Namaz Rakats - How Many Rakats Are In Each Prayer And What Are Their Names?

Namaz is a kind of worship that Muslims offer to make Allah happy. It is also known as Salat or Salah. Offering Salah means communicating with Allah. Moreover, it protects the person from doing sins or bad deeds. Our beloved Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (S.A.W) mentioned in a hadith that “Salat is the key to heaven”. 

Allah has gifted Muslims five times prayers in a day. Muslims should offer their prayers regularly and connect themselves with Allah and protect themselves from shaitan’s misguidance. Every Muslim must perform prayers five times a day, or else they will be punished on the day of judgment. 

In every Salat there are series of the movement named Rakat. Rakats are performed in every Salat, either in a mosque or at home. In this article, we have covered all useful information about Namaz Rakats. So without any further ado, let’s move forward. 

Fajar Rakats (Morning Prayer)

This salat’s timings start from dawn to just before sunrise. It is a four Rakat prayer, two Rakat each. 

First two Rakats are performed as Sunnat Mokadda.

(جاری ہے)

The remaining two Rakats are performed as Fard. 

However, it isn’t easy to wake up so early in the morning, but if you woke up just for the sake of worshipping Allah, it will make your day energetic and will lighten up your day. There is a hadith in Muslim Bukhari which says; 

“Whoever offers the Fajr prayer, Allah will protect him throughout the day.”

So make sure you offer your Fajr prayer regularly as it will save you from hell. Also, Allah blesses them throughout the day and protects them from incidents. Therefore, it is necessary to offer Fajr prayer and never skip it in any cause. Moreover, it is said that offering Fajr Salat increases Rizq. 

Zuhar Rakats (Noon Prayer)

This salat’s timings start from the afternoon when the sun has passed the median point in the sky. It is a twelve Rakats prayer, 2 four Rakats, and 1 two Rakats. 

1. First four Rakats are performed as Sunnat Mokadda.
2. The next four Rakats are performed as Fard.
3. The last two Rakats are again performed as Sunnat Mokadda.
4. Two Rakats nafal. (Nafal Namaz is optional but beneficiary). 

This Salat consists of 12 Rakats Namaz. Other nawafils can also be offered after Namaz. If we talk about the importance of this Namaz, it is highlighted in a hadith that;

“During the Zuhar Salat’s time, the gates of heaven get opened.”

So it’s necessary to offer Zuhar’s prayer and to do good deeds during this time. Allah Almighty shower his blessings on those people who performed this Salat till Asar’s prayer. Moreover, whoever performed Zuhar’s Slat on its time and regularly he/she will be protected from the fire of hell on the day of judgment. There is no reward for such people who skip any of the prayers. 

Asar Rakats (Afternoon Prayer)

This salat’s timings start halfway between noon and sunset. It is an eight Rakats prayer.

1. First four Rakats are performed as Sunnat Non-Mokadda.  
2. The other four Rakats are performed as Fard.

After Zuhar’s Salat, the Asar’s prayer takes place, and it starts in the afternoon. This prayer consists of eight Rakats, four Rakat Sunnat, which is non-Mokadda, and four Rakat fard. Non-Mokadda Rakats means there is no sin if you don’t offer them but praying them is rewardful. In a hadith, it is mentioned that;

“Whoever offers Fajr and Asar prayer will enter Jannah.”

This Salat opens the doors of heaven for those who perform it and protects him from hell. Many hadiths have mentioned that this Salat takes place a very important role in the success of Muslims. The Asar prayer gives you and your family a healthy life and success in this life and hereafter. Also, offering Asar prayer regularly increases your wealth and Rizq.

Maghrib Rakats (Evening Prayer)

This salat’s timings start just after sunset. It is a seven Rakats prayer.

1. The first three Rakats are performed as Fard.
2. The remaining two Rakats are performed as Sunnat Mokkada.
3. Two Rakats nafal. (Nafal Namaz is optional but beneficiary). 

The Maghrib Namaz’s time immediately starts after sunset, but it has to be offered before getting dark outside. It is a seven Rakats Salat. Maghrib prayer has been given very importance in hadiths and Quran. There’s a hadith is Sahi Bukhari which says;

“He who missed Maghrib prayer will be punished in this world and hereafter.”

Maghrib Namaz is very important as Allah offers his countless blessing to those who offer this Salat and take away all the blessing from those who skip it. Not only this, the person who does not offer Maghrib prayer won’t be forgiven in this world and hereafter even not at the time of his death. Furthermore, his duas will not be accepted.

Isha Rakats (Night Prayer)

This salat’s timings start when it is dark outside till Fajr prayer. It is a seventeen Rakats prayer. 

1. First four Rakats are performed as Sunnat Mokadda.
2. The next four Rakats are performed as Fard.
3. The next two Rakats are again performed as Sunnat Mokadda.
4. Two Rakats nafal. (Nafal Namaz is optional but beneficiary). 
5. Three Rakats performed as Wajib-ul-witar.
6. Again two Rakats nafal. (Nafal Namaz is optional but beneficiary).

Isha’s prayer is the last prayer of the day. The time of this prayer starts when shy gets dark after the Maghrib prayer till Fajr. This Salat consists of seventeen Rakats. One who offers this prayer will be kept in blessings till morning, and Allah will set angles to protect the person till Fajr Namaz. Also, as this prayer is performed before sleeping, so it will make your night peaceful; therefore, it’s necessary to offer your Salat before sleep. 

Mentioned above are the five obligatory prayers that Muslims, in any case, should perform.

Other Prayers

However, there are other prayers as well that Muslims offer with compulsory prayers. Those prayers are as follows.

Tahhjjud Prayer

This prayer is offered at midnight. It is not a compulsory prayer, and it consists of twelve Rakats nawafil. 

Tarawih Prayer

This prayer is performed in the holy month of Ramadan. It consists of twenty Rakats of Sunnat Tarawih.