Advice of Scholars - THE FIVE DAILY PRAYERS (PART 2)

4 - Evening prayer [Salât-ul-maghrib] contains five rak’ats. First the fard, which is composed of three rak’ats, then the sunnat, consisting of two rak’ats, are performed.

5 - Night prayer [Salât-ul-’ishâ] consists of thirteen rak’ats. The initial sunnat contains four rak’ats. The fard also contains four rak’ats. But the final sunnat has two rak’ats, while the Witr prayer has three rak’ats.

The initial sunnats of the late afternoon prayer and night prayer are Ghayr-i muakkada. When sitting during their second rak’at, after reciting the attahiyyâtu. . , the prayers of Allahumma salli alâ. . . and. . . bârik âlâ. . . are recited completely. After standing up for the third rak’at, the prayer Subhânaka. . . is recited before saying the Basmala. But the first sunnat of the early afternoon prayer is Muakkad. That is, it has been commanded emphatically. There are more thawâbs (blessings) for it. During its second rak’at, as in the fard prayers, only the Attahiyyâtu is said and then we stand up for the third rak’at. After standing up, we first recite the Basmala and then the sûra (chapter) of Fâtiha.

It is mustahab to perform four more rak’ats after the fard of early afternoon and night prayers and six more rak’ats after the fard of early evening prayer. In other words, it is very blessed. One can perform all of them with one salâm or by saying the salâm after every two rak’ats. In either case the first two rak’ats are deemed to be the final sunnat. These prayers, which are mustahab, can be performed separately after the final sunnat of the two prayers of namâz as well.

The first rak’at commences with the beginning of the prayer and the other rak’ats begin right after standing up, and each rak’at continues until one stands up again. The final rak’at continues until the salâm. No prayers can be less than two rak’ats. All prayers contain an even number of rak’ats, except the fards of the early evening prayer and the witr prayer. After the second sajda (prostration) of each second rak’at we sit.

Each rak’at of prayer contains its fards, wâjibs, sunnats, mufsids (things or acts which disrupt prayer), and makrûhs (actions, words, thoughts avoided and disapproved by the Prophet).