7 Steps to Perform Isha Salah

Photo of a person praying Isha Salah

Isha Salah, also known as the night prayer, is a fundamental pillar of the Islamic faith, offering Muslims an opportunity to connect with the divine before retiring to bed. Performing Isha Salah with the utmost sincerity and precision is essential for fulfilling its spiritual and ritualistic significance. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the proper way to perform Isha Salah, encompassing every step from ablution to the final supplication. Embark on this journey with us to enhance your understanding and elevate your Isha Salah experience.

Before commencing Isha Salah, it is imperative to perform Wudu, the ritual purification process. Wudu involves washing specific body parts, including the face, hands, arms, head, and feet, in a sequential manner. This act of purification symbolizes both physical and spiritual cleansing, preparing the individual for the sacred communion with God. Once Wudu is complete, it is recommended to seek a clean and tranquil space where distractions can be minimized. The use of a prayer mat, known as a Sajjada, is encouraged for added comfort and focus during Salah.

The Isha Salah consists of four mandatory units of prayer, known as Raka’at. Each Raka’at comprises specific movements and recitations. The prayer begins with the Takbir, a declaration of Allah’s greatness, followed by the Qiyam, standing position, during which the opening chapter of the Quran, Surah Al-Fatiha, is recited. The Ruku’, a bowing position, and the Sujud, a prostration position, come next, each accompanied by specific supplications. After completing the four Raka’at, the worshiper concludes the Salah with the Tashahhud, a sitting position, and the Salam, a greeting of peace. Throughout the Salah, maintaining a state of humility and mindfulness is crucial to connect deeply with the divine and derive spiritual nourishment from this sacred act.

Importance of Isha Salah

Isha Salah, the fifth and final obligatory prayer in Islam, holds immense significance for Muslims. Its importance stems from various spiritual and practical reasons:

Spiritual Significance:

Aspect	Significance
Заключительный акт дня	Isha Salah marks the end of the day, providing an opportunity to express gratitude to Allah (God) for blessings received and to reflect on the day’s actions.
Просьба о защите	The prayer includes supplications for protection from evil, darkness, and the temptations of the night.
Духовное обновление	By performing Isha Salah, Muslims renew their connection with Allah, purifying their hearts and preparing for the night ahead.

Practical Benefits:

Эмоциональное спокойствие: The meditative nature of Isha Salah helps calm the mind and reduce stress.
Улучшение сна: The act of praying before bed promotes relaxation and prepares the body for a restful sleep.
Чувство общины: Isha Salah is often performed in mosques, strengthening bonds within the Muslim community.

Conditions for Performing Isha Salah

To ensure the validity of Isha Salah, several conditions must be met:

1. Commencement of Night: Isha Salah begins when the sun completes its descent below the horizon, which is usually determined by the disappearance of twilight and the appearance of darkness.

2. Duration of Night: Isha Salah can be performed during the entire period of darkness until the break of dawn (Fajr). However, it is recommended to perform the Salah as soon as possible after the commencement of night, as it carries more reward from Allah (SWT).

3. Freedom from Doubt: The time for Isha Salah should be clear and unambiguous. If there is any doubt about the exact time, it is better to wait until the doubt is resolved or consult a reliable source to determine the correct time.

4. Sense of Tranquility: It is advisable to perform Isha Salah in a state of tranquility and without any signs of drowsiness or fatigue. If a person is too tired to perform the Salah properly, they may consider delaying it until they feel more refreshed and alert.

5. Absence of Excuses: Isha Salah is a mandatory obligation, and no excuses are acceptable for intentionally missing it without a valid reason. If a person is unable to perform the Salah on time due to a valid excuse, such as illness or menstruation, they should make up for it as soon as they are able.


Timing of Isha Salah:
Beginning: After the commencement of night (when darkness prevails)
End: Before the break of dawn (Fajr)

Time for Performing Isha Salah

The Isha prayer, also known as the night prayer, is one of the five obligatory prayers in Islam. It is performed after sunset and before midnight.

Beginning of Isha Salah Time

The earliest time to perform Isha salah is when the red twilight disappears from the horizon. This is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes after sunset.

Preferred Time for Isha Salah

The preferred time to perform Isha salah is after the first third of the night has passed. This is approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes after sunset.

Last Time for Isha Salah

The latest time to perform Isha salah is before the break of dawn. This is approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes before sunrise.

Time	Description
Earliest time	1 hour and 20 minutes after sunset
Preferred time	2 hours and 40 minutes after sunset
Latest time	1 hour and 20 minutes before sunrise

The Sunnah of Isha Salah

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) emphasized the importance of observing the Sunnah of Isha Salah. Here are some of the recommended practices:

Performing Witr Prayer

Witr prayer is a highly recommended Sunnah after Isha. It consists of an odd number of rak’ahs (units of prayer), typically one or three.

