Understanding Isha Prayer, Isha Rakats, Dhikr Isha, and Dua Isha

Table of Contents

Introduction Hello, readers! Are you looking for an explanation of the Isha prayer, Isha rakats, dhikr Isha, and dua Isha? If your answer is "Yes," congratulations! You are reading the right article. Why? Because in this article, I will explain everything you need to know about these topics. As Muslims, it is essential that we understand the significance of these prayers. That's why I've written this article. Be sure to read it to the end!

Five Key Aspects of Isha Prayer In this article, I will cover five crucial aspects of the Isha prayer, Isha rakats, dhikr Isha, and dua Isha. These five important points are as follows:

What Is Isha Prayer?

The first important topic I will explain is, "What is Isha prayer?" Understanding this is essential because it forms the foundation of our discussion on Isha prayer, rakats, dhikr, and dua.

In Islamic jurisprudence, the Isha prayer is one of the obligatory prayers (Salah) in Islam. This means that mature Muslims, who do not have valid excuses according to Islamic law, are required to perform the Isha prayer. Failing to do so is considered sinful.

The Isha prayer is performed after the redness in the western horizon disappears, lasting until the dawn of sadiq. This is the prescribed time for Isha prayer, as mentioned in the following hadith:

Hadith about Isha Prayer and Isha Prayer Times

The hadith regarding the Isha prayer and its timings is as follows:

عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ ، قَالَ لَمَّا قَدِمَ الْحَجَّاجُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَسَأَلْنَا جَابِرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ كَانَ رَسُوْلُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي الظُّهْرَ بِالْهَاجِرَةِ وَالْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ نَقِيَّةٌ وَالْمَغْرِبَ إِذَا وَجَبَتْ وَالْعِشَاءَ أَحْيَانًا يُؤَخِّرُهَا وَأَحْيَانًا يُعَجِّلُ كَانَ إِذَا رَآهُمْ قَدِ اجْتَمَعُوا عَجَّلَ وَإِذَا رَآهُمْ قَدْ أَبْطَئُوا أَخَّرَ وَالصُّبْحَ كَانُوا أَوْ - قَالَ - كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّيهَا بِغَلَسٍ

Translation:

From Muhammad bin Amr bin al-Hasan bin Ali: When Hajjaj arrived in Medina, we asked Jabir bin Abdullah (about the timings of the prayers as observed by the Holy Prophet). He said: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) used to pray the afternoon prayer in the midday heat; the afternoon prayer when the sun was bright; the evening prayer when the sun had completely set; and as for the night prayer, he sometimes delayed and sometimes observed it earlier. When he found them (his Companions) assembled early, he prayed early, and when he saw them coming late, he delayed the prayer. The morning prayer was observed in the darkness before dawn.

How Many Rakats in Isha?

The second important question is: "How many rakats are in Isha?" This is a vital question for Muslims to understand well.

According to Islamic legal literature, the Isha prayer consists of four rakats. This means that when performing the Isha prayer, a Muslim must pray four rakats.

We can find further clarification about the rakats in Isha prayer in the following hadith:

Hadith about Rakats in Isha

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَتْ كَانَ أَوَّلَ مَا افْتُرِضَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الصَّلَاةُ رَكْعَتَانِ رَكْعَتَانِ إِلَّا الْمَغْرِبَ فَإِنَّهَا كَانَتْ ثَلَاثًا ثُمَّ أَتَمَّ اللَّهُ الظُّهْرَ وَالْعَصْرَ وَالْعِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةَ أَرْبَعًا فِي الْحَضَرِ وَأَقَرَّ الصَّلَاةَ عَلَى فَرْضِهَا الْأَوَّلِ فِي السَّفَرِ

Translation:

From Aisha, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), she said: When prayer was first made obligatory upon the Messenger of Allah, the obligatory prayers were two rakats, except for Maghrib, which had three. Then, Allah made Zuhr, Asr, and Isha four rakats while in the presence of the people, and made it the same as it was when obligated for the first time during travel (i.e., two rakats).

How Do You Pray Isha Prayer?

Now, the third important question is, "How do you pray Isha?" This is essential for anyone who wants to perform the Isha prayer correctly.

In general, there are four essential actions to take when performing the Isha prayer:

Purify yourself

You must cleanse yourself from both minor and major impurities. I have discussed the purification process (janaba) in previous articles.

Make the niyyah (intention)

The niyyah for the Isha prayer is as follows:

أُصَلِّى فَرْضَ الْعِشَاءِ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةِ أَدَاءً لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

Translation:

I intend to perform the obligatory Isha prayer of four rakats, facing the Qiblah, as an act of worship for Allah Ta'ala.

Perform the obligatory movements

This includes actions like takbir (opening prayer), bowing, standing after bowing (i'tidal), prostration, sitting between two prostrations, early tashahud, and final tashahud.

Recite prayers

During the prayer, you will read Surah Al-Fatiha, some verses of the Qur'an, and various supplications like prayer after opening the prayer, prayer during prostration, and the tashahud.

Dhikr Isha

The fourth important aspect is Dhikr Isha, a form of remembrance of Allah after the Isha prayer.

Some of the best dhikr to say after Isha include:

• Recite Tasbih (سُبْحَانَ اللهِ) thirty-three times.
• Recite Tahmid (الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ) thirty-three times.
• Recite Takbir (اللهُ أَكْبَرُ) thirty-three times.
• Recite Tahlil (لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ) once.
• Recite Ayatul Kursi once.
• Recite Surah Al-Ikhlas (قُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ) once.

You can find an explanation of the Dhikr Isha in the following hadith:

Hadith about Dhikr Isha

عَنْ أَبِيْ هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ ؛ مَنْ سَبَّحَ اللهَ دُبُرَ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِيْنَ ، وَحَمِدَ اللهَ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِيْنَ ، وَكَبَّرَ اللهَ ثَلَاثًا وَثَلَاثِيْنَ , فَتِلْكَ تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِيْنَ حَسَنَةً وَمَنْ قَالَ : " لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ " فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ كَمَلَ تِسْعَةً وَتِسْعِيْنَ حَسَنَةً

Translation:

From Abu Huraira (ra), the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Whoever recites SubhanAllah (33 times), Alhamdulillah (33 times), and Allahu Akbar (33 times) after every prayer, this amounts to ninety-nine good deeds. And whoever says: ‘La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahu al-mulk wa lahu al-hamdu wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay'in qadir,' (there is no god but Allah, alone, without any partner, to Him belongs the dominion and the praise, and He has power over all things), has completed ninety-nine good deeds."

Dua Isha

The final aspect is Dua Isha, the supplication for the Isha prayer. After completing the prayer, you may ask Allah for whatever you wish. It is highly recommended to ask for forgiveness and mercy in the dua. Here is an example of the dua for Isha:

اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنَا مِنْ أَهْلِ الصَّلَاةِ وَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِي أَعْمَالِنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Translation:

O Allah, make us among the people of prayer, bless us in our deeds, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.

Conclusion

Understanding Isha prayer, Isha rakats, dhikr Isha, and dua Isha is essential for every Muslim who wants to improve their worship and connection to Allah. By performing Isha prayer correctly, reciting dhikr, and making dua after the prayer, you will benefit greatly in this world and the Hereafter.