Accurate Prayer Timings Built for Blessed Routine
Stay connected with your daily worship. We offer accurate prayer timings in the UK for Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha. Align your daily schedule with Islamic prayer times and learn the importance of punctual Salah with our qualified Quran tutors.
Prayer Times
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How Many Rakats Are in Each Namaz?
Each of the five daily prayers is made up of different types of Rakats (units of prayer):
- Fard – obligatory Rakats; the prayer is incomplete without these.
- Sunnah Mu'akkadah – confirmed Sunnah, regularly prayed by the Prophet ﷺ and highly recommended.
- Sunnah Ghair Mu'akkadah / Nafl – optional Rakats prayed for extra reward.
Note: the exact number of Sunnah Rakats can vary slightly between schools of thought (madhabs). The breakdown below follows the most commonly taught practice.
Fajr Rakat – How Many Rakats in Fajr Namaz?
The rakat of Namaz Fajr is one of the shortest of the five prayers. Fajr Rakat consists of 2 Sunnah Mu'akkadah followed by 2 Fard — 4 Rakats in total.
Dhuhr Rakat – How Many Rakats in Dhuhr Namaz?
Rakat in Dhuhr is the longest of the day: 4 Sunnah Mu'akkadah, 4 Fard, 2 Sunnah Mu'akkadah, and 2 optional Nafl — 12 Rakats in total.
Asr Rakat – How Many Rakats in Asr Namaz?
Asr Rakat has no Sunnah after the Fard. Rakat in Asr consists of 4 Sunnah Ghair Mu'akkadah (optional) and 4 Fard — 8 Rakats in total.
Maghrib Rakat – How Many Rakats in Maghrib Namaz?
Rakat of Namaz Maghrib has no Sunnah before the Fard. Maghrib Rakat consists of 3 Fard, 2 Sunnah Mu'akkadah, and 2 optional Nafl — 7 Rakats in total.
Isha Rakat – How Many Rakats in Isha Namaz?
The rakat of Namaz Isha is the most detailed of the five. Isha Rakat consists of 4 Sunnah Ghair Mu'akkadah (optional), 4 Fard, 2 Sunnah Mu'akkadah, and 2 optional Nafl — 12 Rakats in total, followed separately by Witr.
| Namaz | Sunnah (Before) | Fard | Sunnah (After) | Nafl (Optional) | Total Rakats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr | 2 | 2 | – | – | 4 |
| Dhuhr | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| Asr | 4 | 4 | – | – | 8 |
| Maghrib | – | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 |
| Isha | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 12 |
| Witr (after Isha) | Wajib (Hanafi) / Sunnah Mu'akkadah (other schools) | 3 | |||
Only the Fard Rakats are obligatory. Sunnah and Nafl Rakats are optional but were regularly prayed by the Prophet ﷺ and carry great reward.
What Does "Sunrise" Mean in the Prayer Times Above?
You'll notice a "Sunrise" time listed right after Fajr in the timetable above. This is not Tahajjud. Sunrise simply marks the exact moment the sun rises at your location — which is also the moment the window for praying Fajr closes. Once the sun has fully risen, Fajr can no longer be offered, and prayer is disliked (Makruh) for a short period around sunrise itself.
What Is Tahajjud? When Should You Pray It?
Tahajjud is a voluntary (Nafl) night prayer, prayed after sleeping — not after sunrise. It's one of the most highly recommended optional prayers in Islam, mentioned in the Quran (Surah Al-Isra, 17:79) as an extra means of drawing closer to Allah beyond the five daily obligatory prayers.
The best time for Tahajjud is the last third of the night, ending right before Fajr begins. It's typically prayed in pairs of 2 Rakats — commonly 8 Rakats in total — followed by Witr, if Witr hasn't already been prayed after Isha.
Tip: use the Fajr time shown above to work backward and estimate the last third of the night for your city — that's the most virtuous window for Tahajjud.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many rakats are there in each of the five daily prayers?
Fajr has 4 Rakats, Dhuhr has 12, Asr has 8, Maghrib has 7, and Isha has 12. Out of these, the obligatory (Fard) Rakats total 17 across the day — the rest are Sunnah and optional Nafl.
What is Tahajjud and when should it be prayed?
Tahajjud is a voluntary night prayer performed after sleeping, ideally in the last third of the night before Fajr begins. It is mentioned in the Quran (Surah Al-Isra, 17:79) and is usually prayed in pairs of 2 Rakats, commonly 8 in total, followed by Witr if not already prayed after Isha.
Is the Sunrise time shown in prayer timetables the same as Tahajjud time?
No. Sunrise simply marks the moment the sun rises and the window for Fajr closes. Tahajjud is prayed before Fajr, during the last third of the night — not at or after sunrise.
Can Tahajjud be prayed after Fajr time has started?
No. Tahajjud must be completed before the Fajr prayer time begins. Once Fajr enters, that night's window for Tahajjud has closed, and any further night-style prayer is generally classed as general Nafl rather than Tahajjud.
Is Witr Wajib or Sunnah?
In the Hanafi school, Witr (usually 3 Rakats prayed after Isha) is considered Wajib. In the Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools, it is regarded as Sunnah Mu'akkadah. Either way, it is a prayer the Prophet ﷺ rarely left.
What is the difference between Fard and Sunnah prayers?
Fard Rakats are obligatory — the prayer is considered incomplete without them. Sunnah Rakats are practices regularly performed by the Prophet ﷺ; Sunnah Mu'akkadah are strongly emphasised, while Nafl/Sunnah Ghair Mu'akkadah are optional extra good deeds that carry reward but aren't required.
What should I do if I miss a prayer (Qaza)?
A missed obligatory prayer should be made up (Qaza) as soon as it is remembered, in the same order it was missed where practical. The obligation to pray does not lapse simply because its time has passed.
Why do prayer timings online sometimes differ slightly from my local mosque?
Automated prayer time calculators use one of several accepted calculation methods (such as Muslim World League, ISNA, or the University of Islamic Sciences, Karachi), which can produce times that differ by a few minutes. Mosques may also adjust their congregational (Iqamah) time slightly for convenience. When in doubt, follow your local mosque's Iqamah time.