Salah

Salah or Salat (Arabic: ٱلصَّلَاة‎ aṣ-ṣalāh, Arabic: ٱلصَّلَوَات‎ aṣ-ṣalawāt, meaning "prayer", "supplication", "blessing" and "commendation";[1] also known as Namāz (from Persian: نماز‎))[2] among most non-Arab Muslims, is the second of the five pillars in the Islamic faith as daily obligatory standardized prayers. It is a physical, mental, and spiritual act of worship that is observed five times every day at prescribed times. While facing towards the Kaaba in Mecca,[3] Muslims pray first standing and later kneeling or sitting on the ground, reciting from the Qur'an and glorifying and praising God as they bow and prostrate themselves in between. Ritual purity is a precondition.

Salah is composed of repetitive cycles of bows and prostrations, divided into prescribed units called a rakʿah. The number of rakaʿahs varies according to the time of day.

Terminology

Etymology

Ṣalāh ([sˤɑˈlɑː] صَلَاة) is an Arabic word that means to pray or bless.[4] It also means "contact," "communication," or "connection".[5]

English usage

The word salāh is used by English-speakers only to refer to the formal obligatory prayers of Islam. The word "prayer" may also be used to translate different elements of Muslim worship, such as duʿāʾ (دُعَاء "invocation, appeal, supplication") and dhikr (ذِكْر "remembrance, mention, litany").[6]

Namaz

In non-Arab Muslim countries the most widespread term is the Persian word namāz (نماز). It is used by speakers of the Indo-Iranian languages (e.g., Persian, Kurdish, Bengali, Urdu, Balochi, Hindi),[7] as well as by speakers of Turkish, Azerbaijani, Russian, Chinese, Bosnian and Albanian. In the North Caucasus, the term is lamaz (ламаз) in Chechen, chak (чак) in Lak and kak in Avar (как). In Malaysia and Indonesia, the term solat is used, as well as a local term sembahyang (meaning "communication", from the words sembah - worship, and hyang - god or deity).[8]

Salah in the Quran

The noun ṣalāh (‏صلاة‎) is used 82 times in the Qur'an, with about 15 other derivatives of its triliteral root ṣ-l[9]. Words connected to salah (such as mosque, wudu, dhikr, etc.) are used in approximately one-sixth of Qur'anic verses.[10] "Surely my prayer, and my sacrifice and my life and my death are (all) for God",[11][lower-alpha 1] and "I am Allah, there is no god but I, therefore serve Me and keep up prayer for My remembrance"[12][lower-alpha 2] are both examples of this.

Tafsir of the Qur'an can give four dimensions of salah. First, in order to commend God's servants, God, together with the angels, do salah ("blessing, salutations")[13][lower-alpha 3] Second, salah is done involuntarily by all beings in Creation, in the sense that they are always in contact with God by virtue of Him creating and sustaining them.[14][lower-alpha 4] Third, Muslims voluntarily offer salah to reveal that it is the particular form of worship that belongs to the prophets.[lower-alpha 5] Fourth, salah is described as the second pillar of Islam.[4]

Purpose and importance

Bosniaks praying in an open field, ca. 1906

The primary purpose of Salah is to act as a person's communication with Allah.[15] Purification of the heart is the ultimate religious objective of Salah.[16]

Conditions

Yemeni prayer during North Yemen Civil War

Salah is an obligatory ritual for all Muslims, except for those who are prepubescent, menstruating and experiencing bleeding in the 40 days after childbirth, according to Sunnis.[17]

There are some conditions that make salah invalid, and some that make salah correct.[18]

According to one view among many, if one ignores the following conditions, their salah is invalid:[18]

Facing the Qibla, with the chest facing the direction of the Kaaba. The ill and the old are allowed leniency with posture;
Being in a state of Tahara, usually achieved by a short ritual washing called wudu;
Being sane and able to distinguish between right and wrong;[19]
Not offering salah in the pathway of people (unless a stationary object is placed in front, obstructing the people's way), in a graveyard or disrespectful places, on land which has been taken by force;
Covering one's nakedness (awrah).[20]
Laughing or speaking, or any unnecessary movements during the salah;
Flatulence;
Burping loudly in such a way that it disturbs other worshippers; and
Reading the necessary surahs too loudly, in a way that disturbs other worshippers

Other conditions for salah include:[18]

Women not praying during their menstruation and for a period of time after childbirth.[21]
Covering of the whole body; and
Praying within the time determined for each salah [22]

Prostration of forgetfulness

Most mistakes in Salah can be compensated for by prostrating twice at the end of the prayer.[23]

Gestures and postures

The four main salat postures and associated prayers and recitations.

