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Prayer Guide

How to Pray Fajr: Number of Rakahs and Step-by-Step Guide

Quick Answer

The Fajr prayer is 4 rakahs in total: 2 sunnah rakahs plus 2 obligatory (fard) rakahs. The sunnah is prayed first (silently), then the obligatory prayer is performed after the iqamah. Its time begins at dawn (imsak) and must end before sunrise (roughly 90-110 minutes before). The sunnah of Fajr is one of the most strongly emphasised sunnahs β€” the Prophet said, 'The two rakahs of the Fajr sunnah are better than the world and everything in it.'

Step-by-Step Summary

  1. 1
    Fajr Sunnah β€” Intention: Say, 'I intend to perform the sunnah of the Fajr prayer for the sake of Allah.'
  2. 2
    Fajr Sunnah β€” First Rakah: Allahu Akbar β†’ Subhanaka β†’ Ta'awwudh and Basmalah β†’ Al-Fatihah β†’ a short surah β†’ Ruku β†’ 2 prostrations.
  3. 3
    Fajr Sunnah β€” Second Rakah: Stand β†’ Basmalah β†’ Al-Fatihah β†’ a short surah β†’ Ruku β†’ 2 prostrations β†’ Sit β†’ At-Tahiyyat + Salli + Barik + Rabbana β†’ Salam.
  4. 4
    Fajr Fard β€” Intention and Iqamah: Say, 'I intend to perform today's obligatory Fajr prayer of two rakahs for the sake of Allah.' (If not praying in congregation, you may say the iqamah yourself or omit it.)
  5. 5
    Fajr Fard β€” First Rakah: Allahu Akbar β†’ Subhanaka β†’ Ta'awwudh and Basmalah β†’ Al-Fatihah β†’ a surah β†’ Ruku β†’ 2 prostrations. (In congregation, the imam recites ALOUD β€” Fajr is a prayer with audible recitation.)
  6. 6
    Fajr Fard β€” Second Rakah: Stand β†’ Basmalah β†’ Al-Fatihah β†’ a surah β†’ Ruku β†’ 2 prostrations β†’ Sit β†’ At-Tahiyyat + Salli + Barik + Rabbana β†’ Salam.

Fajr β€” The Day's First Obligatory Prayer

The Fajr prayer is the spiritual seal on the start of the day. It is performed in the window between dawn (imsak) and sunrise. Praying Fajr consistently has been described by the Prophet as "a sign of faith."

"Whoever prays the Fajr and Asr prayers will enter Paradise." β€” Bukhari, Mawaqit as-Salat, 26

The Time

| Begins | Ends | |--------|------| | True dawn (imsak) | Sunrise |

It generally begins about 90-110 minutes before sunrise β€” a window of roughly 1.5-2 hours.

Tip: Visit our prayer times page to find the Fajr time for your city.

Number of Rakahs

Total: 4 rakahs

| Order | Type | Rakahs | |-------|------|--------| | 1 | Sunnah | 2 | | 2 | Fard | 2 |

Fajr has no closing sunnah. The order β€” sunnah, then fard β€” is not reversed.

The Sunnah Comes First (Important!)

Because the Fajr sunnah is a strongly emphasised sunnah, it is performed before the fard. The fard remains valid even if the sunnah is skipped, but its reward is missed.

The Virtue of the Sunnah

"The two rakahs of the Fajr sunnah are better than the world and everything in it."

β€” Muslim, Musafirin, 96

The Prophet's Advice

"Do not neglect them, even if you are chased by cavalry" β€” referring to the two rakahs of the Fajr sunnah.

β€” Ahmad, Musnad (a similar meaning is conveyed in Muslim, Musafirin, 96)

Step by Step

A) The Fajr Sunnah (2 Rakahs)

Intention:

"I intend to perform the two sunnah rakahs of the Fajr prayer for the sake of Allah."

First rakah:

  1. Raise the hands to the earlobes and say "Allahu Akbar" (the opening takbir)
  2. Fold the hands below the navel (women fold them over the chest)
  3. Recite Subhanaka
  4. Say the ta'awwudh and basmalah
  5. Recite Al-Fatihah (see: Surah Al-Fatihah)
  6. Recite a surah from the Quran (a short one is preferred)
  7. Say "Allahu Akbar" and go into ruku
  8. Say "Subhana Rabbiyal-Azim" three times
  9. Say "Sami' Allahu liman hamidah" while rising, then "Rabbana laka'l-hamd"
  10. Say "Allahu Akbar" and go into the first prostration
  11. Say "Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la" three times
  12. Sit briefly, then perform the second prostration
  13. The first rakah is now complete

Second rakah: 14. Say "Allahu Akbar" and stand 15. Say the basmalah and recite Al-Fatihah (Subhanaka and the ta'awwudh are not repeated) 16. Recite a surah (different from the first rakah) 17. Complete ruku and the two prostrations 18. In the final sitting:

  • At-Tahiyyat
  • Allahumma Salli 'ala Muhammad
  • Allahumma Barik 'ala Muhammad
  • Rabbana atina fi'd-dunya hasanatan...
  1. Say "As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah" β€” first to the right, then to the left

B) The Fajr Fard (2 Rakahs)

Intention:

"I intend to perform today's obligatory two rakahs of the Fajr prayer for the sake of Allah, following this imam." (If praying in congregation)

Or, alone:

"I intend to perform today's obligatory two rakahs of the Fajr prayer for the sake of Allah."

