Isha' Prayer

Priority: b, Quality: b
From wikishia

ʿIshā' prayer (Arabic: صلاة العشاء) is among daily prayers and has four rak'as, the time for performing which, is after maghrib prayer until shar'i midnight.

Description

'Isha' prayer has four rak'as,[1] on the first rak'a of which after mentioning the intention[2] and saying takbirat al-ihram,[3] Sura al-Fatiha and another sura (not having an obligatory sajda) usually Sura al-Ikhlas is recited[4] and then one ruku'[5] and two sajdas are performed.[6] Then, the person stands up for the second rak'a[7] and continues by reciting Sura al-Fatiha and another sura and performing ruku' and sajda.

Then, tashahhud is recited[8] in sitting position and in the third and fourth rak'as, tasbihat al-arba'a[9] is recited and one ruku' and two sajdas are performed.

At the end, tashahhud and salam are recited.[10]

Time

The time for performing 'isha' prayer is after special time for maghrib prayer until shar'i midnight.

The "special time" for 'isha' prayer is the time enough for performing a one four-rak'a prayer before shar'i midnight. The "common time" for maghrib and 'isha' prayers is between the special times of the two prayers.[11]

Importance

In the Qur'an, it is ordered to establish and observe daily prayers, and 'isha' prayer is one of them, "be watchful of your prayers, and [especially] the middle prayer, and stand in obedience to Allah."[12]

Nafila of 'Isha' Prayer

Nafila of 'isha', or al-Wutayra prayer has two rak'as and is recommended to be performed after the 'isha' prayer and its time is until shar'i midnight.[13]

Some Rulings

  • If the maghrib prayer is intentionally not performed until the special time of 'isha' prayer, 'isha' prayer needs to be performed first.[15]
  • If 'isha' prayer is performed before maghrib prayer unintentionally, and one realizes that after prayer, one's prayer will be correct.[16]

Men should recite Sura al-Fatiha and the other sura in loudly.[17] Women are allowed to recite Sura al-Fatiha and the other sura either loudly or quietly; but, if a non-mahram person hears their voice, it is an obligatory caution to recite them quietly.[18]

Notes

  1. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, daily prayer section.
  2. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, issue 943.
  3. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, issue 948.
  4. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, issue 978.
  5. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, issue 1022.
  6. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, issue 1045.
  7. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, issue 958.
  8. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, issue 1100.
  9. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, Tasbihat arba'a section.
  10. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, issue 1105.
  11. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, issue 736.
  12. Qur'an 2: 238.
  13. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, issue 771.
  14. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, issue 728.
  15. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, issue 736.
  16. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, issue 736.
  17. Ḥakīm, Mustamsak al-ʿUrwat al-wuthqā, vol. 6, p. 198; Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, issue 992.
  18. Khomeinī, Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil, issue 994.

References

  • Ḥakīm, Muḥsin. Mustamsak al-ʿUrwat al-wuthqā. Qom: Manshūrāt Maktabat Āyatullāh Marʿashī al-Najafī, 1404 AH.
  • Khomeinī, Sayyid Rūḥ Allāh. Risāla tawḍīḥ al-masāʾil. [n.p]. [n.d].