Daily Prayers & Rakʿāt
| Prayer | Farḍ | Pre-Sunnah | Post-Sunnah | Witr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr | 2 | 2 | — | — |
| Ẓuhr | 4 | 4 | 2 | — |
| ʿAṣr | 4 | 4 (ghayr muʾakkadah) | — | — |
| Maghrib | 3 | — | 2 | — |
| ʿIshāʾ | 4 | — | 2 | 3 (Witr wājib) |
Note: Muʾakkadah sunnahs are emphasized; Witr is wājib in the Hanafi school.
Short Recitations
Takbīrat al-Iḥrām: Allāhu Akbar
Rukūʿ: Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm (x3)
Sujūd: Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā (x3)
After Rukūʿ: Samiʿa-llāhu liman ḥamidah; Rabbanā laka-l-ḥamd
Tashahhud: at-Taḥiyyātu lillāhi… (complete)
Durūd: Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammad…
Duʿāʾ: Rabbana ātinā… / Rabbanā ẓalamnā… (any masnūn duʿāʾ)
Step-by-Step (One Rakʿah Cycle)
- Niyyah (intention in heart for the specific prayer).
- Takbīrat al-Iḥrām: raise hands to ears (men) / shoulders (women); say “Allāhu Akbar”.
- Qiyām: Recite Sūrat al-Fātiḥah then a sūrah/verses. (In farḍ, the imām recites aloud in Fajr/Maghrib/ʿIshāʾ.)
- Rukūʿ: bow with back straight; say “Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm” 3x.
- Qawmah: stand upright; “Samiʿa-llāhu liman ḥamidah”, then quietly “Rabbanā laka-l-ḥamd”.
- Sujūd (1): prostrate on forehead & nose; “Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā” 3x.
- Jalsah: sit briefly between sujūd.
- Sujūd (2) again.
Complete the required number of rakʿāt. Sit for Tashahhud after the second rakʿah; complete Durūd and Duʿāʾ in the final sitting, then end with salām right and left.
Validations & Common Mistakes
- Standing (qiyām) is farḍ in farḍ prayers for those able.
- Tranquility in each posture (ṭumaʾnīnah) is wājib.
- Do not rush; ensure proper order (tartīb) and following the imām in jamāʿah.