Five daily Sunni prayers
The five obligatory prayers are Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha. The table below shows the commonly taught Hanafi rak'ah structure used across South Asia.
- Fajr: 2 Sunnah Mu'akkadah + 2 Fard. In the 2 Fard: Al-Fatiha + another Surah in both rak'ahs when praying alone or as imam.
- Dhuhr: 4 Sunnah Mu'akkadah + 4 Fard + 2 Sunnah Mu'akkadah. In 4 Fard: extra Surah is recited with Al-Fatiha in the first two rak'ahs; the last two contain Al-Fatiha in the usual Hanafi method.
- Asr: 4 Sunnah Ghair Mu'akkadah + 4 Fard. The 4 Fard follow the normal four-rak'ah pattern.
- Maghrib: 3 Fard + 2 Sunnah Mu'akkadah. In 3 Fard: first two rak'ahs include Al-Fatiha + another Surah; third rak'ah contains Al-Fatiha.
- Isha: 4 Sunnah Ghair Mu'akkadah + 4 Fard + 2 Sunnah Mu'akkadah + 3 Witr Wajib. Witr has Qunoot in the third rak'ah in the Hanafi method.
Basic method of a normal Salah
- Niyyah: make the intention in your heart for the prayer you are about to perform.
- Takbir-e-Tahrimah: raise the hands and say Allahu Akbar, then fold the hands.
- Qiyam: in the Hanafi method recite Sana, then Ta'awwudh and Bismillah, then Surah Al-Fatiha and another Surah or verses where required.
- Ruku: bow and recite Subhana Rabbiyal 'Azim, commonly three times.
- Qawmah: rise saying Sami'Allahu liman hamidah; then say Rabbana lakal hamd according to your role in the prayer.
- First Sajdah: prostrate and recite Subhana Rabbiyal A'la, commonly three times.
- Jalsah: sit briefly between the two prostrations.
- Second Sajdah: repeat the prostration and recitation.
- Second rak'ah: stand and repeat the recitation and movements. Sit afterward and recite At-Tahiyyat.
- Final sitting: after the final rak'ah recite At-Tahiyyat, Durood Ibrahim and a masnun dua, then finish with salam to the right and left.
Witr prayer – Hanafi method
Witr is commonly prayed as 3 rak'ahs in the Hanafi school. In the third rak'ah, after Al-Fatiha and another Surah, say Allahu Akbar while raising the hands, fold them again, then recite Dua-e-Qunoot. After that go into ruku and complete the prayer normally.
Jumu'ah (Friday) prayer
Jumu'ah itself is 2 Fard rak'ahs behind the imam after the khutbah. It replaces Dhuhr for those upon whom Jumu'ah is obligatory. Common Hanafi practice also includes Sunnah prayers before and after. During the Fard prayer, follow the imam and do not independently recite Qur'an behind him according to the Hanafi school.
Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha prayer
Both Eid prayers are 2 rak'ahs. In the common Hanafi method, after the opening takbir and Sana, the imam makes three extra takbirs in the first rak'ah. In the second rak'ah, after Qur'an recitation, the imam makes three extra takbirs before the takbir for ruku. Follow the imam if another recognised Sunni school uses a different number or placement of takbirs.
Tarawih prayer
Tarawih is prayed in Ramadan after Isha. In common Hanafi practice it is 20 rak'ahs, prayed two rak'ahs at a time. Each pair is performed like a normal two-rak'ah nafl prayer. Witr is then commonly prayed after Tarawih in congregation.
Tahajjud prayer
Tahajjud is an optional night prayer after sleeping and before Fajr. Pray at least 2 rak'ahs and continue in sets of two as able. Recite Al-Fatiha and another Surah in each rak'ah, then complete the prayer normally. There is no fixed Surah that must be recited.
Ishraq and Chasht (Duha)
Ishraq is commonly prayed after sunrise has risen sufficiently above the horizon; Chasht/Duha is prayed later in the morning before zawal. They are nafl prayers prayed in sets of two, with normal recitation and movements.
Salat al-Istikhara
Pray 2 rak'ahs nafl when seeking Allah's guidance in a permissible decision. After the prayer, recite the recognised Dua of Istikhara and mention the matter for which guidance is sought. Istikhara is not dependent on seeing a dream.
Salat al-Tawbah
After sincere repentance, pray 2 rak'ahs nafl, then ask Allah for forgiveness with genuine regret, leaving the sin and resolving not to return to it.
Salat al-Hajah
For a lawful need, a person may pray nafl Salah and make dua afterward. The exact details reported for Salat al-Hajah are discussed by scholars, so avoid treating one fixed formula as obligatory.
Namaz-e-Janazah – Sunni Hanafi method
- Stand facing the Qibla with the deceased in front and make the intention for the funeral prayer.
- First takbir: say Allahu Akbar. Raise the hands in the Hanafi method, fold them, and recite Sana.
- Second takbir: say Allahu Akbar without raising the hands and recite Durood Ibrahim.
- Third takbir: say Allahu Akbar and make dua for the deceased.
- Adult Janazah dua: a commonly recited supplication begins Allahummaghfir lihayyina wa mayyitina..., asking Allah to forgive the living and deceased Muslims.
- Fourth takbir: say Allahu Akbar, then complete the prayer with salam. There is no ruku and no sujood in Janazah prayer.
Important Sunni differences
Hanafi, Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali Muslims agree on the foundations of Salah but differ in some details, including hand position, recitation behind the imam, raising the hands, Witr, Eid takbirs and some Janazah details. This page uses the Sunni Hanafi method as the main teaching format.
More prayer learning
See How to Perform Wudu, Qibla Finder, Prayer Times, Dua after Salah, and the 5 Kalimas with English and Urdu translation.
For correcting your own prayer, unusual circumstances, missed prayers or personal religious rulings, learn directly from a qualified Sunni scholar or imam.