Chicago – March 22, 2024
supreme act of worship and the ultimate way of demonstrating servitude to Allah. There is a set of specific rules and regulations, such as timings, frequency and direction, associated with different prayers in Islam. These prayers provide Muslims with a way of expressing their love, respect and gratitude toward the almighty, Allah. There are four different types of prayers in Islam, including Fard (obligatory prayers), Wajib (required prayers), Sunnat and Nafl (voluntary prayers). Let’s understand each of these in detail along with different types of namaz.
Fard, or the Obligatory Prayers in Islam
According to all the Sunni schools, Fard or obligatory prayers are compulsory for every Muslim. Followers of Islam are required to perform five obligatory prayers every day. An individual can be rendered as a sinner or a non-Muslim on failing to observe these prayers every day. The five obligatory prayers include:
Salat ul Fajr, Salat ul Zuhur, Salat ul Asr, Salat ul Maghrib and Salat ul Isha.
Non Obligarory Prayers in Islam
a) Salat at-Tahajjud: Also known as late night prayer, Salat at-Tahajjud is performed in the middle of the night and is considered the most rewarding of all Nafl prayers. The Tahajjud prayer method involves performing an even number of rakahs after Salat al-Isha. This prayer was made mandatory on the Prophet SAWW only and not on ordeinary Muslims.
b) Salat al-Ishraq: It is a Nafl prayer performed about 20-45 minutes after sunrise.
c) Salat ad-Duha: Also known as Chaasht Salah, it is performed after around one-third of the day has passed.
d) Salat-e-Taraweeh: This prayer was one of the Sunnahs of Prophet SAWW.
Tarawih is a voluntary (nafl) night prayer performed only in Ramadan. Because it is a highly recommended Sunnah, masjids across the world hold congregational Tarawih prayers on every night of this blessed month.
How many rak’at are in Tarawih?
A rak’ah is a unit of prayer, consisting of standing and reciting Qur’an, bowing, standing again and prostrating. Tarawih is prayed in sets of two rak’at, just like a normal voluntary prayer.
Some narrations state that a completeTarawih is 8 rak’at, while some state that it is 20 rak’at. If you are praying in a masjid, the imam will usually pray the full 20 rak’at of prayer, as all four schools of thought support these narrations.
