how many rakats in each prayer

In the five daily prayers, the obligatory (fard) rakats are:

• Fajr: 2 rakats fard
• Dhuhr (Zuhr): 4 rakats fard
• Asr: 4 rakats fard
• Maghrib: 3 rakats fard
• Isha: 4 rakats fard

Most guides people read online also include the commonly-prayed Sunnah and Witr rakats, giving this fuller daily structure:

• Fajr: 2 Sunnah before + 2 Fard = 4 total

• Dhuhr: 4 Sunnah before + 4 Fard + 2 Sunnah after (+ 2 Nafl optional) ≈ 10–12 total depending on school and habit

• Asr: 4 Sunnah (ghair mu’akkadah, optional) + 4 Fard = 8 total

• Maghrib: 3 Fard + 2 Sunnah after (+ 2 Nafl optional) ≈ 5–7 total

• Isha: 4 Fard + 2 Sunnah after (+ some add 2 Sunnah before, 2 Nafl and 3 Witr) ≈ 11–17 total depending on what you count

If you want a simple beginner rule: focus on the fard rakats first (2–4–4–3–4), then gradually add the Sunnah and Witr that your local imam or teacher emphasizes.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.