Maghrib prayer is one of the five daily prayers performed by Muslims. It is prayed right after sunset. In this simple guide, you'll clearly learn how many rakats you should pray for Maghrib according to the Hanafi madhab.
Number of Rakats in Maghrib Prayer (Hanafi)
In the Hanafi school, the Maghrib prayer includes:
- 3 Fard rakats (Obligatory)
- 2 Sunnah rakats (Highly recommended)
- Optional Nafl rakats (Extra voluntary prayers)
What Does Each Type of Rakat Mean?
- Fard: These are obligatory rakats. Every Muslim must pray these.
- Sunnah: These are rakats the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) regularly performed and strongly recommended.
- Nafl: These are extra rakats you can pray if you want additional rewards. They are completely optional and usually done in sets of two.
How to Perform Maghrib Prayer (Simple Steps)
Here's exactly how you should perform the Maghrib prayer:
1. Pray 3 Fard Rakats
- These are prayed immediately after the time for Maghrib starts (right after sunset).
- In a group prayer, the Imam recites out loud in the first two rakats, and silently in the third.
- If you're praying alone, you can quietly recite all three rakats.
- End with Salam (turning your head to the right and left saying "As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah").
2. Pray 2 Sunnah Rakats
- These two rakats are strongly recommended after finishing the obligatory prayer.
- Perform these silently and on your own.
- Finish with Salam.
3. Optional Nafl Rakats (Salat al-Awwabin)
- You can pray additional optional rakats after the Sunnah.
- Many people pray 4 extra rakats (making 6 rakats in total after the Fard).
- These rakats are optional and prayed silently.
Is There a Sunnah Before Maghrib?
In the Hanafi school, there are no sunnah rakats before Maghrib prayer. You should start praying your 3 obligatory rakats immediately after sunset.
Summary of Maghrib Rakats (Hanafi)
- Fard: 3 rakats (obligatory)
- Sunnah: 2 rakats after Fard (recommended)
- Nafl: Optional extra rakats after Sunnah
By following this simple guide, you can easily perform Maghrib prayer correctly according to the Hanafi school. May Allah accept your prayers!
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