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Obligatory · fard

How to pray Isha

العشاءThe Night prayer

Isha is the last obligatory prayer of the day. Four rak'ahs of fard, with the first two recited aloud. The two sunnah rak'ahs after are strongly recommended. After those, the witr prayer (the odd-numbered close of the night's prayer) is offered, see the witr guide for details. The Prophet ﷺ said delaying Isha beyond its preferred window is fine but do not let it pass without praying.

Time

From the fading of twilight until true dawn (best before midnight)

Recitation

Aloud in rak'ahs 1 and 2, silent in rak'ahs 3 and 4.

Rak'ahs

4 fard, 2 sunnah after, 3 witr

About the time window

Starts when the red glow on the horizon has disappeared and the sky is fully dark. Technically valid until Fajr but praying before Islamic midnight (halfway between sunset and dawn) is strongly preferred.

Step by step

Every section below is one position in the prayer. Read top to bottom, then repeat for each rakaʿa.

Step by step4 rakaʿāt41 steps

Aloud in rakaʿāt 1 and 2 (Fātiḥa + short surah). Silent in rakaʿāt 3 and 4 (Fātiḥa only).

  1. 01
    Intention before the prayerNiyyah

    After performing wuḍū' (ablution), stand straight on your feet, turn to the qiblah, and make the following intention in your heart:

    "For the sake of Allah, I intend to pray the farḍ of Isha, the obligatory Isha prayer, consisting of 4 rakaʿāt."

    The intention is made silently in the heart. Voicing it is not required.

  2. 02
    The opening takbirTakbir

    Raise your hands and say:

    اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

    Allāhu akbar

    Allah is the Greatest

    The prayer begins. After this, fold your hands.

  3. 03
    Dua Sana· 1st rakʿa onlyQiyām

    Place your right hand over your left and say silently:

    سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، وَتَبَارَكَ ٱسْمُكَ، وَتَعَالَىٰ جَدُّكَ، وَلَا إِلَٰهَ غَيْرُكَ

    Subḥānak-Allāhumma wa biḥamdik, wa tabārak-asmuk, wa taʿālā jadduk, wa lā ilāha ghayruk

    Glory be to You, O Allah, and all praise be to You. Blessed is Your name, exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god worthy of worship besides You.

  4. 04
    Dua Isti'adhaQiyām

    أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّٰهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيم

    Aʿūdhu billāhi min-ash-shayṭān-ir-rajīm

    I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

  5. 05
    Surah Al-Fātiḥa· 1st rakʿaQiyām

    بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم

    Bismillāh-ir-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm

    In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

    ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِين

    Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn

    Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

    ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم

    Ar-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm

    The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

    مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّين

    Māliki yawm-id-dīn

    Master of the Day of Judgment.

    إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين

    Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn

    You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.

    ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيم

    Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm

    Guide us to the straight path.

    صِرَاطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ، غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّالِّين

    Ṣirāṭal-laḏīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn

    The path of those You have blessed, not of those who incurred wrath, nor of those who went astray.

    آمِين

    Āmīn

    (Said softly) Amen.

  6. 06
    A short surah· 1st rakʿaQiyām

    Recite any short surah after Al-Fātiḥa. Picks for this rakaʿa:

    قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَد

    Qul huwallāhu aḥad

    Say: He is Allah, the One.

    ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَد

    Allāhuṣ-ṣamad

    Allah, the Eternal, the Self-Sufficient.

    لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَد

    Lam yalid wa lam yūlad

    He neither begets nor is born.

    وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَد

    Wa lam yakun lahū kufuwan aḥad

    And there is none comparable to Him.

  7. 07
    Bowing, rukūʿRukūʿ

    Say takbir, bow with a straight back, hands on knees. Recite (3×):

    سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيم

    Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm

    Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.

    Repeat 3×
  8. 08
    Standing up after rukūʿIʿtidāl

    Stand up while saying the first phrase, then once standing recite the second:

    سَمِعَ ٱللَّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه

    Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah

    Allah hears those who praise Him.

    رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْد

    Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd

    Our Lord, to You alone belongs all praise.

  9. 09
    First prostration, sajdaSajda

    Say takbir as you go down, then prostrate. Forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes touch the ground. Recite (3×):

    سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ

    Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā

    Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

    Repeat 3×
  10. 10
    Sitting up between sajdasJalsa

    Say takbir as you sit. Pause briefly with a straight back.

    اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

    Allāhu akbar

    Allah is the Greatest

  11. 11
    Second prostration, sajdaSajda

    Say takbir as you go back down. Recite (3×):

    سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ

    Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā

    Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

    Repeat 3×
  12. 12
    Stand up for the 2nd rakʿaTakbir

    Say takbir as you rise. Fold your hands and continue.

    اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

    Allāhu akbar

    Allah is the Greatest

  13. 13
    Dua Isti'adhaQiyām

    أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّٰهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيم

    Aʿūdhu billāhi min-ash-shayṭān-ir-rajīm

    I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

  14. 14
    Surah Al-Fātiḥa· 2nd rakʿaQiyām

    بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم

    Bismillāh-ir-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm

    In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

    ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِين

    Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn

    Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

    ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم

    Ar-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm

    The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

    مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّين

    Māliki yawm-id-dīn

    Master of the Day of Judgment.

    إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين

    Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn

    You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.

    ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيم

    Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm

    Guide us to the straight path.

    صِرَاطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ، غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّالِّين

    Ṣirāṭal-laḏīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn

    The path of those You have blessed, not of those who incurred wrath, nor of those who went astray.

    آمِين

    Āmīn

    (Said softly) Amen.

  15. 15
    A short surah· 2nd rakʿaQiyām

    Recite any short surah after Al-Fātiḥa. Picks for this rakaʿa:

    قُلْ هُوَ ٱللَّهُ أَحَد

    Qul huwallāhu aḥad

    Say: He is Allah, the One.

    ٱللَّهُ ٱلصَّمَد

    Allāhuṣ-ṣamad

    Allah, the Eternal, the Self-Sufficient.

    لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَد

    Lam yalid wa lam yūlad

    He neither begets nor is born.

    وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُۥ كُفُوًا أَحَد

    Wa lam yakun lahū kufuwan aḥad

    And there is none comparable to Him.

  16. 16
    Bowing, rukūʿRukūʿ

    Say takbir, bow with a straight back, hands on knees. Recite (3×):

    سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيم

    Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm

    Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.

    Repeat 3×
  17. 17
    Standing up after rukūʿIʿtidāl

    Stand up while saying the first phrase, then once standing recite the second:

    سَمِعَ ٱللَّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه

    Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah

    Allah hears those who praise Him.

    رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْد

    Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd

    Our Lord, to You alone belongs all praise.

  18. 18
    First prostration, sajdaSajda

    Say takbir as you go down, then prostrate. Forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes touch the ground. Recite (3×):

    سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ

    Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā

    Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

    Repeat 3×
  19. 19
    Sitting up between sajdasJalsa

    Say takbir as you sit. Pause briefly with a straight back.

    اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

    Allāhu akbar

    Allah is the Greatest

  20. 20
    Second prostration, sajdaSajda

    Say takbir as you go back down. Recite (3×):

    سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ

    Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā

    Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

    Repeat 3×
  21. 21
    First tashahhud· After the 2nd rakʿaTashahhud

    Sit upright. Right index finger raised at the shahādah. Recite At-Taḥiyyāt only (no durood here in 3- and 4-rakaa prayers):

    ٱلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّٰهِ، وَٱلصَّلَوَاتُ وَٱلطَّيِّبَات، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلصَّالِحِين، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰه، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُه

    At-taḥiyyātu lillāh, was-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu al-lā ilāha illallāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh.

    All greetings, prayers, and pure deeds belong to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Peace be upon us and upon all 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.

  22. 22
    Stand up for the 3rd rakʿaTakbir

    Say takbir as you rise. Fold your hands and continue.

    اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

    Allāhu akbar

    Allah is the Greatest

  23. 23
    Dua Isti'adhaQiyām

    أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّٰهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيم

    Aʿūdhu billāhi min-ash-shayṭān-ir-rajīm

    I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

  24. 24
    Surah Al-Fātiḥa· 3rd rakʿaQiyām

    بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم

    Bismillāh-ir-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm

    In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

    ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِين

    Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn

    Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

    ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم

    Ar-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm

    The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

    مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّين

    Māliki yawm-id-dīn

    Master of the Day of Judgment.

    إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين

    Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn

    You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.

    ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيم

    Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm

    Guide us to the straight path.

    صِرَاطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ، غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّالِّين

    Ṣirāṭal-laḏīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn

    The path of those You have blessed, not of those who incurred wrath, nor of those who went astray.

    آمِين

    Āmīn

    (Said softly) Amen.

  25. 25
    Bowing, rukūʿRukūʿ

    Say takbir, bow with a straight back, hands on knees. Recite (3×):

    سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيم

    Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm

    Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.

    Repeat 3×
  26. 26
    Standing up after rukūʿIʿtidāl

    Stand up while saying the first phrase, then once standing recite the second:

    سَمِعَ ٱللَّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه

    Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah

    Allah hears those who praise Him.

    رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْد

    Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd

    Our Lord, to You alone belongs all praise.

  27. 27
    First prostration, sajdaSajda

    Say takbir as you go down, then prostrate. Forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes touch the ground. Recite (3×):

    سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ

    Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā

    Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

    Repeat 3×
  28. 28
    Sitting up between sajdasJalsa

    Say takbir as you sit. Pause briefly with a straight back.

    اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

    Allāhu akbar

    Allah is the Greatest

  29. 29
    Second prostration, sajdaSajda

    Say takbir as you go back down. Recite (3×):

    سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ

    Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā

    Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

    Repeat 3×
  30. 30
    Stand up for the 4th rakʿaTakbir

    Say takbir as you rise. Fold your hands and continue.

    اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

    Allāhu akbar

    Allah is the Greatest

  31. 31
    Dua Isti'adhaQiyām

    أَعُوذُ بِٱللَّٰهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيْطَانِ ٱلرَّجِيم

    Aʿūdhu billāhi min-ash-shayṭān-ir-rajīm

    I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed.

  32. 32
    Surah Al-Fātiḥa· 4th rakʿaQiyām

    بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم

    Bismillāh-ir-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm

    In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

    ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِين

    Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn

    Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.

    ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم

    Ar-Raḥmān-ir-Raḥīm

    The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

    مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّين

    Māliki yawm-id-dīn

    Master of the Day of Judgment.

    إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين

    Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn

    You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.

    ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيم

    Ihdinaṣ-ṣirāṭal-mustaqīm

    Guide us to the straight path.

    صِرَاطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ، غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّالِّين

    Ṣirāṭal-laḏīna anʿamta ʿalayhim, ghayril-maghḍūbi ʿalayhim wa laḍ-ḍāllīn

    The path of those You have blessed, not of those who incurred wrath, nor of those who went astray.

    آمِين

    Āmīn

    (Said softly) Amen.

  33. 33
    Bowing, rukūʿRukūʿ

    Say takbir, bow with a straight back, hands on knees. Recite (3×):

    سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْعَظِيم

    Subḥāna rabbiyal-ʿaẓīm

    Glory be to my Lord, the Almighty.

    Repeat 3×
  34. 34
    Standing up after rukūʿIʿtidāl

    Stand up while saying the first phrase, then once standing recite the second:

    سَمِعَ ٱللَّٰهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه

    Samiʿallāhu liman ḥamidah

    Allah hears those who praise Him.

    رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ ٱلْحَمْد

    Rabbanā wa lakal-ḥamd

    Our Lord, to You alone belongs all praise.

  35. 35
    First prostration, sajdaSajda

    Say takbir as you go down, then prostrate. Forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes touch the ground. Recite (3×):

    سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ

    Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā

    Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

    Repeat 3×
  36. 36
    Sitting up between sajdasJalsa

    Say takbir as you sit. Pause briefly with a straight back.

    اللّٰهُ أَكْبَر

    Allāhu akbar

    Allah is the Greatest

  37. 37
    Second prostration, sajdaSajda

    Say takbir as you go back down. Recite (3×):

    سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ

    Subḥāna rabbiyal-aʿlā

    Glory be to my Lord, the Most High.

    Repeat 3×
  38. 38
    Final tashahhudTashahhud

    Sit upright. Right index finger raised at the shahādah. Recite At-Taḥiyyāt:

    ٱلتَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّٰهِ، وَٱلصَّلَوَاتُ وَٱلطَّيِّبَات، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا ٱلنَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَىٰ عِبَادِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلصَّالِحِين، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰه، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُه

    At-taḥiyyātu lillāh, was-ṣalawātu waṭ-ṭayyibāt. As-salāmu ʿalayka ayyuhan-nabiyyu wa raḥmatullāhi wa barakātuh. As-salāmu ʿalaynā wa ʿalā ʿibādillāhiṣ-ṣāliḥīn. Ashhadu al-lā ilāha illallāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh.

    All greetings, prayers, and pure deeds belong to Allah. Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Peace be upon us and upon all 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.

  39. 39
    Ṣalāt al-Ibrāhīmiyyah· Durood on the Prophet ﷺTashahhud

    ٱللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّد، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيم، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد. ٱللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَىٰ مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ مُحَمَّد، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَىٰ إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَىٰ آلِ إِبْرَاهِيم، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيد

    Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdun majīd.

    O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.

  40. 40
    Final duaTashahhud

    Make any sincere dua. A widely-recited one:

    رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي ٱلدُّنْيَا حَسَنَة، وَفِي ٱلْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَة، وَقِنَا عَذَابَ ٱلنَّار

    Rabbanā ātinā fid-dunyā ḥasanah, wa fil-ākhirati ḥasanah, wa qinā ʿadhāban-nār

    Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.

  41. 41
    The closing salāmSalām

    Turn your head to the right and say the salām, then to the left and say it again:

    ٱلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ ٱللَّٰه

    As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh

    Peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah.

    The prayer is complete.

A note on variants. Recitations follow the most widely shared Sunnah wording. Some madhabs use slightly different phrasing for Dua Sana, At-Taḥiyyāt, the closing dua, or hand placement during qiyām. All authentic variants are valid, pray in the way your local imam teaches.

What makes Isha distinct

  • 1

    Four fard rak'ahs, first two aloud, last two silent.

  • 2

    Brief tashahhud after rak'ah 2.

  • 3

    Followed immediately by 2 sunnah rak'ahs and then the witr.

  • 4

    Technically valid until Fajr but preferred before the midpoint of the night.

  • 5

    Skipping Isha (especially sleeping through) was called out by the Prophet ﷺ as a sign of hypocrisy alongside Fajr.

FAQs about Isha

Can I pray Isha right after Maghrib?+

No, not until the twilight has faded. The window starts when the red (or by Hanafi opinion, white) glow on the horizon has gone. Check your local time.

When should I stop delaying Isha?+

The Prophet ﷺ said the best time for Isha is one-third of the night. Praying before Islamic midnight (halfway between sunset and dawn) is strongly preferred. If you wait past that, still pray, but the reward lessens.

Should I pray witr right after Isha?+

Yes, unless you are confident you will wake up for tahajjud. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'Whoever fears he may not wake up in the last part of the night, let him pray witr at the start of the night.' Sahih Muslim 755.

Is the Qunut dua part of Isha?+

Qunut is part of Witr, not Isha (except on special occasions of public calamity, called Qunut an-Nawazil). See the Witr guide for the dua.

Learn the full prayer

Every daily prayer builds on the same 2-rak'ah pattern: wudu, the takbir, al-Fatihah, a surah, ruku, sujud, tashahhud, and salam. Learn the complete walkthrough once and every prayer makes sense.

Full walkthrough with wuduPrayer times for my city

Guides for every prayer

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