How Many Rakats in Isha Prayer: A Comprehensive Guide
Isha prayer, the last of the five daily prayers in Islam, holds a significant place in the lives of Muslims. Understanding its structure, particularly the number of Rakats (units of prayer), is essential for performing it correctly and earning Allah’s pleasure. This comprehensive guide delves into the details of the Isha prayer, covering its Rakats, Sunnah prayers, Witr prayer, and related aspects.
Understanding the Isha Prayer
The Isha prayer is performed after sunset, typically when darkness has fully descended. Its timing extends until the beginning of Fajr (dawn) prayer. It is a Fard (obligatory) prayer, meaning every Muslim adult is obligated to perform it. Missing it without a valid reason is considered a sin.
Number of Rakats in Isha Prayer
The Isha prayer consists of the following Rakats:
* **4 Rakats Fard (Obligatory):** These are the core, essential Rakats of the Isha prayer.
* **2 Rakats Sunnah Mu’akkadah (Confirmed Sunnah):** These are highly recommended Sunnah prayers that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) consistently performed.
* **2 Rakats Sunnah Ghair Mu’akkadah (Unconfirmed Sunnah – Optional):** These are not consistently performed and are optional.
* **3 Rakats Witr (Obligatory):** Witr is an obligatory prayer (Wajib in Hanafi fiqh, Sunnah Muakkadah in other schools) prayed after Isha, completing the night’s prayers.
Therefore, the total number of Rakats prayed for Isha is 4 (Fard) + 2 (Sunnah Mu’akkadah) + 2 (Sunnah Ghair Mu’akkadah) + 3 (Witr) = **11 Rakats**.
Let’s break down each part of the Isha prayer with detailed steps:
1. Four Rakats Fard (Obligatory)
Here’s a step-by-step guide to performing the four Fard Rakats of Isha:
**Step 1: Niyyah (Intention)**
* Stand facing the Qiblah (direction of the Kaaba in Mecca).
* Make the intention (Niyyah) in your heart to pray four Rakats of Fard Isha prayer. While making the intention verbally is acceptable in some schools of thought, the primary intention should be in your heart.
**Step 2: Takbirat-ul-Ihram (Opening Takbir)**
* Raise both hands to your ears or shoulders, with your palms facing the Qiblah.
* Say “Allahu Akbar” (Allah is the Greatest). This marks the beginning of the prayer.
**Step 3: Qiyam (Standing)**
* Place your right hand over your left hand on your chest or just below the navel (depending on the school of thought you follow).
* Recite the following:
* **Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika, wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta’ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghairuk.** (Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your Majesty. There is no god but You.) – This is the Thana (praise).
* **A’uzu billahi minash-shaitanir-rajeem.** (I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the outcast.) – This is seeking refuge from Satan.
* **Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.** (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.) – This is the Basmalah.
* **Surah Al-Fatiha (The Opening Chapter of the Quran):**
* Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil-‘alamin
* Ar-rahmanir-rahim
* Maliki yawmid-din
* Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’in
* Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqim
* Siratal-lazina an’amta ‘alaihim
* Ghairil-maghdubi ‘alaihim wa lad-dallin. Amin.
* Recite a Surah (chapter) or a few verses from the Quran. It’s common to recite a short Surah after Al-Fatiha.
**Step 4: Ruku (Bowing)**
* Say “Allahu Akbar” and bow down, placing your hands on your knees. Your back should be straight and parallel to the ground.
* Recite “Subhana Rabbiyal ‘Azeem” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great) three times.
**Step 5: Qiyam (Standing Up)**
* Rise up from the bowing position while saying “Sami Allahu liman hamidah” (Allah hears those who praise Him).
* When standing upright, say “Rabbana lakal-hamd” (Our Lord, to You belongs the praise).
**Step 6: Sujud (Prostration)**
* Say “Allahu Akbar” and prostrate, placing your forehead, nose, both hands, both knees, and the tips of your toes on the ground.
* Recite “Subhana Rabbiyal A’la” (Glory be to my Lord, the Most High) three times.
**Step 7: Jalsa (Sitting)**
* Say “Allahu Akbar” and sit up, resting on your left foot while keeping your right foot upright.
* Make a brief pause in this sitting position.
