Maghrib is 4th Salah of the day that is prayed when the sun has set. The kids might be curious about how many rakats in Maghrib Salah? It is simple and short. Farz are 3, the rest 2 are sunnah, and then 2 Nawafil (optional). But how to perform it properly? This is all mentioned in this short guide. As you proceed, you can find the detailed steps of Maghrib Salah.
What Is Maghrib Prayer?
Maghrib is one of the 5 obligatory prayers in Islam. Muslims perform it just after sunset. This prayer marks the end of the day. It can be a time to reflect on your day and be grateful to Allah for all the day’s blessings. It can also be a peaceful moment for a muslim to connect and seek forgiveness and prepare their hearts for the rest of the night ahead.
How Many Rakats in Maghrib Salah?
Maghrib prayer has 3 obligatory (Farz) Rakats followed by 2 Sunnah Rakats. Some schools of thought also recommend an additional 2 nafl rakats. These are optional, but recommended to have an extra spiritual reward.
The usual order of maghrib salat rakat order is like:
3 Fard → 2 Sunnah → 2 Nafl (optional)
This sequence of rakat of maghrib namaz is all about connecting more closely with Allah by the end of the day and praying for another blessed day ahead.
When To Perform Maghrib Prayer?
Maghrib prayer time begins right after sunset and lasts until the red twilight disappears in the sky. In the UK, the prayer time varies the state wise. Besides, with seasons it is different.
Because of these changes, you may refer to the Islamic apps available, such as Islamic Finder, Muslim Pro, or local mosque timetables, for the latest updates on the time.
Remember that performing Maghrib on time is necessary. So, do nto delay the Maghrib Salah.
How To Pray Maghrib?
To start your 3 rakat in maghrib prayer, first make your intention (niyyah) in your heart to pray the three fard rakats:
- First Rakat: Begin by saying Takbir (“Allahu Akbar”), then recite Surah Al-Fatihah followed by a shorter surah like Al-Ikhlas or Al-Kawthar. After that, finish with ruku and sujood.
- Second Rakat: Do the same recitations again, sit for tashahhud after your sujood, and then get ready for the third rakat.
- Third Rakat: Recite Al-Fatihah along with another short surah, complete your ruku and sujood, sit for tashahhud once more, and wrap it up with tasleem (saying Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah).
Once you’ve finished the fard prayer, you should pray two sunnah rakats, keeping the same style. During the prayer, try to stay focused and humble, taking a moment to reflect. Remember, this is a special time to express your gratitude to Allah and ask for His guidance as the day comes to a close.
How Do You Perform Maghrib Sunnah Prayer?
Once you finish the three fard rakats of Maghrib, it’s customary for Muslims to pray two sunnah rakats, which the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ really recommended.
To do this prayer, first, set your intention (niyyah) for those two rakats of sunnah. Then, recite Surah Al-Fatihah along with a short surah like Al-Ikhlas or Al-Kawthar during each rakat, and wrap up the prayer in the usual way with ruku, sujood, and tashahhud.
While it isn’t mandatory, this sunnah prayer after Maghrib brings a lot of spiritual benefits and mirrors what the Prophet used to do regularly.
Making a habit of it can help you build spiritual discipline, express gratitude, and find inner peace, ultimately helping you grow closer to Allah through genuine devotion and reflection.
How To Pray Maghrib While Traveling?
Now, you may be traveling and asking maghrib prayer, How many rakat? When Muslims are on the go, they can make worship a bit easier by performing Qasr (shortened prayers).
But there’s an exception: the Maghrib prayer can’t be shortened since it only has three fard rakats.
Instead, travelers can combine Maghrib with Isha, either praying Maghrib at its usual time (Jama’ Taqdim) or waiting until Isha (Jama’ Ta’khir).
So, for example, if a Muslim is traveling from London to Manchester, they might pray Maghrib and Isha together either before leaving or right after they arrive, depending on what works best for them. This flexibility helps keep prayer manageable during travels, while still staying devoted and consistent with daily religious duties.
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For more on the other rituals of Iman like Namaz, Roza, Zakat, etc, keep visiting our blogs.
Conclusion
The Maghrib prayer, which takes place right after sunset, includes three required rakats (fard), then two sunnah rakats, and optionally an extra two nafl rakats. It’s a special time that wraps up the day, providing a chance for reflection, gratitude, and peace. Staying consistent with your prayers helps to strengthen your faith and bring you closer to Allah. Remember to keep seeking knowledge from reliable Islamic sources.
As the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentioned:
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication (in this state).
May God help us stay strong in our prayers and accept our devotion — Ameen.