Units of the prayer
Rakʿahs & sujūd, made clear.
Each of the five daily prayers is made of a set number of units called rakʿahs. Every rakʿah contains one bow (rukūʿ) and two prostrations (sujūd). Pick a prayer below to see its numbers.
Two words to know
What is a rakʿah? What is sujūd?
Rakʿah رَكْعَة
A rakʿah is one complete unit of prayer: you stand and recite, bow once (rukūʿ), rise, then prostrate twice (sujūd) with a short sitting in between. Prayers are counted by how many of these units they contain.
Sujūd سُجُود
Sujūd is prostration — placing the forehead, nose, both hands, both knees, and the toes on the ground. It is the closest position to Allah in the prayer. Every single rakʿah has exactly two prostrations.
Pick a prayer
How many units in each prayer?
These are the obligatory (farḍ) units. Every rakʿah has one bow (rukūʿ) and two prostrations (sujūd).
Fajr is two rakʿahs, prayed aloud before sunrise.
All five at a glance
The whole day in one table.
The obligatory (farḍ) units for every daily prayer.
| Prayer | Rakʿahs | Bows · rukūʿ | Prostrations · sujūd | Time | Recitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr الفجر | 2 | 2 | 4 | Before sunrise | Aloud |
| Dhuhr الظهر | 4 | 4 | 8 | After midday | Silent |
| ʿAṣr العصر | 4 | 4 | 8 | Afternoon | Silent |
| Maghrib المغرب | 3 | 3 | 6 | Just after sunset | Aloud |
| ʿIshāʾ العشاء | 4 | 4 | 8 | At night | Aloud |
The numbers above are the obligatory (farḍ) rakʿahs. The Sunnah (rawātib) prayers, witr, and other voluntary prayers are additional to these. Follow the trusted guidance of your local mosque or a qualified teacher.
Next
Where to go from here.
Common questions
Questions people ask.
How many rakʿahs is Fajr?
Fajr is 2 obligatory (farḍ) rakʿahs, containing 2 bows (rukūʿ) and 4 prostrations (sujūd).
How many rakʿahs is Dhuhr?
Dhuhr is 4 obligatory rakʿahs, containing 4 bows and 8 prostrations.
How many rakʿahs is ʿAṣr?
ʿAṣr is 4 obligatory rakʿahs, containing 4 bows and 8 prostrations.
How many rakʿahs is Maghrib?
Maghrib is 3 obligatory rakʿahs, containing 3 bows and 6 prostrations.
How many rakʿahs is ʿIshāʾ?
ʿIshāʾ is 4 obligatory rakʿahs, containing 4 bows and 8 prostrations.
How many farḍ rakʿahs are there in a day?
The five daily prayers contain 17 obligatory (farḍ) rakʿahs in total: 2 for Fajr, 4 for Dhuhr, 4 for ʿAṣr, 3 for Maghrib, and 4 for ʿIshāʾ.
What is a rakʿah?
A rakʿah is one complete unit of prayer: you stand and recite, bow once (rukūʿ), rise, then prostrate twice (sujūd) with a short sitting in between. Prayers are counted by how many of these units they contain.
What is sujūd?
Sujūd is prostration — placing the forehead, nose, both hands, both knees, and the toes on the ground. It is the closest position to Allah in the prayer. Every single rakʿah has exactly two prostrations.
How many sujūd are in each rakʿah?
Every rakʿah contains one bow (rukūʿ) and exactly two prostrations (sujūd).
Do these numbers include the Sunnah prayers?
No. These are the obligatory (farḍ) rakʿahs. The Sunnah (rawātib) prayers, witr, and other voluntary prayers are additional to these. Follow the trusted guidance of your local mosque or a qualified teacher.
Answers repeat what is shown on this page, with the same references. For anything specific to your situation, ask a qualified teacher or your local mosque.