**Step 8: Sujud (Second Prostration)**
* Say “Allahu Akbar” and perform a second prostration, repeating the same actions and recitation as the first prostration.
**Step 9: Qiyam (Standing Up for the Second Rakat)**
* Say “Allahu Akbar” and stand up for the second Rakat.
*Repeat Steps 3-8 for the Second Rakat.*
**Important Note for Second Rakat:** Do not recite Subhanaka after the initial Takbir in the second rakat. Start directly with A’uzu Billahi… and Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim followed by Surah Al-Fatiha and another Surah.
**Step 10: Tashahhud (Sitting for Attahiyat)**
*After completing the second Sujud of the second rakat, sit down for Tashahhud.*
* Sit with your left foot placed flat and your right foot upright.
* Recite the following:
* **At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu ‘alayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu ‘alayna wa ‘ala ‘ibadillahis-salihin. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.** (All greetings, prayers, and good things are for Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger.)
**Step 11: Qiyam (Standing Up for the Third Rakat)**
*Say “Allahu Akbar” and stand up for the third rakat. For the 3rd and 4th Rakat of Fard prayers, only Surah Al-Fatiha is recited after standing. No additional surah is added.*
**Step 12: Ruku, Qiyam, Sujud and Jalsa**
*Repeat the actions of bowing, standing, prostrating and sitting as performed in the first two Rakats.*
**Step 13: Qiyam (Standing Up for the Fourth Rakat)**
*Say “Allahu Akbar” and stand up for the fourth rakat. As with the 3rd Rakat, only Surah Al-Fatiha is recited after standing. No additional surah is added.*
**Step 14: Ruku, Qiyam, Sujud and Jalsa**
*Repeat the actions of bowing, standing, prostrating and sitting as performed in the previous Rakats.*
**Step 15: Tashahhud, Durood and Dua**
*After the second prostration of the 4th rakat, sit down for the final Tashahhud.*
* Recite the Tashahhud as in the second rakat.
* Recite Durood Ibrahim (Blessings upon Prophet Muhammad):
* **Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin, kama sallaita ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahima, innaka hamidum majeed. Allahumma barik ‘ala Muhammadin wa ‘ala aali Muhammadin, kama barakta ‘ala Ibrahima wa ‘ala aali Ibrahima, innaka hamidum majeed.** (O Allah, send Your grace and honor upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, just as You sent grace and honor upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. You are full of praise, Most Glorious. O Allah, send Your blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, just as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and upon the family of Ibrahim. You are full of praise, Most Glorious.)
* Recite a Dua (supplication) of your choice from the Quran or Sunnah. A common Dua is:
* **Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanatan wa fil-‘akhirati hasanatan wa qina ‘azaban-nar.** (Our Lord! Grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and save us from the punishment of the Fire.)
**Step 16: Taslim (Concluding the Prayer)**
* Turn your face to the right, saying “As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah” (Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah).
* Turn your face to the left, saying “As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah”.
This completes the four Rakats of Fard Isha prayer.
2. Two Rakats Sunnah Mu’akkadah (Confirmed Sunnah)
The two Rakats of Sunnah Mu’akkadah are performed immediately after the four Rakats of Fard. The steps are very similar to the Fard prayer, with a few key differences:
* **Niyyah (Intention):** Make the intention to pray two Rakats of Sunnah Mu’akkadah for Isha.
* **Recitation:** Recite Surah Al-Fatiha followed by another Surah in both Rakats.
* **Tashahhud:** Recite Tashahhud, Durood, and Dua in the final sitting before Taslim.
The rest of the steps are identical to the Fard prayer.
3. Two Rakats Sunnah Ghair Mu’akkadah (Unconfirmed Sunnah – Optional)
These two Rakats are optional and are performed like the Sunnah Mu’akkadah. The intention is to pray two Rakats of Sunnah Ghair Mu’akkadah for Isha. The steps are identical to the Sunnah Mu’akkadah prayers.
4. Three Rakats Witr (Obligatory)
The Witr prayer is performed after the Sunnah prayers and is an important part of the Isha prayer. It is Wajib (obligatory) according to the Hanafi school of thought and Sunnah Muakkadah according to others.
Here’s how to perform the three Rakats of Witr:
**Step 1: Niyyah (Intention)**
* Make the intention to pray three Rakats of Witr prayer.
