RAK'AHS (PARTS) OF PRAYER.  

Q 1: How many Rak'ahs (parts) are Fard (obligatory) in prayers five times a day?  A. 17 Rak'ahs are obligatory i.e. Fajr=2, Zuhr=4, Asr=4, Maghrib=3 and 'Ishaa=4.  

Q 2: How many Rak'ahs are Sunnat-e-Muakkadah (emphasised Sunnah) in all the five time  prayers?  

1. 12 Rak'ahs are Sunnat-e-Muakkadah i.e. Fajr=2 (pre-Fard), Zuhr=6 (4 pre-Fard & 2 post Fard), Maghrib=2 (post Fard) and Isha=2 (post Fard).  

Q 3: How many Rak'ahs are Sunnat-e-Ghair Muakkada (non-emphasised Sunnah) or Nafil  (optional, voluntary prayer) in all the five time prayers?  

1. Following are Sunnat-e-Ghair-Muakkadah and Nafil in all the five time prayers: 2 Nafil after  Zuhr, 4 or 2 Rakahs Sunnat-e-Ghair Muakkadah before Asr, 2 Nafil after Maghrib and 2 or 4  Rakahs Sunnat-e-Ghair Muakkadah before Isha's Fard, 2 Sunnat-e-Ghair Muakkadah after Isha's  Fard followed by 2 Nafil, 3 Witr (essential prayer) and 2 Nafil. No particular number of Nafil  prayers has been reported.  

Q 4: How many Rak'ahs are offered in all the five time prayers?  

1. Total 48 Rak'ahs are offered in all the five time prayers i.e. Fajr:4 Rak'ahs (2 Sunnat & 2  Fard), Zuhr: 12 Rak'ahs (4 Sunnat, 4 Fard, 2 Sunnat & 2 Nafil), Asr:8 Rak'ahs (4 Sunnat-e Ghair-Muakkadah & 4 Fard), Maghrib:7 Rak'ahs (3 Fard, 2 Sunnat & 2 Nafil) and Isha:17  Rak'ahs (4 Sunnat Ghair Muakkada, 4 Fard, 2 Sunnat, 2 Nafil, 3 Witr & 2 Nafil).  

Q 5: Is Witr prayer Fard or Sunnat?  

1. Three Rak'ahs of Witr are neither Fard nor Sunnah but are Waajib (essential) which are  offered with Isha prayer.