What is Dhuhr Prayer? A Comprehensive Explanation

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Hello, dear readers! Are you searching for a detailed explanation of "What is Dhuhr Prayer?" If your answer is "Yes," congratulations! You’ve found the right article. Why? Because in this article, I will provide you with a thorough explanation of Dhuhr prayer. As Muslims, understanding this topic is essential. So, make sure to read this article until the end!

Specifically, I will discuss four critical aspects of "What is Dhuhr Prayer?" These aspects are as follows:

What is Dhuhr Prayer?

The first important question is, "What is Dhuhr Prayer?" Let me explain this in detail.

In simple terms, Dhuhr prayer is one of the five obligatory Islamic prayers. It is performed when the sun begins to decline from its zenith (midday), and its time ends when a person’s shadow is equal to their height, just before the Asr prayer. The Dhuhr prayer consists of four rakats (units of prayer).

We find evidence of this in the following hadith:

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

From Aisha, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad SAW, she said: Among what was first obligated upon the Messenger of Allah SAW was prayer, two rakats two rakats, except for Maghrib, which was three. Then Allah completed Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha as four rakats when at home, and maintained the original obligation of two rakats during travel.

As Muslims, understanding the Dhuhr prayer is a fundamental part of our faith.

Do You Have to Pray Dhuhr?

The second question is, "Do you have to pray Dhuhr?" The answer is straightforward: Yes, Dhuhr prayer is obligatory for all Muslims who have reached puberty.

How to Combine Dhuhr and Asr?

The obligation to pray Dhuhr is clearly mentioned in both the Quran and Hadith. Consider the following Quranic verse:

فَاِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلٰوةَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللّٰهَ قِيَامًا وَّقُعُوْدًا وَّعَلٰى جُنُوْبِكُمْ ۚ فَاِذَا اطْمَأْنَنْتُمْ فَاَقِيْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ ۚ اِنَّ الصَّلٰوةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ كِتٰبًا مَّوْقُوْتًا

And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers at specified times. (An-Nisa [4]: 103)

Additionally, the Prophet Muhammad SAW emphasized the obligation of prayer in his instructions to Mu'adh ibn Jabal:

قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِمُعَاذٍ بْنِ جَبَلٍ لَمَّا أَرْسَلَهُ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ : إِنَّكَ تَقْدَمُ عَلَى قَوْم أَهْلِ كِتَاب فَلْيَكُنْ أَوَّلَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ عِبَادَةُ اللَّهِ فَإِذَا عَرَفُوا اللَّهَ فَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ فَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ خَمْسَ صَلَوَات فِي يَوْمِهِمْ وَلَيْلَتِهِمْ فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا فَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ فَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ زَكَاةً مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَتُرَدُّ عَلَى فُقَرَائِهِمْ فَإِذَا أَطَاعُوا بِهَا فَخُذْ مِنْهُمْ وَتَوَقَّ كَرَائِمَ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ

The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said to Mu'adz bin Jabal when he sent him to Yemen, "You will come to the People of the Book. So, your first task is to invite them to worship God. If they know it, then you have to tell them that Allah has obliged them to pray five times a day. If they have done it (prayer), then tell them that Allah requires them to give alms from their property which is then given to the needy from their class. If they have obeyed the order, then take the rest. However, do not take their best assets."

Thus, performing Dhuhr prayer is a binding obligation upon every Muslim who has reached puberty. Skipping it without a valid reason constitutes a sin.

How to Pray Dhuhr?

The third question is, "How do you pray Dhuhr?" Below are six essential steps for performing Dhuhr prayer properly:

• Purify yourself from minor and major impurities through ablution (wudu) or ghusl.
• Wear clean and modest clothing that is suitable for prayer.
• Find a clean place to perform the prayer.
• Face the Qiblah (direction of the Kaaba in Makkah).
• Begin with Takbir Ihram by raising your hands and saying, "Allahu Akbar."

After Takbir Ihram, you may recite the following prayer:

وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِيْ فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيْفاً وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ إِنَّ صَلَاتِيْ وَنُسُكِيْ وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِيْ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَبِذَالِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ لَا إِلَهَ إلَّا أَنْتَ ، أَنْتَ رَبِّيْ وَ أَنَا عَبْدُكَ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِيْ وَاعْتَرَفْتُ بِذَنْبِيْ فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ ذُنُوْبِيْ جَمِيْعاً إِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَاهْدِنِيْ لِأَحْسَنِ الْأَخْلَاقِ لَا يَهْدِي لِأَحْسَنِهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّيْ سَيِّئَهَا لَا يَصْرِفُ عَنِّيْ سَيِّئَهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، لَبَّيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ وَالْخَيْرَ كُلُّه فِيْ يَدَيْكَ وَالشَّرُ لَيْسَ إِلَيْكَ أَنَا بِكَ وَإِلَيْكَ تَبَارَكْتَ وَتَعَالَيْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْكَ

I face my face to God who has created the heavens and the earth, in conditions of accepting Islam. I am not a polytheist. Indeed, my prayer, my worship, my life, and my death are due to God, the Lord who controls the universe. There isn't anything for him. That's why I was ordered and I included people who surrendered. O Allah, You are the Ruler. There is no god but You. You are my Lord and I am Your servant. I have judged myself and I confess my sin, then forgive all my sins, actually no one forgives all sins except only You. Show the best ethical pocket. No one can show that other than You. Avoid me from the worst ethics, no one can avoid me from that except for You. I answer your call and I like to obey you. All good is in your power. Evil does not draw near to you. Your goodness is always multiplying and you are holy of all shortcomings. I ask forgiveness of you and change to you.

• Intend to pray Dhuhr (Niyyah) in your heart or recite it aloud. For instance, you can say:

أُصَلِّي فَرْضَ الظُّهْرِ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةِ أَدَاءً لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

After completing the Niyyah, proceed with the four rakats of Dhuhr prayer as prescribed.

Virtues of Dhuhr Prayer

The fourth important aspect is the virtues of Dhuhr prayer. Performing Dhuhr prayer brings numerous spiritual and worldly benefits. It strengthens your relationship with Allah, purifies your soul, and ensures that you fulfill a significant part of your daily obligations as a Muslim.

Conclusion

To summarize, Dhuhr prayer is an obligatory act of worship performed at midday, consisting of four rakats. Every Muslim who has reached puberty must perform it unless there is a valid excuse. By understanding its timing, obligation, method, and virtues, we can ensure that we fulfill this important act of worship sincerely and correctly.

May Allah make us steadfast in our prayers and grant us the strength to fulfill all our religious duties. Ameen.