Prayer, salah, Isha, night form one of the most important pillars of Islam. Isha salah is the fifth and final prayer of the day, performed at night. It is recommended to perform Isha salah at its prescribed time, which is after the completion of Maghrib prayer and before the break of dawn.
Performing Isha Salah: A Step-by-Step Guide
The Isha prayer (salah) is the last of the five daily prayers in Islam. It is a compulsory prayer that should be performed before going to sleep. The Isha prayer consists of four rak’ahs (units).
Steps:
1. Intention (Niyyah):
– Have the intention in your heart to perform the Isha prayer.
– Raise your hands to your ears, say takbeer (Allahu Akbar).
2. Recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah:
– Recite Surah Al-Fatihah (the opening chapter of the Quran).
– Say “Ameen” after reciting Surah Al-Fatihah.
3. Recital of Additional Surah:
– Recite another Surah or verses from the Quran.
4. Ruku (Bowing):
– Bow at the waist with a straight back and say: “Subhana Rabbiyal Azim” (“Glory be to my Lord, the Majestic”).
5. Straighten Up:
– Stand up straight and say: “Sami Allahu liman hamidah” (“Allah hears the one who praises Him”).
– Respond by saying: “Rabbana wa lakal hamd” (“Our Lord, praise be to You”).
6. Prostration (Sujud):
– Kneel and place your forehead, nose, and hands on the floor.
– Say three times: “Subhana Rabbiyal A’ala” (“Glory be to my Lord, the Most High”).
7. Sit Between Prostrations:
– Sit on your heels with your buttocks resting on your calves.
– Say “Rabbighfir li” (“My Lord, forgive me”).
8. Second Prostration (Sujud):
– Perform the second prostration as in step 6.
9. Tashahhud:
– Sit on your left leg and fold your right leg underneath.
– Place your right hand on your right knee and your left hand on your left thigh.
– Recite the Tashahhud (declaration of faith).
10. Durood:
– Say the Durood (blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad).
11. Tasleem:
– Turn your head to the right and say: “As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah” (“Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you”).
– Turn your head to the left and repeat the Tasleem.
Additional Details:
- The Isha prayer can be performed individually or in congregation.
- It is recommended to perform the Isha prayer early at night, before going to sleep.
- If you miss the Isha prayer, you should make it up as soon as possible.
Table of Rak’ah Structure:
| Rak’ah | Number of Ruku | Number of Prostrations |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 4 |
| 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | 2 | 4 |
Question 1:
How do I perform Isha salah?
Answer:
Isha Salah: Isha salah is the fifth and final prayer of the day in Islam. It is performed after sunset and before midnight.
Procedure: To perform Isha salah, you must first make the intention (niyyah) to pray. Then, you should perform the following steps:
- Stand facing the qibla (direction of the Kaaba in Mecca).
- Raise your hands to your ears and say “Allahu Akbar” (God is great).
- Recite the Surat al-Fatiha (opening chapter of the Quran).
- Recite another short surah of the Quran.
- Bow down and say “Allahu Akbar.”
- Return to standing and say “Sami’ Allah liman hamidah” (Allah hears those who praise Him).
- Prostrate and say “Allahu Akbar.”
- Sit back up and say “Allahu Akbar.”
- Prostrate again and say “Allahu Akbar.”
- Sit up and say “Attahiyyatu lillahi” (All good comes from Allah).
- Recite the Tashahud (testimony of faith).
- Turn your head to the right and say “As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah” (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you).
- Turn your head to the left and say “As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah” (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon you).
Question 2:
What is the difference between Isha salah and Maghrib salah?
Answer:
Differences: Isha salah and Maghrib salah are both obligatory prayers in Islam, but they are performed at different times of the day. Isha salah is the fifth and final prayer of the day, performed after sunset and before midnight. Maghrib salah is the fourth prayer of the day, performed after sunset but before Isha salah.
Similarities: Both Isha salah and Maghrib salah consist of four rak’ahs (units of prayer). Additionally, both prayers begin with the intention (niyyah) to pray, followed by the recitation of Surat al-Fatiha and another short surah of the Quran.
Question 3:
How many sunnah rak’ahs are in Isha salah?
Answer:
Number of Sunnah Rak’ahs: Isha salah consists of 12 sunnah rak’ahs. These sunnah rak’ahs are performed before the obligatory rak’ahs. The sunnah rak’ahs are divided into two sets:
- Two sunnah rak’ahs performed before the obligatory rak’ahs.
- Ten sunnah rak’ahs performed after the obligatory rak’ahs.
Well, that’s it for our guide on performing Isha salah. We hope you found it helpful! Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t get it right away. Keep practicing and you’ll be a pro in no time. Thanks for reading, and we hope to see you again soon for more insightful content on the amazing world of Islam. Peace out!