How many rak'ahs is each Shia prayer?
The five daily prayers have 17 rak'ahs in all. A rak'ah is one unit of prayer: standing, reciting, bowing and two prostrations.
| Prayer | Rak'ahs |
|---|---|
| Fajr | 2 |
| Dhuhr | 4 |
| Asr | 4 |
| Maghrib | 3 |
| Isha | 4 |
When you travel
On a long enough trip, the four-rak'ah prayers get shorter. Dhuhr, Asr and Isha become 2 rak'ahs each. Fajr and Maghrib stay the same.
A trip has to meet some conditions to count, such as how far you go. Ask your marja' about yours.
Extra prayers
Each day also has recommended prayers, called nafilah. They are not required, but they bring great reward. They add 34 rak'ahs, so with the daily prayers the day has 51.
Get the app Shia Namaz shows the time for each prayer where you are, and reminds you when it comes. It works offline.
See today's prayer times for your city →
Next guide: how to pray when you travel →
Sources: Office of Ayatollah al-Sistani, Islamic Laws, on the daily prayers, the recommended prayers and the traveller's prayer.