Each Salah is made up of repeating units or cycles called rakats (singular rakah). There may be two to four units.

Each unit consists of specific movements and recitations. On the major elements there is consensus, but on minor details there may be different views. Between each position there is a very slight pause.

Orthostasis (qiyām)

Men standing in prayer in Tulehu, Indonesia.

Salah is begun in a standing position (although people who find it physically difficult can offer salah in a way suitable for them).[4]

Intention (niyyah)

Intention is a prerequisite for salah, and what distinguishes real worship from 'going through the motions'. Some authorities hold that intention suffices in the heart, and some require that it be spoken, usually under the breath.[24] But there is no evidence that the Islamic prophet Muhammad or any of his companions ever uttered a niyyah aloud before prayer.

Consecratory magnification (takbīrat al-iḥrām)

A Muslim raises his hands to do takbīrat al-iḥrām in prayer

One says Allāhu akbar (اَللهُ أَكْبَرْ, "God is greater/greatest"), a formula known as takbīr (literally "magnification [of God]"). This opening takbīr is known as takbīrat al-iḥrām or takbīrat at-taḥrīmah. From this point forward one praying may not converse, eat, or do other worldly things: the aim is to be alone with God. For many Muslims, the consecration is said with the hands raised and thumbs placed behind the earlobes, as shown.[25] One then lowers one's hands.[26][27] Some Muslims afterwards add a supplication praising Allah, such as:[28]

سُبْحَاْنَكَ اَلْلّٰھُمَّ وَبِحَمدِكَ وَتَبَارَكَ اسْمُكَ وَتَعَالٰی جَدُّكَ وَلَا اِلٰهَ غَیْرُكَ‎

subḥānaka allāhumma wa-bi-ḥamdika wa-tabāraka-smuka wa-taʿālā jadduka wa-lā ʾilāha ġayruk.[25]

"Glory be to You, O God, along with Your praise, and blessed is Your name, and high is Your majesty, and there is no god other than You."

Readings/recitation (qiraʾat)

Still standing, the next principal act is to recite the first chapter of the Qur'an, the Fatiha.[29] This chapter takes the form of a supplication, at the heart of which is a plea for guidance "to the straight path". Many Muslims precede the Fatiha, as with any recitation from the Qur'an, by asking for refuge with God from "the accursed devil":[30]

أَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّـيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْمِ‎

'aʿūḏu bi-llāhi mina š-šayṭāni r-rajīm.[25]

In the first and second unit, another portion of the Qur'an is recited following the Fatiha.[25] At the end of the recitations one moves to the next position, saying Allahu akbar as one does so.

Bowing (rukūʿ)

Bowing in prayer.

Next is bowing from the waist, with palms placed on the knees (according to most schools, women should not bow so low). While bowing, the one praying generally utters formulas of praise under the breath, such as سبحان ربي العظيم (subḥāna rabbīya l-ʿaẓīm "Glory be to my Lord, the Most Magnificent"), thrice or more in odd number of times.[25]

Straightening up (iʿtidāl)

As the worshipper straightens their back they say سمع الله لمن حمده (samiʿa-llāhu li-man ḥamidah, "God hears the one who praises him.")[25] An additional formula of praise is usually uttered under the breath, such as ربنا لك الحمد (rabbanā laka l-ḥamd, "Our Lord, all praise be to you.")[25] After a moment of standing, the worshipper moves to the prostration - again saying Allahu akbar.[25]

Low bowing/prostration (sujūd)

Muslims bowing in prostration in Syria.

Men praying in Kosovo

Then the worshipper kneels and bows low to the ground or prostrates with the forehead, nose, knees, palms and toes touching the floor.[25] The worshipper utters سبحان ربى الأعلى وبحمده (subḥāna rabbiya l-'aʿlā "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High").[25] After a short while in prostration the worshipper very briefly rises to a kneeling position, then returns to the ground a second time. As they rise from the second prostration, they say Allāhu akbar as before.[25] Lifting the head from the second prostration completes the unit.

