshiqaaq.

Asr and Esha: From Suratul Burooj to Suratul Qadr.

Maghrib: From Suratul Bayyinah to Suratun Naas.

The above chart the Daily Salat to be performed and the number of rakats to be performed with each Salat.

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Mufti Saeed Ahmed Golaub

Islamic Solutions

Jamaica

[i] 164– حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا حَاتِمُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الأَكْوَعِ، قَالَ: «كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي المَغْرِبَ إِذَا غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَتَوَارَتْ بِالحِجَابِ» . وَفِي البَابِ عَنْ جَابِرٍ، وَزَيْدِ بْنِ خَالِدٍ، وَأَنَسٍ، وَرَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ، وَأَبِي أَيُّوبَ، وَأُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ، وَعَبَّاسِ بْنِ عَبْدِ المُطَّلِبِ، [ص:305] وَحَدِيثُ العَبَّاسِ قَدْ رُوِيَ مَوْقُوفًا عَنْهُ وَهُوَ أَصَحُّ. حَدِيثُ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الأَكْوَعِ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ. وَهُوَ قَوْلُ أَكْثَرِ أَهْلِ العِلْمِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَمَنْ بَعْدَهُمْ مِنَ التَّابِعِينَ، اخْتَارُوا تَعْجِيلَ صَلَاةِ المَغْرِبِ، وَكَرِهُوا تَأْخِيرَهَا، حَتَّى قَالَ بَعْضُ أَهْلِ العِلْمِ: لَيْسَ لِصَلَاةِ المَغْرِبِ إِلَّا وَقْتٌ وَاحِدٌ وَذَهَبُوا إِلَى حَدِيثِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَيْثُ صَلَّى بِهِ جِبْرِيلُ، وَهُوَ قَوْلُ ابْنِ المُبَارَكِ، وَالشَّافِعِيِّ “(سنن الترمذى ج 1  ص42)