Ready to practice Fajr?
Sofia will recite while you follow along with Layth. Just listen, watch, and try the movements with us. Takes about 5 minutes.
Practice FajrWhat is Fajr?
Fajr is the very first prayer of the day. We pray it before the sun comes up, while the sky is still soft and quiet.
It's the shortest of the five daily prayers, with just 2 rakat. But it's also one of the most special, because we're starting our day by talking to Allah before anything else.
What you'll recite
In every rakat, you start with Al-Fatiha (the opening of the Quran). Then you add a short surah after it.
You get to choose which surah comes after Al-Fatiha in each rakat. When you tap practice, you'll pick from the surahs you have learned. Here's what each rakat looks like:
- Al-Fatiha
- Your chosen surah
- Al-Fatiha
- Your chosen surah
Short surahs like Al-Ikhlas, An-Nas, and Al-Falaq are great choices, and it's nice to pick a different one for the second rakat.
Haven't learned the basics yet?
If you don't know how to pray one rakat yet, that's okay! Start with the Start Here lesson first. Layth and Sofia will teach you each posture and recitation, one step at a time.
Once you've learned one rakat, you'll be ready to practice any of the five daily prayers.
Ready to give it a try?
Practice FajrQuestions parents ask
How many rakat is Fajr?
Fajr is 2 rakat. It is the shortest of the five daily Muslim prayers, with just two units of prayer. Each rakat includes standing (qiyam), bowing (ruku), and two prostrations (sujud). After the second rakat, the worshipper sits for the final tashahhud and durood, then ends with salaam by turning the head right and then left.
When do Muslims pray Fajr?
Fajr is prayed at dawn, from the moment the sky begins to lighten (called true dawn or al-fajr al-sadiq) until just before the sun rises above the horizon. The window typically lasts about 60 to 90 minutes depending on the season and location. The exact time changes every day. Most Muslim families use a prayer time app or website to know the precise minute Fajr begins each morning.
Is Fajr prayed before sunrise or after sunrise?
Fajr is prayed BEFORE sunrise. The Fajr window opens at true dawn (when the sky first begins to lighten in the east) and closes the moment the sun appears above the horizon. Once the sun has fully risen, the Fajr prayer time has ended. If Fajr is missed entirely, it should be made up (called qada) as soon as the person remembers.
What surahs do you recite in Fajr?
Every rakat of Fajr begins with Surah Al-Fatiha. After Al-Fatiha, a short surah is added in each of the two rakat. The choice of short surah is up to the worshipper. Common choices for children include Surah Al-Ikhlas, Surah An-Nas, and Surah Al-Falaq because they are short, easy to memorize, and frequently taught early. A different short surah is typically used in the second rakat than the first.
Is Fajr prayed silently or aloud?
Fajr is one of the prayers where the Quran recitation is said aloud, not silently. When an imam leads a congregation in Fajr, the recitation of Al-Fatiha and the second surah is audible to the worshippers. When a person prays Fajr alone, they also recite aloud (or in a low audible whisper). Dhuhr and Asr are silent prayers; Fajr, Maghrib, and Isha are loud prayers.
Why is Fajr considered such an important prayer?
Fajr is the first prayer of the day and the most spiritually weighted in many traditions. It is prayed at the quietest moment of the morning, before the world is awake. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught that the angels gather to witness the Fajr prayer (Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim), and that one who prays Fajr is in the protection of Allah for the rest of the day (Sahih Muslim). Establishing Fajr as a daily habit is often considered a sign of consistent faith.
What if my child sleeps through Fajr?
If Fajr is missed because of sleep, the child should pray it as soon as they wake up, even if the sun has already risen. This is called qada (making up a missed prayer). Scholars teach that there is no sin in oversleeping when it was unintentional. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) himself taught that whoever misses a prayer due to sleep should pray it when they remember. Children should not feel shame, only gentle encouragement to set an earlier alarm or sleep earlier next time.