The short answer
How to pray Fajr: two rak'ahs (rakat), in the stages the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught in Sahih al-Bukhari 793: the opening takbir (Allahu akbar), recitation, bowing, rising, prostration and calm in each. The two sunnah rak'ahs before Fajr, separate from these two, are reported as his regular practice by 'Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, in Sahih al-Bukhari 1182.
How do you pray Fajr, step by step?
The steps below follow the report of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, in which the Prophet taught a man how to pray 1. That report gives the stages, not a count of rak'ahs, so the count is covered separately below. For the whole prayer, see how to pray Salah, and for preparation see how to perform wudu.
- Say the opening takbir, Allahu akbar. 1
- Standing: recite Al-Fatihah. The report says there is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book. Then recite what is easy for you of the Quran. 21
- Bow, and stay calm until you settle in the bow. The words are in the recitation section below. 1
- Rise until you stand straight, and settle. 1
- Prostrate, and stay calm in the prostration. 1
- Rise and sit calmly until settled, between the two prostrations. 1
- Prostrate again, and stay calm. That completes the first rak'ah. 1
- Repeat the same stages for each further rak'ah, with what is easy of the Quran. Fajr has two rak'ahs in total, so this means one more, with the same stages. 12 16
- At the end of every two rak'ahs, sit and recite the tashahhud (the testimony said while seated). See the tashahhud lesson. 3
- Finish with the salam to the right, then to the left, as the report describes. Sa'd, may Allah be pleased with him, saw the Prophet turn enough for the whiteness of his cheek to be seen. 4
1AuthenticSahih al-Bukhari 793
Which recitations go with Fajr?
Al-Fatihah in the standing
Learn Al-Fatihah with its meaning in the Al-Fatihah lesson. The Prophet's words that no prayer is valid without it are in Sahih al-Bukhari 756 2. The Arabic and English are the checked Quran text.
Al-Fatihah 1:1 to 7
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, The Beneficent, the Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgement, You (alone) we worship; You (alone) we ask for help. Show us the straight path, The path of those whom You have favoured; Not the (path) of those who earn Your anger nor of those who go astray.
Abu Qatadah, may Allah be pleased with him, describes the Prophet's Zuhr prayer: Al-Fatihah and another surah in the first two rak'ahs, with the first rak'ah longer than the second. The narrator adds that the Prophet lengthened the first rak'ah in 'Asr and in Fajr too (Sahih al-Bukhari 776) 5. The report does not name a surah for Fajr and does not make any surah compulsory. A short surah to learn next is Al-Ikhlas.
5AuthenticSahih al-Bukhari 776
The words said in bowing, rising and prostration
Hudhayfah, may Allah be pleased with him, describes a long night prayer in which the Prophet said these words (Sahih Muslim 772) 6. The report describes what he heard. It does not make the words compulsory, and it gives no number of repetitions.
Bowing, Sahih Muslim 772
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm
Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent.
Rising, Sahih Muslim 772
سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ
Samiʿa Allāhu liman ḥamidah
Allah hears whoever praises Him.
Prostration, Sahih Muslim 772
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الأَعْلَى
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
The closing note of the report, by a narrator named Jarir, adds "rabbana laka l-hamd" at rising. That addition is not part of Hudhayfah's words in the report.
6AuthenticSahih Muslim 772
What about the two rak'ahs before Fajr?
'Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, reports that the Prophet never left out four rak'ahs before Zuhr or two rak'ahs before the morning prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari 1182) 7.
Al-Shafi'i's Kitab al-Umm gives the Fajr prayer itself as two rak'ahs, recited aloud in both 16. That is the count he says the community handed down, in a Shafi'i work; this page does not cite the other three schools' works for it. The table of all five prayers is on how many rakats are in each prayer.
7AuthenticSahih al-Bukhari 1182
Is there qunoot in Fajr, and what do the four schools say?
Qunoot is a supplication said in the prayer at a set point in the standing; al-Azhari calls supplication its best-known meaning, and Ibn 'Allan describes it as a term for that supplication 15. Whether regular Fajr qunoot is made is where the schools differ. Each row below follows one named work.
| School | Position in the named work |
|---|---|
| Hanafi | Al-Marghinani's al-Hidayah says qunoot belongs to Witr and is not made in other prayers, unlike al-Shafi'i's view for Fajr. Al-Tahawi, as al-'Ayni quotes him, says it is not made in Fajr without a calamity, and is not harmful when one comes. 11 |
| Maliki | Al-Dardir's al-Sharh al-Kabir says qunoot in Subh (the Fajr prayer) only is recommended, said silently and before bowing. Al-Dasuqi's Hashiya adds that it is not made in other prayers even at a famine or plague, and is disliked outside Subh. 12 |
| Shafi'i | Al-Nawawi's Minhaj al-Talibin says qunoot is sunnah in the standing after bowing in the second rak'ah of Subh, with "Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayt". For a calamity only, and not generally, it is prescribed in all obligatory prayers, on the well-known view. 13 |
| Hanbali | Ibn Qudamah's al-Mughni says qunoot is not sunnah in Subh or in any prayer other than Witr. At a calamity the imam may make qunoot in Subh, as Ahmad stated. 14 |
Ilmwell does not decide between these positions. For the supplication itself, see the dua qunoot lesson.