Rak’ahs	Description
1	Perfected with Tasleem (final salutation)
3	Second and third rak’ahs performed with Qunut (supplication)

Reciting Ayatul-Kursi Before Sleeping

Reciting Ayatul-Kursi, a verse from Surah Al-Baqarah, before going to bed is a powerful Sunnah that protects the believer from harm and evil.

Sleeping on the Right Side

It is recommended to sleep on the right side with the right hand under the cheek, as this is how the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to sleep.

Making Dua Before Sleeping

Specific duas are recommended to be recited before sleeping, such as: “Bismika Allahumma amootu wa ahya” (In Your Name, O Allah, I die and I live).

Fardh of Isha Salah

Isha Salah is the obligatory evening prayer performed after sunset. It consists of four fardh rak’ahs and three sunnah rak’ahs, as detailed below:

Four Fardh Rak’ahs

Stand facing the qiblah and recite the intention (niyyah) for Isha Salah.
Perform the Takbiratul-Ihram (raising both hands up to the ears and saying “Allahu Akbar”).
Recite the Surah Fatihah (The Opening) and Surah Al-Falaq (The Daybreak) in the first rak’ah.
Recite Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad (The Oneness of Allah) and Surah An-Nas (Mankind) in the second rak’ah.
Perform two sajdas (prostrations), reciting “Subhana Rabbiyal A’la” (Glory to my Lord, the Most High) twice in each sajdah.
Return to the sitting position and recite the Tashahhud and the Durood Ibrahimi.
End the prayer with the Salam (greeting of peace).

The table below summarizes the Fardh of Isha Salah:

Rak’ah	Recitation	Other Actions
First	Surah Fatihah, Surah Al-Falaq	None
Second	Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad, Surah An-Nas	None
Third (Sunnah)	Surah Fatihah, any other Surah	None
Fourth (Sunnah)	Surah Fatihah, any other Surah	None

Wajib of Isha Salah

1. Niyyah: Intending to perform the Isha Salah, which is the fifth and final obligatory prayer of the day.

2. Iqama: Pronouncing the call to prayer (Iqama) to initiate the prayer, indicating that it is time for the congregation to gather and start the Salah.

3. Takbirat al-Ihram: Raising both hands to the ears and saying “Allahu Akbar” to begin the Salah.

4. Qiyam: Standing with both feet parallel and shoulder-width apart, facing the Qiblah (direction of Mecca).

5. Qira’ah: Reciting the first chapter of the Quran (Surah Al-Fatihah) and a chapter of choice (Surah).

6. Ruku’: Bowing down from the waist, keeping the back straight and parallel to the ground, while reciting “Subhana Rabbiyal Azim” three times.

7. Sujud: Prostrating on the ground, placing the forehead, nose, hands, knees, and toes on the ground while reciting “Subhana Rabbiyal A’la” three times.

8. The Sitting Position: Sitting back on the heels, keeping the toes pointed and the back straight.

9. Tashahud: Reciting the Tashahud, which includes the statement of faith, blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad, and supplications.

10. Salam: Concluding the Salah by turning the head to the right and saying “As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah” (peace and blessings be upon you), and then repeating the same on the left.

Ruku’
Bowing down from the waist, keeping the back straight and parallel to the ground
Reciting “Subhana Rabbiyal Azim” three times

Mustahabb of Isha Salah

1. Perform ablution thoroughly:

Performing ablution before Isha Salah is obligatory, but it is recommended to perform it thoroughly to purify oneself both physically and spiritually.

2. Use siwak (miswak):

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encouraged the use of siwak, a natural toothbrush, before every prayer, including Isha.

3. Adhan and Iqamah:

If possible, perform adhan and iqamah before Isha Salah as it signals the beginning of the prayer and helps concentrate the mind.

4. Pray in congregation:

Attending Isha Salah in congregation (jama’ah) earns a greater reward than praying alone.

5. Pray on time:

While Isha Salah has a wide time frame, it is recommended to pray it as close to the preferred time (20 minutes after sunset) as possible.

6. Prolong the prayer:

Offering a longer Isha Salah, especially the first two rak’ahs, is encouraged as it allows for deeper contemplation and connection with God.

7. Witr Prayer

Witr prayer, consisting of an odd number of rak’ahs (usually 3 or 11), is highly recommended after Isha Salah. It is considered a powerful means of seeking forgiveness and drawing closer to God.