If this is the second or last unit, the worshiper proceeds to sitting.
If not, one returns to a standing position and begins another unit with the Fatiha.

Kneeling/sitting

The worshipper kneels or sits on the ground with legs folded under the body (the precise posture differs between schools), and recites a prayer called the tashahhud.

Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani praying in the Syrian desert

The tashahhud consists of the testimony of faith (the shahadah) and invoking peace and blessings on Muhammad (salawat). Many schools hold that the right index finger is raised for these prayers.[25] After the tashahhud prayer,

If there are further units to follow, a new unit is begun by returning to the standing position, uttering the Allahu akbar as before.[25]
If it is the last unit, the worshipper adds a short supplication called the Ibrahimiyya, which emphasies the relationship between Muhammad and Abraham (Ibrahim), then the salah is then brought to an end as below.

Peace greeting/salutation (taslīm)

Performing the Taslim

Reciting the salam facing the right direction Reciting the salam facing the left direction

The worshipper ends the prayer (and exits their state of consecration) by saying السلام عليڪم ورحمة الله (as-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatu llāh, "Peace and God's mercy be upon you", the taslīm). This is said twice, first to the right and then to the left.[25]

Takbir

Every movement from one position to another is accompanied by the takbir except the straightening up from the ruku' and the conclusion.[31]

Differences in practice

A Sunni Muslim (left) beside a Shia Muslim (right) during Friday prayer in Tehran, Iran, 16 March 2018. Shia Muslims offer salah with hands by the side, most Sunni Muslims with the hands clasped.

Muslims believe that Muhammad practiced, taught, and disseminated the worship ritual in the whole community of Muslims and made it part of their life. The practice has, therefore, been concurrently and perpetually practiced by the community in each of the generations. The authority for the basic forms of the salah is neither the hadiths nor the Qur'an, but rather the consensus of Muslims.[32]

This is not inconsistent with another fact that Muslims have shown diversity in their practice since the earliest days of practice, so the salah practiced by one Muslim may differ from another's in minor details. In some cases the Hadith suggest some of this diversity of practice was known of and approved by the Prophet himself.[33]

A turbah (Arabic: تربة ; Persian: مهر mohr) is a small piece of soil or clay, often a clay tablet, used during salat to symbolize earth. The use of a turbah is compulsory in most Shi'a schools of Islam, and disapproved among many Sunnis.

Most differences arise because of different interpretations of the Islamic legal sources by the different schools of law (madhhabs) in Sunni Islam, and by different legal traditions within Shia Islam. In the case of ritual worship these differences are generally minor, and should rarely cause dispute.[34]

Specific differences

Common differences, which may vary between schools and gender, include:[35][36][37][38][39][40]

Position of legs and feet.
Position of hands, including fingers
Place where eyes should focus
The minimum amount of recitation
Loudness of recitation: audible, or moving of lips, or just listening
Which of the principal elements of the prayer are indispensable, versus recommended, optional, etc.

Shia Muslims, after the end of the prayer, raise their hands three times, reciting Allahu akbar whereas Sunnis look at the right and then left shoulder saying taslim. Also, Shias often read "Qunoot" in the second Rakat, while Sunnis usually do this after salah.[41]

A 2015 Pew Research Center study found that women are two percent more likely than men to pray on a daily basis.[42]

Categories

Prayers in Islam are classified into categories based on degrees of obligation. One common classification is fard ("obligatory") & wajib ("compulsory"), and sunnah ("tradition") & nafl ("voluntary").[43]

Mandatory prayers

Five daily prayers

Display showing prayer times in a Turkish mosque.

The five daily prayers are obligatory on every Muslim who has reached the age of puberty, with the exception being those who are mentally ill, too physically ill for it to be possible,[44] menstruating,[45] or experiencing postnatal bleeding.[46] Those who are sick or otherwise physically unable to offer their prayers in the traditional form are permitted to offer their prayers while sitting or lying, as they are able.[47]

Times of prayers

Each of the five prayers has a prescribed time measured by the movement of the sun. They are: between dawn and sunrise (fajr), after the sun has passed its zenith (zuhr), when afternoon shadows lengthen (asr), just after sunset (maghrib) and around nightfall (isha).[48]

Salah must be prayed in its time unless there is a compelling reason preventing this.[49]