**Step 2: First Two Rakats**
* Perform two Rakats similar to the Sunnah prayers, reciting Surah Al-Fatiha followed by another Surah in each Rakat.
* Sit for Tashahhud after the second Rakat but *do not* recite Durood or Dua. Stand up for the third Rakat after reciting only the Tashahhud.
**Step 3: Third Rakat**
* Stand up for the third Rakat.
* Recite Surah Al-Fatiha followed by another Surah. Surah Al-A’la, Surah Al-Kafirun, and Surah Al-Ikhlas are commonly recited in the Witr prayer, but you can choose any Surah.
* After reciting the Surah, say “Allahu Akbar” and raise your hands to your ears (similar to the opening Takbir). This is called *Takbir-e-Tahrima* in Witr.
* Then, fold your hands again and recite the following Dua (supplication) called *Dua-e-Qunoot*:
* **Allahumma inna nasta’inuka wa nastaghfiruka, wa nu’minu bika wa natawakkalu ‘alaika, wa nuthni ‘alaykal khair, nashkuruka wa la nakfuruka, wa nakhla’u wa natruku man yafjuruk. Allahumma iyyaka na’budu, wa laka nusalli wa nasjud, wa ilaika nas’a wa nahfid, narju rahmataka wa nakhsha ‘azabaka, inna ‘azabaka bil-kuffari mulhiq.**
(O Allah! We ask You for help and seek Your forgiveness, and we believe in You and trust in You, and we praise You in the best manner. We thank You and are not ungrateful to You, and we forsake and abandon those who disobey You. O Allah! You alone do we worship, and to You do we pray and prostrate, and for Your sake do we strive and hasten. We hope for Your mercy and fear Your punishment, for Your punishment will surely overtake the disbelievers.)
**Step 4: Complete the Prayer**
* Say “Allahu Akbar” and perform Ruku, Sujud, and Jalsa as in the previous prayers.
* In the final sitting, recite Tashahhud, Durood, and Dua.
* Conclude the prayer with Taslim (turning your face to the right and left, saying “As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah”).
Important Considerations
* **Following a School of Thought:** The details of prayer, including hand placement, recitation, and specific Duas, can vary slightly depending on the school of thought (Hanafi, Shafi’i, Maliki, Hanbali) you follow. It’s important to learn the specifics according to your chosen school.
* **Correct Pronunciation:** Strive to recite the Quranic verses and Duas with correct pronunciation (Tajweed). Incorrect pronunciation can alter the meaning.
* **Concentration and Humility:** Focus your mind on Allah and try to understand the meaning of the words you are reciting. Pray with humility and sincerity.
* **Making Up Missed Prayers:** If you miss the Isha prayer due to a valid reason (such as sickness or travel), you should make it up as soon as possible. The method of making up missed prayers is the same as performing them on time.
* **Praying in Congregation:** It is highly recommended to pray the Isha prayer (and all other obligatory prayers) in congregation at the mosque. Praying in congregation brings numerous blessings and fosters a sense of community.
Benefits of Praying Isha
Praying Isha offers numerous spiritual and worldly benefits:
* **Fulfillment of Obligation:** Performing the Isha prayer fulfills an obligatory duty towards Allah.
* **Protection from Hypocrisy:** The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that the Isha and Fajr prayers are the heaviest on the hypocrites. Praying them regularly demonstrates sincerity of faith.
* **Inner Peace and Tranquility:** Prayer brings inner peace and tranquility by connecting you with Allah.
* **Seeking Forgiveness:** Through prayer, you seek forgiveness for your sins and draw closer to Allah’s mercy.
* **Good Deeds:** Each Rakat of prayer earns you good deeds and raises your status in the sight of Allah.
* **Sleep with Blessings:** Performing Isha prayer before sleeping allows you to begin your rest with remembrance of Allah and under His protection.
Conclusion
Performing the Isha prayer correctly, with its Fard, Sunnah, and Witr components, is a fundamental aspect of a Muslim’s daily life. By understanding the number of Rakats, the steps involved, and the significance of each part, you can enhance your prayer and draw closer to Allah. May Allah accept our prayers and grant us His blessings. Remember to always strive to learn more about your faith and seek guidance from knowledgeable scholars.
