How to pray Fajr
Fajr is the first prayer of the day and the one the Prophet ﷺ spoke about most often. He said: 'Whoever prays Fajr is under Allah's protection' for that day. It is prayed aloud. The two sunnah rak'ahs before the fard are among the most emphasized voluntary prayers in all of Islam. 'A'ishah narrated that the Prophet ﷺ never left them, in residence or on a journey.
From true dawn to just before sunrise
Aloud (jahri). The imam recites al-Fatihah and the second surah audibly.
2 sunnah before, 2 fard
The window starts at subh sadiq, the spreading horizontal light on the horizon (not the earlier vertical column of false dawn). It ends when the top of the sun breaks the horizon. In most cities that gives roughly 90 minutes.
Step by step
Every section below is one position in the prayer. Read top to bottom, then repeat for each rakaʿa.
Fātiḥa and the surah after are recited aloud in both rakaʿāt.
- Intention before the prayerNiyyah
After performing wuḍū' (ablution), stand straight on your feet, turn to the qiblah, and make the following intention in your heart:
"For the sake of Allah, I intend to pray the farḍ of Fajr, the obligatory Fajr prayer, consisting of 2 rakaʿāt."
The intention is made silently in the heart. Voicing it is not required.
- The opening takbirTakbir
Raise your hands and say:
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
The prayer begins. After this, fold your hands.
- Dua Sana· 1st rakʿa onlyQiyām
Place your right hand over your left and say silently:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ ٱسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ
Subḥānak-Allāhumma wa biḥamdik, wa tabārak-asmuk, wa taʿālā jadduk, wa lā ilāha ghayruk
Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god worthy of worship besides You.
- Dua Isti'adhaQiyām
أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّٰهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيم
Aʿūdhu billāhi min-ash-shayṭān-ir-rajīm
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.
- Surah Al-Fātiḥa· 1st rakʿaQiyām
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Bismillāh-ir-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِين
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Ar-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّين
Māliki yawm-id-dīn
Master of the Day of Judgment.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين
Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيم
Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm
Guide us to the straight path.
صِرَاطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ، غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّالِّين
Ṣirāṭal-laḏīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn
The path of those You have blessed, not of those who incurred wrath, nor of those who went astray.
آمِين
Āmīn
(Said softly) Amen.
- A short surah· 1st rakʿaQiyām
Recite any short surah after Al-Fātiḥa. Picks for this rakaʿa:
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَد
Qul huwallāhu aḥad
Say: He is Allah, the One.
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَد
Allāhuṣ-ṣamad
Allah, the Eternal, the Self-Sufficient.
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَد
Lam yalid wa lam yūlad
He neither begets nor is born.
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَد
Wa lam yakun lahū kufuwan aḥad
And there is none comparable to Him.
- Bowing, rukūʿRukūʿ
Say takbir, bow with a straight back, hands on knees. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيم
Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm
Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.
Repeat 3× - Standing up after rukūʿIʿtidāl
Stand up while saying the first phrase, then once standing recite the second:
سَمِعَ ٱللَّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه
Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah
Allah hears those who praise Him.
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْد
Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd
Our Lord, to You alone belongs all praise.
- First prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go down, then prostrate. Forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes touch the ground. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Sitting up between sajdasJalsa
Say takbir as you sit. Pause briefly with a straight back.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
- Second prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go back down. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Stand up for the 2nd rakʿaTakbir
Say takbir as you rise. Fold your hands and continue.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
- Dua Isti'adhaQiyām
أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّٰهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيم
Aʿūdhu billāhi min-ash-shayṭān-ir-rajīm
I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.
- Surah Al-Fātiḥa· 2nd rakʿaQiyām
بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Bismillāh-ir-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِين
Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn
Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.
ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم
Ar-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّين
Māliki yawm-id-dīn
Master of the Day of Judgment.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين
Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيم
Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm
Guide us to the straight path.
صِرَاطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ، غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّالِّين
Ṣirāṭal-laḏīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn
The path of those You have blessed, not of those who incurred wrath, nor of those who went astray.
آمِين
Āmīn
(Said softly) Amen.