Sunni view

I. Fajr II. Zuhr III. Asr IV. Maghrib, V. Ishai

Of the fard category are the five daily prayers, as well as the Friday prayer (Salat al-Jumu'ah), while the Eid prayers and Witr are of the wajib category.[50] Negligence of any of the obligatory prayers renders one a non-Muslim according to the stricter Hanbali madhhab of Sunni Islam, while the other Sunni madhhabs consider doing so a major sin. However, all four madhhabs agree that denial of the mandatory status of these prayers invalidates the faith of those who do so, rendering them non-Muslim. Fard prayers (as with all fard actions) are further classed as either fard al-ayn (obligation of the self) and fard al-kifayah (obligation of sufficiency). Fard al-Ayn are actions considered obligatory on individuals, for which the individual will be held to account if the actions are neglected.[51] Fard al-Kifayah are actions considered obligatory on the Muslim community at large, so that if some people within the community carry it out no Muslim is considered blameworthy, but if no one carries it out, all incur a collective punishment.[52]

Men are required to offer the mandatory salat in congregation (jama'ah), behind an imam when they are able. According to most Islamic scholars, prayer in congregation is mustahabb (recommended) for men, when they are able.[53]

Qasr and jam' bayn as-salaatayn

When travelling over long distances, one may shorten some prayers, a practice known as Qasr. Furthermore, several prayer times may be joined, which is referred to as Jam' bayn as-Salaatayn. Qasr involves shortening the obligatory components of the Zuhr, Asr, and Isha prayers to two rakats.[54] Jam' bayn as-Salaatayn combines the Zuhr and Asr prayers into one prayer offered between noon and sunset, and the Maghrib and Isha prayers into one between sunset and Fajr. Neither Qasr nor Jam' bayn as-Salaatayn can be applied to the Fajr prayer.[55]

Qada

In certain circumstances, one may be unable to offer one's prayer within the prescribed time period (waqt). In this case, the prayer must be offered as soon as one can do so. Several Ahadith narrates that Muhammad stated that permissible reasons to pray Qada Salah are forgetfulness and accidentally sleeping through the prescribed time. However, knowingly sleeping through the prescribed time for Salah is deemed impermissible.[56]

Quranist view

Muslims who reject the Hadith and Quranists, some pray five times and some thrice a day. Quranists in Algeria for example "pray with unlike their usual postures, and do not bow, but believe that prostration is the next posture on completion of recitation (of the Quran)."[57]

Supererogatory prayers

Voluntary prayers

Nafl salah (supererogatory prayers) are voluntary, and one may offer as many as he or she likes almost any time.[58] There are many specific conditions or situations when one may wish to offer nafl prayers. They cannot be offered at sunrise, true noon, or sunset. The prohibition against salah at these times is to prevent the practice of sun worship.[59] Some Muslims offer voluntary prayers immediately before and after the five prescribed prayers. Sunni Muslims classify these prayers as sunnah, while Shi'ah considers them nafil. One schema of the number of rakats for each of the five obligatory prayers as well as the voluntary prayers (before and after) are listed below - once again there are minor differences between schools.[60]

Name	Prescribed time period (waqt)	Voluntary before fard[t 1]		Obligatory	Voluntary after fard[t 1]
Name	Prescribed time period (waqt)	Sunni	Shi'a	Obligatory	Sunni	Shi'a
Fajr (فجر)	Dawn to sunrise, should be read at least 10–15 minutes before sunrise	2 Rakats Sunnat-Mu'akkadah[t 1]	2 Rakats[t 1]	2 Rakats[t 1]	—	2 Rakats[t 1]
Dhur (ظهر)	After true noon until Asr	4 Rakats Sunnat-Mu'akkadah[t 2]	4 Rakats	4 Rakats[t 3]	2 Rakats Sunnat-Mu'akkadah[t 2]	8 Rakats[t 1][t 4][t 5]
Asr (عصر)	Afternoon[t 6][t 7]	4 Rakats Sunnat-Ghair-Mu'akkdah	4 Rakats	4 Rakats	-	8 Rakats[t 1][t 4][t 5]
Maghrib (مغرب)	After sunset until dusk	2 Rakats Nafil	3 Rakats	3 Rakats	2 Rakats Sunnat-Mu'akkadah[t 2]	2 Rakats[t 1][t 4][t 5]
Isha (عشاء)[t 8]	Dusk until dawn[t 7]	4 Rakats Sunnat-Ghair-Mu'akkadah	4 Rakats	4 Rakats	2 Rakats Sunnat-Mu'akkadah,[t 2] 3 Rakats Witr	2 Rakats[t 1][t 4][t 5]

