Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Is there any hadidh or verse stating that 2 rakat for subuh, 4 rakat for dhuhar/asar/isha and 3 rakat for maghrib? One of my friend asking me. Please explain this. 

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Answer:

The number of rakahs for fard prayers hadith

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Jarir ibn Abdullah narrated that the Angel Jibrael (a.s.) came to the Messenger of Allah (saws) and said to him, "Stand and pray," and they prayed the noon (dhuhr) prayer when the sun had just passed its meridian. He then came to him (saws) for the afternoon (asr) prayer and said, "Stand and pray," and they prayed the afternoon (asr) prayer while the length of a shadow of something was similar to the length of the object. Then he came at sunset and said, "Stand and pray," and they prayed the sunset (magrib) prayer when the sun had just disappeared. Then he came at night and said, "Stand and pray" and they prayed the night (isha) prayer when the twilight had disappeared. He came again when dawn broke (and they prayed the morning (fajr) prayer). Then Jibrael (a.s.) came on the next day at noon and said (to the Messenger of Allah (saws)), "Stand and pray," and they prayed the noon (dhuhr) prayer when the length of the shadow of something was close to the length of the object. Then he came for the afternoon prayer and said, "Stand and pray," and they prayed the afternoon (asr) prayer when the shadow of something was twice as long as the length of the object. Then he came at the same time (as the previous day) for the sunset (magrib) prayer, without any change. Then he came for the night (isha) prayer after half (or a third) of the night had passed. Then he came when the sky was very yellow and said, "Stand and pray," and they prayed the morning (fajr) prayer. Then Jibrael (a.s.) said, "Between these times are the times for the prayers.

Related by Bukhari, Ahmad, an-Nasa'i and at-Tirmidhi.

The exact format of the prayers and the number of ‘rakahs’ in each obligatory prayer is a rite of worship which Hadrat Jibrael (a.s.) himself under the Command of Allah Subhanah taught the Noble Messenger of Allah (saws). The Messenger of Allah (saws) led the believers in congregation in the five obligatory prayers at their appointed times of the day and night literally thousands of times, and tens of thousands of believers, if not more, were witness to this obligatory rite of worship of prayer.

There are innumerable hadiths recorded in the authentic and established Sunnah regarding the exact number of ‘rakahs’ which have to be offered in each of the obligatory prayers…..and one amongst the few things which the whole of the Muslim Ummah, without exception, and absolutely regardless of their sect or school of thought are unanimously agreed upon is the number of ‘rakahs’ which are to be offered in each of the five obligatory prayers!

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan