Prayer is obligatory for every sane, adult Muslim. Allah SWT has obligated Muslims to perform five prayers every day and night, and each prayer has a specific time that is not permissible to exceed. However, many reports circulate about the existence of differences in prayer between Sunnis and Shias. In this article, we will explore do shias pray 5 times a day?and what is the difference between the prayer of Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims.

Do Shia Muslims pray five times a day like Sunni Muslims?

To know do shia pray 3 times a day?, we must know that the Shias, in all their types and sects, combine prayers, where they perform Dhuhr prayer with Asr, and Maghrib with Isha. This is a mistake for the Sunnis, because Allah SWT commanded us to perform each prayer at its time, and it is not permissible to delay it or combine it with the prayer that follows it, unless there is an excuse. As Allah SWT said:

إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتۡ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ كِتَٰبٗا مَّوۡقُوتٗا

Inna aṣ-ṣalata kānat ‘ala al-mu’minīna kitāban mawqūtā.

Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.

Muslims Shia are divided into esoteric Shias and Makarama Shias, and all of them combine prayers. This is a violation of the command of Allah SWT. Allah SWT said:

فَخَلَفَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِهِمۡ خَلۡفٌ أَضَاعُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ وَٱتَّبَعُواْ ٱلشَّهَوَٰتِ فَسَوۡفَ يَلۡقَوۡنَ غَيّٗا

Fakhalafa min ba‘dihim khalfun aḍā‘ū aṣ-ṣalata wa-ittaba‘ū ash-shahawāti fasawfa yalqawna ghayyā.

“Then there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet evil.”

BOOK FREE SESSION

How do Shia Muslims combine their prayers?

how to do ikhfa in tajweed

Shia Muslims combine prayers, where they pray Dhuhr with Asr, and Maghrib with Isha, and this is a violation of the command of Allah SWT, as He has commanded us to perform the five prayers every day at their time, and not to fail in them or delay them, as Allah SWT said:

(وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ ۚ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ذِكْرَىٰ لِلذَّاكِرِينَ)

Wa-aqimi aṣ-ṣalata ṭarafayi an-nahāri wa-zulafan mina al-layl; inna al-ḥasanāti yudh’hib’na as-sayi’āti; dhālika dhikrā li’dh-dhākirīn.

And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.”

Combining prayers is considered an innovation in the Islamic religion, because Allah SWT commanded us to perform five prayers every day separately. In the Hadith:

أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم جاءه جبريل فصلى به الصلوات الخمس في أول وقتها، ثم جاءه في اليوم الثاني فصلى به الصلوات في آخر وقتها، إلا صلاة المغرب فقد صلاها كاليوم الأول، ثم قال للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما بين هذين وقت كله

“That the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was visited by Gabriel who led him in prayer at the beginning of the time for the five prayers, then he came to him on the second day and led him in prayer at the end of their times, except for Maghrib prayer, which he prayed as on the first day, then he said to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: What is between these two times is all time (for prayer).”

The steps of Islamic prayer steps are as follows: takbir (saying Allahu Akbar), reciting Surah Al-Fatiha and what is easy from the Quran, bowing (ruku) and rising from bowing, prostration (sujood) and rising from prostration, tashahhud (testification) and sending blessings upon the Prophet.

Is the structure of the prayers different for Shia Muslims?

Prayer differs between Sunnis and Shias in some jurisprudential details. The Shias add recommended phrases to the Adhan (call to prayer) such as “Hayya ‘ala khayr al-‘amal” (Hurry to the best of deeds), and they send their hands down during the standing posture, while Sunnis place their right hand on their left hand. Qunoot (supplication) is an essential part of all prayers for the Shias, while Sunnis perform it in specific prayers. Also, the Tashahhud and the form of salutation differ between the two schools of thought, with the Shias stipulating prostration on the ground or what grows from it.

It is not permissible to combine prayers except in the case of an excuse such as travel, because each prayer has a specific time that is not permissible to exceed. This is in response to the question do shias pray 5 times a day?

how many times a day do Islam pray? Muslims pray five prayers every day: Fajr (dawn) prayer, Dhuhr (noon) prayer, Asr (afternoon) prayer, Maghrib (sunset) prayer, and Isha (night) prayer.

Is there a difference in the way Shia and Sunni Muslims perform their prayers?

can i listen to prayer while praying

The way Shia Muslims perform prayer differs from the way Sunni Muslims perform it. Sunni Muslims perform five prayers every day separately, but Shia Muslims combine prayers, so they pray Dhuhr with Asr, and Maghrib with Isha. This is wrong and contrary to Islamic law, based on this hadith:

عن أحمد بسند حسن عن حنظلة رضي الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: من حافظ على الصلوات الخمس ركوعهن وسجودهن ومواقيتهن وعلم أنهن حق من عند الله دخل الجنة أو قال: وجبت له الجنة أو قال: حُرِّم على النار

Narrated by Ahmed with a Hasan chain of narrators from Hanzalah, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: “Whoever maintains the five prayers, their bowing, their prostration, their times, and knows that they are the truth from Allah, will enter Paradise or he said: Paradise becomes obligatory for him, or he said: He will be forbidden from the Fire.”

Fasting and prayer have many benefits, the most prominent of which are self-control, drawing closer to Allah, reducing bad habits, removing toxins from the body, and many other benefits. This is in the context of answering 20 Benefits of Fasting and Prayer.

what are fard prayers? Allah SWT has obligated Muslims to perform five prayers every day and night, and each prayer has a specific time. They are as follows: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isha (night).

Why do sunnis pray 5 times a day?

The Sunni Muslims adhere to performing the five prayers separately every day: Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha, because Allah commanded this and so did the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him:

عن ابن مسعود رضي الله عنه أنه سأل النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: أي العمل أحب إلى الله؟ قال: الصلاة على وقتها، قلت: ثم أي؟ قال: بر الوالدين، قلت: ثم أي؟ قال: الجهاد في سبيل الله)

Narrated by Ibn Masoud, may Allah be pleased with him, that he asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: “What deed is most beloved to Allah?” He said: “Prayer at its time.” I said: “Then what?” He said: “Kindness to parents.” I said: “Then what?” He said: “Jihad in the way of Allah.”

can you pray before prayer time? It is not permissible to perform the prayer before its time, because Allah SWT has commanded us to perform the five prayers at their appointed times. Whoever prays it before its time, his prayer is invalid. He must repeat the prayer, repent, and seek forgiveness, and not repeat that again.

do shia pray 3 times a day? Yes, Shia Muslims pray three times a day, because they combine prayers. They pray Dhuhr prayer with Asr prayer and Maghrib prayer with Isha prayer, and this is contrary to our Islamic religion.

Start Your Journey Today!

You can learn more about prayers and religious sciences through Shaikh Saleh Academy. We are always keen to provide all that is beneficial from religious and Islamic sciences in the easiest ways so that Muslims can benefit from them. These are our courses:

  1. online quran classes
  2. tajweed quran
  3. quran memorization program
  4. quran ijazah online
  5. online arabic classes 
  6. study islamic studies online

Ready to deepen your understanding of the Qur’an and Arabic? Join our one-on-one online classes with expert teachers today!

testimonials