Many Sunni Muslims also offer two rakats of nafl salah (supererogatory prayer) after the Zuhr and Maghrib prayers. During the 'Isha prayer, they pray the two rakats of nafl after the two Sunnat-Mu'aqqadah and after the Witr.[60]

Prayers of the tradition

Though not a mandatory part of the course, most Muslims supplicate after completing salah.

Sun'nah salah are optional and were additional voluntary prayers said by Muhammad. They are of two types (optional or supererogatory), the sunnat mu'aqqaddah (""), practiced on a regular basis, which if abandoned causes the abandoner to be regarded as sinful by the Hanafi School; and the sunnat ghayr mu'aqqaddah (""), practiced on a semi-regular practice by Muhammad, of which abandonment is not considered to be sinful.[61] Certain sunnah prayers have prescribed waqts associated with them. Those ordained for before each of the fard prayers must be said between the first call to prayer (adhan) and the second call (iqama), which signifies the start of the fard prayer.[62] Those sunnah ordained for after the fard prayers can be said any time between the end of the fard prayers and the end of the current prayer's waqt.[62] Any amount of extra rakats may be offered, but most madha'ib prescribe a certain number of rakats for each sunnah salah.

Friday prayer (Jumu'ah)

Jumu'ah at Kaohsiung Mosque, Taiwan.

Salat al-Jumu'ah is a congregational prayer on Friday, which replaces the Zuhr prayer. It is compulsory upon men to pray this in congregation, while women may pray it so or offer Zuhr salat instead.[63] Salat al-Jumu'ah consists of a sermon (khutba) given by the sermoner (khatib), after which two rakats are prayed.[64] There is no Salat al-Jumu'ah without a khutba. Khutba is supposed to be carefully listened to as it replaces Sawaab of two Rakats.[65]


Name	Prescribed time period (waqt)	Voluntary before fard		Obligatory	Voluntary after fard
Name	Prescribed time period (waqt)	Sunni	Shi'a	Obligatory	Sunni	Shi'a
Jumu'ah (جمعة)	After true noon until Asr	4 Rakats Sunnat-e-Mu'akkadah	2 Rakats Sunnat/ Mustahab	2 Rakats Furz	4 Rakats Sunnat Mu'akkadah 2 Rakats Sunnat Mu'akkadah 2 Rakats Nafil	2 Rakats Sunnat Mu'akkadah

Nightly prayers

The time for nightly prayers (Salat al-Layl) starts after midnight until the time for Fajr prayer.[66] It is considered highly meritorious by all Shia Muslims, and is said to bring numerous benefits to the believer, mainly gaining proximity to Allah.[67] Layl prayer includs eleven Rakat:[66]

Tahajjud Prayer (Nafilah of Layl): 8 Rakat consist of 4 prayers 2 Rakat.
al-Shafa prayer (Salat al-Shafa): 2 Rakat.
Witr prayer (Salat-al-Witr): 1 Rakat.

Tahajjud

The word tahajjud is derived from the root H-J-D (هجد) meaning "spending the night awake or asleep".[68] This prayer is not obligatory. The time for tahajjud (nightly prayers) is started from the late hours of the night and is finished when the time for Fajr prayer entered. The prayer includes eight rakat, followed by three rakat of Witr prayer.[69]

Witr

The word witr (وتر) means "odd number" as an adjective and "string" or "chord" as a noun. Witr is offered after the salah of 'Isha. Some Muslims consider witr compulsory while others consider it supererogatory. It may contain an odd number of rakats from one to five according to the different schools of jurisprudence. Witr is most commonly offered in three rakats, actually one raka'ah added to two rakat of Tahajjud or Tarawih prayer at the end.[70] The prayer usually includes the qunut.[67]