In congregation: The iqamah is called and you follow the imam. In congregation, Fajr is a prayer with audible recitation (the imam recites aloud).

Alone: Performed the same way as the sunnah (recited silently), differing only in the intention.

The two rakahs are performed the same way as the sunnah described above.

Remembrances (Tasbihat) After Fajr

After the fard, the following are recited:

  1. Ayatul Kursi (page)
  2. 33 times Subhanallah
  3. 33 times Alhamdulillah
  4. 33 times Allahu akbar
  5. once "La ilaha illa'llahu wahdahu la sharika lah..."
  6. The morning supplications (morning duas page)

Special Cases Regarding the Sunnah

A) I don't have time to pray the sunnah

If little time remains before the fard's window closes, pray the fard directly. You can make up the sunnah after sunrise (roughly 30-45 minutes later).

B) I missed the sunnah and joined the congregation

It is not correct to start the sunnah once you have caught up with the congregation. Join the congregation directly. Make up the sunnah after the fard, once the sun has risen.

C) I missed the congregation

Pray alone, in the order sunnah then fard.

Common Mistakes

  • ❌ Skipping the sunnah (the most common mistake)
  • ❌ Confusing the order (praying the fard first)
  • ❌ Trying to pray the sunnah right after the fard (the sunnah is not prayed during the fard's window at all)
  • ❌ Skipping the tasbihat (losing reward)
  • ❌ Trying to pray the sunnah once the congregation has started (you should join the congregation instead)

The Virtues of the Fajr Prayer

From the hadiths:

  1. A guarantee of Paradise: "Whoever prays the Fajr and Asr prayers will enter Paradise." (Bukhari)
  2. Allah's protection: Whoever prays Fajr in congregation is under Allah's protection for the day. (Muslim)
  3. Satan's fear: "Satan urinates in the ear of one who does not wake for the Fajr prayer" (a metaphor for heedlessness). (Bukhari)
  4. The reward of a full night of worship: "Whoever prays Fajr in congregation is as if they had spent the whole night in worship." (Muslim)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I wake up for Fajr?

Practical suggestions:

  • Sleep early (avoid staying up long after Isha)
  • Set multiple alarms
  • Keep water by your bed (splash your face when you wake)
  • Keep your phone across the room (so you have to get up)
  • Build a routine, not a one-off goal β€” a consistent time every day
  • Use the Nurlu app's automatic alarm feature

Is it obligatory to pray Fajr the moment I wake up?

No, praying any time after the time begins (true dawn) and before sunrise is sufficient. However, praying it as early as possible is a sunnah and carries greater virtue. The time is precious, and waiting too long carries the risk of missing it.

Does praying alone count the same as praying in congregation?

No. A prayer performed in congregation carries 27 times the reward of one performed alone (Bukhari). Men should try to pray in congregation at the mosque where possible. For women, praying at home may be more virtuous (given distance, modesty, and similar considerations).

Is it sinful to go back to sleep after Fajr?

No, it is not sinful. However, the Prophet recommended remaining seated after Fajr in remembrance and supplication for a while. Going back to sleep is not forbidden, but light activity after dawn (a walk, drinking water) is beneficial for the body.

The Fajr Prayer in the Nurlu App

The Nurlu app's Fajr module includes:

  • an imsak alarm (to wake you)
  • step-by-step audio guidance (while you pray)
  • a tasbihat counter (for afterwards)
  • the morning supplications, built in
  • daily tracking (prayed / not yet prayed)

all free of charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many rakahs is the Fajr prayer?

The Fajr prayer is 4 rakahs in total: 2 sunnah rakahs and 2 obligatory (fard) rakahs. The sunnah is prayed first, then the fard. This order is fixed according to the sunnah.

What is the time for the Fajr prayer?

The time for Fajr runs from true dawn (imsak) until sunrise. It generally begins about 90-110 minutes before sunrise and ends at sunrise β€” a window of roughly 1.5-2 hours.

The sun has risen by the time I wake up for Fajr β€” what should I do?

A Fajr prayer performed after sunrise becomes a make-up (qada) prayer. Once the sun has fully risen and is well above the horizon (roughly 30-45 minutes later), you pray the sunnah first, then the fard. Praying exactly while the sun is rising is disliked (makruh).

Why is the sunnah of Fajr considered so important?

The Prophet said, 'The two rakahs of the Fajr sunnah are better than the world and everything in it' (Muslim, Musafirin, 96). For this reason it is regarded as one of the most strongly emphasised sunnahs. In fact, if someone prays the fard before the sunnah, they can still make up the sunnah after the fard, once the sun has risen.

Which surahs are recited in the Fajr prayer?

It is a sunnah to recite longer surahs in the Fajr prayer. Typical choices for the sunnah are short Meccan surahs such as Al-Ikhlas or Al-Falaq; for the fard, medium-length surahs are common, for example passages from around Surah Ya-Sin, or surahs like At-Tariq, Al-A'la or Ash-Shams alongside Al-Fatihah. In congregation, the imam recites aloud.

Published: 2026-05-24 Β· Last updated: 2026-05-24

Source: Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Sahih Muslim

School of thought: This article follows the Hanafi school of thought.

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