Specific recommendations for Witr prayer include:

Rak’ahs	Recitations
1	Al- Fatiha and Qul Huwallahu Ahad
2	Al- Fatiha and Al- Ikhlas
3	Al- Fatiha, Al- Ikhlas, and Al- Mu’awwidhatayn (Al- Falaq and An- Nas)

Makruh of Isha Salah

There are certain actions and behaviors that are considered undesirable or Makruh during Isha Salah, including:

1. Delaying the Salah beyond its recommended time.

2. Sleeping or dozing off during the Salah.

3. Yawning excessively.

4. Scratching oneself excessively.

5. Engaging in unnecessary conversation.

6. Laughing during the Salah.

7. Stretching excessively.

8. Leaving the Salah unnecessarily, such as for personal reasons or to attend to matters that could have been postponed.

Makruh Time Ranges	Description
After Maghrib commences	Performing Isha Salah after Maghrib Salah (in the early part of the night) is considered slightly Makruh. It’s recommended to wait for a short while before performing Isha Salah.
After midnight	Praying Isha after midnight is highly Makruh, as it is believed that the time allotted for Isha Salah ends at midnight.
During the last third of the night	Performing Isha in the last third of the night is also considered slightly Makruh.

9. Walking around unnecessarily during the Salah.

10. Performing the Salah in a state of impurity or without completing the necessary purification rituals.

Precautions for Performing Isha Salah

To ensure a valid and spiritually fulfilling Isha salah, certain precautions must be observed.

1. Perform Wudu

Perform ablution (wudu) before the prayer to purify oneself.

2. Be in the Right Direction

Face the Qibla (direction of the Kaaba in Mecca) while praying.

3. Isha Time

Establish the prayer between sunset (Maghrib) and the break of dawn (Fajr).

4. Namaz Length

Isha consists of four Sunnah and four Fardh (obligatory) rakats.

5. Sunnah and Fardh Timing

Perform two Sunnah rakats before and two Sunnah rakats after the Fardh.

6. Prayer Rugs

Use a clean prayer rug to ensure purity and comfort.

7. Avoid Distractions

Eliminate distractions and focus on the prayer to achieve a deep connection with God.

8. Maintain Humility

Approach the prayer with humility and reverence, recognizing the greatness of Allah.

9. Post-Prayer Supplications

After the prayer, recite supplications (duas) and engage in dhikr (remembrance of Allah).

Sunnah Rakat	Fardh Rakat
2 before Fardh	4 Fardh
2 after Fardh

Benefits of Performing Isha Salah

Performing Isha Salah, the final prayer of the day, offers numerous spiritual and practical benefits.

Spiritual Benefits:

Strengthening Connection with Allah:

Isha Salah provides an opportunity to connect with Allah, express gratitude, and seek forgiveness before retiring for the night.
Peace and Tranquility:

The soothing nature of Isha Salah helps calm the mind, reduce stress, and induce a sense of inner peace.
Removal of Sins:

This prayer is believed to remove minor sins committed throughout the day, contributing to spiritual purification.
Companionship of Angels:

It is believed that angels accompany those who perform Isha Salah, creating a protective and spiritually uplifting environment.
Entering Paradise:

Consistently performing Isha Salah is associated with the promise of entering Paradise in the afterlife.

Practical Benefits:

Enhanced Sleep Quality:

Isha Salah’s calming effects can promote better sleep.
Reduced Stress and Anxiety:

The act of praying helps release endorphins, which have stress-relieving effects.
Improved Discipline and Routine:

Performing Isha Salah regularly helps establish a consistent evening routine, promoting discipline and organization.
Strengthened Community Bonds:

Performing Isha Salah in congregation at mosques fosters a sense of community and unity.
Improved Physical Health:

The physical movements involved in Isha Salah, such as standing, bowing, and prostrating, provide gentle exercise and promote flexibility.

How To Perform Isha Salah

Isha Salah is the fifth and final obligatory prayer of the day in Islam. It is performed after sunset and before dawn. Isha Salah consists of four rak’ahs (units of prayer) and is performed in the following manner:

Stand facing the Qiblah (direction of Mecca) and make the intention to perform Isha Salah.
Say the opening Takbir (Allahu Akbar).
Recite Surah Al-Fatihah.
Recite another Surah from the Quran.
Bow down and say Subhana Rabbiyal Azim three times.
Stand up straight and say Sami’Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal hamd.
Prostrate yourself and say Subhana Rabbiyal A’la three times.
Sit up and say Allahu Akbar.
Repeat steps 3-8 for the second rak’ah.
After the second rak’ah, sit back on your heels and recite the Tashahhud.
Turn your head to the right and say As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah.
Turn your head to the left and say As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah.