How Many Rakats Are in Zuhr (Dhuhr) Namaz?

Zuhr (also spelled Dhuhr) Namaz has four obligatory (Fard) rakats. In addition, there are four Sunnah rakats before the Fard prayer, and two Sunnah rakats after the Fard prayer. The four Fard rakats are the most important part and must be prayed every day by every Muslim.

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Quick Facts About Zuhr Namaz

Detail	Answer
Prayer name	Zuhr (Dhuhr)
Fard rakats	4
Sunnah before Fard	4 (highly recommended)
Sunnah after Fard	2 (highly recommended)
Optional Nafl	2 (optional, for extra reward)
Total commonly prayed	10 or 12 rakats
Prayer type	Obligatory daily Salah
Recitation style	Silent (for both men and women)

How Many Total Rakats Are in Zuhr Namaz?

In total, a complete Zuhr prayer session usually has 10 to 12 rakats, but they are not all mandatory:

4 Rakats are Fard: These are strictly mandatory. You must pray them every day.
4 Rakats are Sunnah (before Fard): These are highly recommended and bring great reward.
2 Rakats are Sunnah (after Fard): These are also highly recommended.
2 Rakats are Nafl (optional): These are extra prayers you can choose to pray for more blessings, but they are not required.

While the 4 Fard rakats are the absolute requirement, adding the Sunnah rakats completes the midday prayer perfectly.

What Is the Difference Between Fard and Sunnah Rakats?

Fard (Obligatory): This is a strict duty from Allah. If you miss a Fard rakat, your prayer is not complete, and you must make it up later.
Sunnah (Recommended): This is the regular practice of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is not a strict duty, but it is highly rewarded. Praying Sunnah rakats shows extra love and dedication to Allah.

How to Pray the 4 Fard Rakats of Zuhr

The 4 Fard rakats of Zuhr are simple to follow:

First and Second Rakat: Make your intention, say “Allahu Akbar”, read Surah Al-Fatihah and a short Surah silently, bow (Ruku), and prostrate (Sujood) twice.
Third and Fourth Rakat: Stand up again. Read only Surah Al-Fatihah silently (no extra Surah is required). Complete the Ruku and both Sujoods for each rakat.
Final Sitting: After the last Sujood, sit down, read the Attahiyat and Durood-e-Ibrahim silently, and end the prayer by turning your head to the right and left, saying “Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah”.

For a full, detailed guide with exact movements and recitations, please read our complete guides:

Is Zuhr Namaz Prayed Loudly or Silently?

Zuhr is a silent prayer.

For Men: All recitations (Surah Al-Fatihah, extra Surahs, and prayers in Ruku/Sujood) are done silently, whether you are praying alone or leading a group in the mosque.
For Women: All rakats are always recited silently as well.

Common Questions About Zuhr Namaz

Can I pray only the four Fard rakats of Zuhr?
Yes. The 4 Fard rakats are the only strictly mandatory part. Your prayer is valid if you only pray these. However, it is highly recommended to also pray the 4 Sunnah rakats before and the 2 Sunnah rakats after to gain extra reward.

What happens if I miss Zuhr Namaz?
If you fall asleep, forget, or get busy and miss the time for Zuhr, you must pray it as soon as you remember. This is called Qada (making up a missed prayer). Do not delay it.

When does the time for Zuhr prayer end?
Zuhr time begins right after the sun passes its highest point in the sky (midday). It ends when the shadow of an object becomes equal to its length, which is exactly when the Asr prayer time begins. You can check the exact time for your city on our Zohar Prayer Time page.

If you want to learn more about daily prayers and Islamic tools, check out these helpful guides:

To summarize, Zuhr (Dhuhr) Namaz has 4 Fard rakats, which are mandatory. It is also highly recommended to pray 4 Sunnah rakats before and 2 Sunnah rakats after, making a total of 10 rakats (or 12 if you add the optional Nafl).

If you are new to praying or want to make sure your movements and recitations are correct, please visit our detailed step-by-step guide: How to Pray Dhuhr Namaz.