When does Fajr start and end?
Sahih Muslim 612d gives the time of the morning prayer as from the appearance of dawn, for as long as the sun has not risen (the sun rising is the end of the window) 8. The report gives no clock times. For planning your morning, check a reliable local timetable and your mosque's guidance.
8AuthenticSahih Muslim 612d
The Prophet told a man from Najd that five prayers a day and night are the obligation, in the report of Talhah, may Allah be pleased with him (Sahih al-Bukhari 46) 9. The report does not name each prayer, so this page does not use it for the count.
9AuthenticSahih al-Bukhari 46
Sahih Muslim 681 covers the travelling group who slept past Fajr in the questions below (Sahih Muslim 681) 10.
If you are unsure
The schools' named texts above differ on regular qunoot in Fajr. This guide does not cover recitation behind an imam, illness, or several missed prayers. For your own situation, ask a teacher you trust.
The Fajr prayer is short, but its sunnah and obligatory rak'ahs are often taught together. Reading how the sources set out the two parts makes the order clearer.
Try it: the reports
Three checks, each with its source.
1In Sahih al-Bukhari 793, what comes between the two prostrations?
Answer: A settled sitting. The report says to rise and sit calmly until settled, then prostrate again. Source 1
2Does Sahih al-Bukhari 756 name a surah to recite in Fajr?
Answer: No. It says there is no prayer without reciting the Opening of the Book. The report names the Opening of the Book (Al-Fatihah) and no other surah. Source 2
3Does the report of the sleeping travellers (Sahih Muslim 681) allow Fajr to be delayed on purpose?
Answer: No. It describes sleep, and says to pray when one wakes. The report says there is no omission in sleeping, and that whoever sleeps should pray when he becomes aware. The report says there is no omission in sleeping, and that the omission is for one who leaves the prayer on purpose until the next prayer's time comes. Source 10
Questions people ask
Can you pray Fajr after sunrise? What does the report of the sleeping travellers say?
In Sahih Muslim 681, Abu Qatadah, may Allah be pleased with him, describes a group who slept past Fajr while travelling. They woke when the sun was rising and moved on until it had risen further. The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, made wudu, Bilal, may Allah be pleased with him, called to prayer, and he prayed two rak'ahs and then the morning prayer. The same report says there is no omission in sleeping, and that whoever sleeps should pray when he becomes aware. The report does not describe a deliberate delay. For a delay in your own circumstances, ask a scholar you trust.
What time does Fajr start and end?
Sahih Muslim 612d gives the time of the morning prayer as from the appearance of dawn until the sun has risen. The report does not give clock times, so check a reliable local timetable for your date and place.
Is there qunoot in Fajr?
It depends on the school. The Hanafi text does not make regular qunoot in Fajr, the Maliki text recommends it before bowing, the Shafi'i text puts it after bowing in the second rak'ah, and the Hanbali text does not make it sunnah. See the qunoot section of this guide for the works named.
How many rak'ahs are in Fajr?
The two voluntary rak'ahs before Fajr, separate from Fajr itself, are reported as the Prophet's regular practice in Sahih al-Bukhari 1182, which 'Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, reports. Al-Shafi'i's Kitab al-Umm gives two rak'ahs for the Fajr prayer itself, both recited aloud, as the count the community handed down (a Shafi'i work, read in an online transcription; the other schools' works are not cited here). The full table of the five prayers is on the page on how many rakats are in each prayer.
Sources
Every claim on this page comes from one of these. Gradings are reported with the scholar's name; we do not grade hadith ourselves.
- 1
The Prophet taught a man the stages of prayer: takbir, recitation, bowing, rising, prostration, sitting, prostration, and calm in each.
Sahih al-Bukhari 793 Book 10, Hadith 188
Authentic: in Sahih al-Bukhari
- 2
The Prophet said there is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book (Fatihat al-Kitab).
Sahih al-Bukhari 756 Book 10, Hadith 150
Authentic: in Sahih al-Bukhari
- 3
Aishah describes the Prophet reciting the tahiyyah at the end of every two rak'ahs and ending the prayer with the salam.
Sahih Muslim 498 Book 4, Hadith 272
Authentic: in Sahih Muslim
- 4
'Amir ibn Sa'd reported from his father, Sa'd, may Allah be pleased with him, that he used to see the Prophet give the salam to his right and to his left.
Sahih Muslim 582 Book 5, Hadith 153
Authentic: in Sahih Muslim
- 5
In Zuhr the Prophet recited Umm al-Kitab with another surah in the first two rakahs, and Umm al-Kitab in the last two.
Sahih al-Bukhari 776 Book 10, Hadith 171
Authentic: in Sahih al-Bukhari
- 6
Hudhayfah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported praying one night behind the Prophet, who recited al-Baqarah, al-Nisa' and Al 'Imran slowly, glorifying at verses of glory, asking at verses of asking and seeking protection at verses of protection, then bowed saying 'Glory be to my Mighty Lord' for about as long as he had stood, rose saying sami'a Allahu liman hamidah and stood about as long, then prostrated saying 'Glory be to my Lord, the Most High' for about as long.
Sahih Muslim 772 Book 6, Hadith 242
Authentic: in Sahih Muslim
- 7
Aishah reports that the Prophet never missed four rak'ahs before Zuhr or two before Fajr
Sahih al-Bukhari 1182 Book 19, Hadith 59
Authentic: in Sahih al-Bukhari
- 8
Sahih Muslim 612d sets out the five windows. Fajr begins at the appearance of dawn and lasts while the sun has not risen. Dhuhr begins when the sun passes the meridian and a man's shadow is the same length as his height, and lasts while Asr has not come. Asr lasts while the sun has not turned yellow. Maghrib lasts while the twilight has not ended. Isha lasts up to the middle of the average night.
Sahih Muslim 612d Book 5, Hadith 222
Authentic: in Sahih Muslim
- 9
Talhah reports the Prophet naming five prayers a day and night as the obligation.
Sahih al-Bukhari 46 Book 2, Hadith 39
Authentic: in Sahih al-Bukhari
- 10
A group sleeps through Fajr while travelling; the Prophet prays two rak'ahs then the morning prayer after the sun has risen; the report says there is no omission in sleeping, and that omission lies with one who does not pray until the next prayer's time comes; the one who sleeps should pray when he wakes.
Sahih Muslim 681 Book 5, Hadith 395
Authentic: in Sahih Muslim
- 11
Hanafi works: qunoot belongs to the Witr prayer only, in its third rak'ah before ruku', all year, after a takbir with raised hands; it is wajib for Abu Hanifa and sunnah for his two companions; the chosen way is to say it silently; at a calamity the imam makes qunoot in a loud prayer.
- 12
al-Dardir (al-Sharh al-Kabir): qunoot, meaning a dua, is recommended, said silently, in Subh only; it is recommended before ruku', and its particular wording, 'Allahumma inna nasta'inuka', is recommended. al-Dasuqi's Hashiya on the same page: not in Witr, and not in other prayers even when needed, such as at a famine or plague; qunoot outside Subh is disliked, though it does not invalidate the prayer.
al-Sharh al-Kabir 1/248 (al-Dardir), with the Hashiya of al-Dasuqi
- 13
al-Nawawi (Minhaj al-Talibin): qunoot is sunnah in the standing after ruku' of the second rak'ah of Subh, with 'Allahumma ihdini fiman hadayt'; at a calamity it is prescribed in all obligatory prayers, not otherwise, on the well-known view; in Witr it is recommended at the end of the Witr in the second half of Ramadan, like the Subh qunoot, with 'Allahumma inna nasta'inuka' said as well, after it on the more correct view.
- 14
Hanbali works: qunoot is sunnah in Witr, in its last rak'ah, all year, after rising from ruku' (before it is allowed); in Subh and other prayers it is not sunnah; at a calamity the imam may make qunoot in Subh, as Ahmad stated; al-Ruhaybani has the qunoot said with 'the two surahs of qunoot', 'Allahumma inna nasta'inuka ...', which he says were in the mushaf of Ubayy ibn Ka'b.
- 15
Qunoot has several meanings in Arabic (obedience, silence, standing in prayer, and others); al-Azhari wrote that the well-known meaning is dua, and as a term it names a dua in the prayer at a particular point of the standing (Ibn 'Allan).
- 16
Al-Shafi'i's Kitab al-Umm, Kitab al-Salah, 'Adad al-salawat al-khams: the general body of Muslims handed down the count of each prayer: Zuhr four rak'ahs with no aloud recitation, Asr four with no aloud recitation, Maghrib three (aloud in two, quiet in the third), Isha four (aloud in two, quiet in two) and Subh (Fajr) two, aloud in both.
Quran text: the Tanzil Project (CC BY 3.0), reproduced verbatim. English: adapted from Marmaduke Pickthall's translation (1930).
Next
- How to pray Salah: the whole prayerGuide
- How to perform wuduGuide
- Tashahhud and Attahiyat: words and meaningWords lesson
- Durood IbrahimWords lesson
- Dua qunootWords lesson
- Al-Fatihah: Arabic and meaningQuran lesson
- How many rak'ahs in each prayerGuide
- Sunnah and nafl prayers: how they fit togetherGuide
- Adhan and iqamah: wording and meaningWords lesson
- Dua after salah and a simple dhikr guideWords lesson
- How to pray WitrGuide
- Prayer and PurificationThe hub
For your own situation, ask a scholar you trust.
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