Prayers of Eid

Women praying in Najaf, Iraq in Eid ul-Fitr

The salah of the 'Idayn is said on the mornings of 'Id al-Fitr and 'Id an-Nahr. The Eid prayer is classified by some as fard, likely an individual obligation (fard al-ayn) though some Islamic scholars argue it is only a collective obligation (fard al-kifayah).[71] It consists of two rakats, with seven (or three for the followers Imam Hanafi) takbirs offered before the start of the first rakat and five (or three for the followers of Imam Hanafi) before the second. After the salah is completed, a sermon (khutbah) is offered. However, the khutbah is not an integral part of the Eid salah.[72] The Eid salah must be offered between sunrise and true noon i.e. between the time periods for Fajr and Zuhr.[54]

Prayer of Istikhaarah

The word istikharah is derived from the root ḵ-y-r (خير) "well-being, goodness, choice, selection".[73] Salat al-Istikhaarah is a prayer offered when a Muslim needs guidance on a particular matter. To say this salah one should pray two rakats of non-obligatory salah to completion. After completion one should request God that which on is better.[54] The intention for the salah should be in one's heart to pray two rakats of salah followed by Istikhaarah. The salah can be offered at any of the times where salah is not forbidden.[74]

Tahiyyat al-Masjid

Upon entering the mosque, Tahiyyat al-Masjid ("mosque greeting" prayer) may be offered; this is to pay respects to the mosque. Every Muslim entering the mosque is encouraged to offer these two rakats.[75]

Prayer in congregation

President Joko Widodo of Indonesia (front row, fourth from left) joining prayer in congregation with Vice President Jusuf Kalla (third from left), other cabinet members, and other worshippers.

Friday prayer for Muslims in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Prayer in the congregation (jama'ah) is considered to have more social and spiritual benefits than praying by oneself.[76] When praying in congregation, the people stand in straight parallel rows behind one person who conducts the prayer, called imam, also called the ‘leader’. The imam must be above the rest in knowledge, action, piety, and justness and possess faith and commitment the people trust, Balanced Perception of Religion and the best knowledge of the Qur'an.[56] The prayer is offered as normal, with the congregation following the imam in order as he/she offers the salah.[77]

Standing arrangement

For two people of the same gender, the imam would stand on the left, and the other person is on the right. For more than two people, the imam stands one row ahead of the rest.

When the Worshippers consist of men and women combined, a man is chosen as the imam. In this situation, women are typically forbidden from assuming this role. This point, though unanimously agreed on by the major schools of Islam, is disputed by some groups, based partly on a hadith whose interpretation is controversial. When the congregation consists entirely of women and pre-pubescent children, one woman is chosen as imam.[78] When men, women, and children are praying, the children's rows are usually between the men's and women's rows, with the men at the front and women at the back. Another configuration is where the men's and women's rows are side by side, separated by a curtain or other barrier,[79] with the primary intention being for there to be no direct line of sight between male and female Worshippers, following a Qur'anic injunction toward men and women each lowering their gazes (Qur'an 24:30–31).[80]

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gollark: We do have access to that now since claim-entry stuff is denied.

gollark: I think I accidentally erased them at some point.

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Notes

Table notes

According to Shia Muslims, these are to be said in two and two rakats (four in total). This is not the case for Sunni Muslims.
According to Sunni Muslims, there is a difference between Sunnat-Mu'akkadah (obligatory) and Sunnat-Ghair-Mu'akkadah (voluntary). Unlike for the Sunnat-Ghair-Mu'akkadah, the Sunnat-Mu'akkadah was prayed by Muhammed daily.
Replaced by Jumu'ah on Fridays, which consists of two rakats.
Mustahab (praiseworthy) to do everyday. (Shias)
According to Shia Muslims, this prayer is termed nawafil.
According to Imam Abu Hanifa, "Asr starts when the shadow of an object becomes twice its height (plus the length of its shadow at the start time of Zuhr)." For the rest of Imams, "Asr starts when the shadow of an object becomes equal to its length (plus the length of its shadow at the start time of Zuhr)." Asr ends as the sun begins to set.
According to Shia Muslims, Asr prayer and Isha prayer have no set times but are said any time starting from midday. Zuhr and Asr prayers must be offered before sunset, and the time for Asr starts after Zuhr has been prayed. Maghrib and Isha prayers must be offered before midnight, and the time for Isha prayer can start after Maghrib has been prayed, as long as no more light remains in the western sky signifying the arrival of the true night.
Further information on the usage of the word "Isha" (evening) see Quran 12:16, Quran 79:46

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