Isha Prayer
صلاة العشاء
The night prayer -- the fifth and final daily prayer
4
Fard (obligatory)
2
Sunnah (after Fard)
3
Witr
The Isha prayer consists of 4 Fard rakaat, followed by 2 Sunnah rakaat, and then 3 Witr rakaat. The first two Fard rakaat are recited aloud, while the third and fourth are silent. The Witr prayer is highly emphasized (Sunnah Mu'akkadah) and includes a special supplication called Dua al-Qunut.
Step-by-Step Guide (4-Rakah Fard)
Follow these steps for the 4 Fard rakaat. The 2 Sunnah after follow the same steps as any 2-rakah prayer (see Fajr guide).
Stand facing the Qiblah. Raise both hands to ear level and fold them on your chest (right over left).
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the Greatest
This is the opening Takbir (Takbirat al-Ihram). After this, recite the opening supplication (dua al-istiftah) silently.
Remain standing with hands folded on your chest. Recite Surah Al-Fatiha.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿١﴾ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ﴿٢﴾ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ ﴿٣﴾ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ﴿٤﴾ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ﴿٥﴾ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ ﴿٦﴾ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ ﴿٧﴾
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem. Al-hamdu lillahi Rabbil 'aalameen. Ar-Rahmanir Raheem. Maaliki yawmid-deen. Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een. Ihdinas-Siratal Mustaqeem. Siratal-lazeena an'amta 'alayhim, ghayril maghdoobi 'alayhim wa lad-daalleen.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Master of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Guide us on the Straight Path. The path of those You have blessed, not of those who earned anger, nor of those who went astray.
Say 'Ameen' after completing Al-Fatiha. In Isha, the first two rakaat are recited aloud by the Imam.
Remain standing. Recite any surah or verses from the Quran after Al-Fatiha.
وَالْعَصْرِ ﴿١﴾ إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَفِي خُسْرٍ ﴿٢﴾ إِلَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالْحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوْا بِالصَّبْرِ ﴿٣﴾
Wal-'Asr. Innal-insaana lafee khusr. Illal-lazeena aamanu wa 'amilus-saalihati wa tawasaw bil-haqqi wa tawasaw bis-sabr.
By time. Indeed, mankind is in loss. Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.
This is Surah Al-Asr (103). You may recite any surah. An additional surah is recited only in the first two rakaat.
Say 'Allahu Akbar' and bow down, placing your hands on your knees with your back straight and parallel to the ground. Keep your gaze on the place of prostration.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيمِ
Subhana Rabbiyal 'Azeem
Glory be to my Lord, the Most Great
Repeat this 3 times while in the bowing position.
Rise from bowing to a full standing position with your arms at your sides.
سَمِعَ اللهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ، رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ
Sami' Allahu liman hamidah, Rabbana wa lakal hamd
Allah hears the one who praises Him. Our Lord, to You belongs all praise.
Say 'Allahu Akbar' and go down into prostration. Place your forehead, nose, both palms, both knees, and toes on the ground.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal A'la
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High
Repeat this 3 times while in prostration.
Say 'Allahu Akbar' and rise to a sitting position. Sit on your left foot with your right foot upright.
رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي
Rabbighfir lee
My Lord, forgive me
You may repeat this supplication twice.
Say 'Allahu Akbar' and go into the second prostration, same as the first.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّيَ الْأَعْلَى
Subhana Rabbiyal A'la
Glory be to my Lord, the Most High
Repeat 3 times. This completes the first rakah.
Say 'Allahu Akbar' and stand up for the second rakah. Repeat steps 2-8 (Al-Fatiha, another surah, Ruku, standing, two Sujud).
The second rakah follows the same sequence as the first and is also recited aloud.
After the second Sujud of the second rakah, remain seated. Point your right index finger forward.
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-saliheen. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasooluh.
All greetings, prayers, and pure words 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.
After this first Tashahhud, stand up for the third rakah.
Say 'Allahu Akbar' and stand up. In the third and fourth rakaat, recite only Al-Fatiha (no additional surah) silently. Perform Ruku, standing, and two Sujud in each rakah as before.
After the second Sujud of the fourth rakah, remain seated for the final Tashahhud.
After the second Sujud of the fourth rakah, sit and recite the full Tashahhud.
التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلَامُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
At-tahiyyatu lillahi was-salawatu wat-tayyibat. As-salamu 'alayka ayyuhan-Nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahis-saliheen. Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasooluh.
All greetings, prayers, and pure words 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.
Remain seated after the final Tashahhud.
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ. اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ، كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، إِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ
Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammad, kama sallayta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala aali Ibrahim, innaka Hameedun Majeed. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala aali Muhammad, kama barakta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala aali Ibrahim, innaka Hameedun Majeed.
O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. Indeed, You are Praiseworthy and Glorious.
Turn your head to the right, then to the left, saying the Salam each time.
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullah
Peace and mercy of Allah be upon you
Say this once turning to the right, and once turning to the left. This concludes the Fard prayer.
Witr Prayer (3 Rakaat)
The Witr prayer is prayed after the Isha Sunnah. It is 3 rakaat and includes the special Dua al-Qunut.
Pray 2 rakaat just like any other 2-rakah prayer: Al-Fatiha + a surah in each, with Ruku, Sujud, Tashahhud, and Tasleem.
Some scholars say you can pray all 3 together without sitting after the second rakah. The method described here (2 + 1) is the most commonly practiced.
Stand and make the opening Takbir. Recite Al-Fatiha followed by a surah.
اللهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allahu Akbar
Allah is the Greatest
It is Sunnah to recite Surah Al-Ikhlas in this rakah.
After the recitation and before going into Ruku (or after rising from Ruku according to some scholars), raise your hands and recite the Qunut supplication.
اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ، إِنَّهُ لَا يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ، وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ
Allahumma-hdini feeman hadayt, wa 'aafini feeman 'aafayt, wa tawallani feeman tawallayt, wa baarik li feema a'tayt, wa qini sharra ma qadayt, fa innaka taqdee wa la yuqda 'alayk, innahu la yadhillu man waalayt, wa la ya'izzu man 'aadayt, tabarakta Rabbana wa ta'aalayt.
O Allah, guide me among those You have guided, pardon me among those You have pardoned, turn to me in friendship among those You have turned in friendship, and bless me in what You have bestowed, and save me from the evil of what You have decreed. For verily You decree and none can decree against You. He whom You befriend is not humbled, and he whom You oppose is not honored. Blessed are You, our Lord, and Exalted.
This dua is recited specifically in the Witr prayer. It is a Sunnah, not obligatory.
After the Qunut, proceed with Ruku, standing, two Sujud, final Tashahhud, Salawat, and Tasleem as in a normal prayer.
This completes the Witr prayer. The Witr is the last prayer of the night.