- A short surah· 2nd rakʿaQiyām
Recite any short surah after Al-Fātiḥa. Picks for this rakaʿa:
قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَد
Qul huwallāhu aḥad
Say: He is Allah, the One.
ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَد
Allāhuṣ-ṣamad
Allah, the Eternal, the Self-Sufficient.
لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَد
Lam yalid wa lam yūlad
He neither begets nor is born.
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَد
Wa lam yakun lahū kufuwan aḥad
And there is none comparable to Him.
- Bowing, rukūʿRukūʿ
Say takbir, bow with a straight back, hands on knees. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيم
Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm
Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.
Repeat 3× - Standing up after rukūʿIʿtidāl
Stand up while saying the first phrase, then once standing recite the second:
سَمِعَ ٱللَّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه
Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah
Allah hears those who praise Him.
رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْد
Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd
Our Lord, to You alone belongs all praise.
- First prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go down, then prostrate. Forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes touch the ground. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Sitting up between sajdasJalsa
Say takbir as you sit. Pause briefly with a straight back.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest
- Second prostration, sajdaSajda
Say takbir as you go back down. Recite (3×):
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ
Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.
Repeat 3× - Final tashahhudTashahhud
Sit upright. Right index finger raised at the shahādah. Recite At-Taḥiyyāt:
ٱلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّٰهِ، وَٱلصَّلَوَاتُ وَٱلطَّيِّبَات، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلصَّالِحِين، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰه، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُه
At-taḥiyyātu lillāh, was-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu al-lā ilāha illallāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh.
All greetings, prayers, and pure deeds belong to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Peace be upon us and upon all the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.
- Ṣalāt al-Ibrāhīmiyyah· Durood on the Prophet ﷺTashahhud
ٱللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّد، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيم، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد. ٱللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّد، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيم، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd.
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.
- Final duaTashahhud
Make any sincere dua. A widely-recited one:
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَة، وَفِي ٱلْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَة، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّار
Rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanah, wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanah, wa qinā ʿadhāban-nār
Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
- The closing salāmSalām
Turn your head to the right and say the salām, then to the left and say it again:
ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰه
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh
Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.
The prayer is complete.
A note on variants. Recitations follow the most widely shared Sunnah wording. Some madhabs use slightly different phrasing for Dua Sana, At-Taḥiyyāt, the closing dua, or hand placement during qiyām. All authentic variants are valid, pray in the way your local imam teaches.
What makes Fajr distinct
- 1
Only 2 rak'ahs of fard, so it is the shortest of the five in structure.
- 2
Recited aloud in both rak'ahs by the imam or by a person praying alone.
- 3
The 2 sunnah before are kept short. The Prophet ﷺ usually recited Surat al-Kafirun in the first and Surat al-Ikhlas in the second.
- 4
No sunnah or nafl between Fajr and sunrise. The window closes once the sun starts to rise.
Special steps for Fajr
Said seven times after Fajr, before speaking
The Prophet ﷺ said if you say this seven times after Fajr and die that day, you will be saved from the Fire. Sunan Abi Dawud 5079.
FAQs about Fajr
What time exactly does Fajr start?+
At true dawn, which is the spreading horizontal band of light along the horizon. Most prayer-time apps, including Barakah, calculate this for your city. If you can see the stars but the sky is starting to lighten, Fajr has entered.
Can I still pray Fajr if I wake up after sunrise?+
Yes, and you should. The Prophet ﷺ once slept through Fajr on a journey, then led his companions in prayer after the sun had risen. Pray it as qada as soon as you remember.
Are the two sunnah rak'ahs really that important?+
The Prophet ﷺ said the two sunnah of Fajr are better than the world and everything in it. Sahih Muslim 725. Ninety seconds of prayer weighed against the entire world.
Is the recitation aloud or silent?+
Aloud (jahri) in both rak'ahs. If you are praying alone, reciting at a low audible volume is enough, you do not need to disturb sleeping household members.
Learn the full prayer
Every daily prayer builds on the same 2-rak'ah pattern: wudu, the takbir, al-Fatihah, a surah, ruku, sujud, tashahhud, and salam. Learn the complete walkthrough once and every prayer makes sense.