The obligatory prayer “Fard” is the prayer that every Muslim is required to perform daily. It was ordained upon Muslims during the Night Journey and Ascension (Israa and Mi’raj). Initially, there were fifty prayers, but Allah (SWT) then reduced them to five prayers as a facilitation for His servants. In this article, Shaikh Saleh Academy will answer the question: What are fard prayers? and what is its importance in Islam?
What Are The Fard Prayers?
The Fard prayer is the prayer that Muslims are required to perform every day and night. These are five prayers: Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isha (night). The evidence for this is
عن طلحة بن عبيد الله أن أعرابيًا جاء يسأل ما فرض عليه من الصلاة، فأجابه النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال: (خمس صلوات في اليوم والليلة).
It was narrated from Talhah ibn ‘Ubayd-Allah that a Bedouin came asking about what prayers were obligatory for him, and the Prophet (ﷺ) replied: “Five prayers in the day and night.”
How many Fard prayers are there in a day??
After having learned about What are fard prayers?, we will now learn about the number of obligatory prayers “Fard” in a day, which is five prayers, and they are as follows:
Fajr prayer
It begins from the time of dawn until sunrise, based on the hadith:
(ووقت صلاة الصبح من طلوع الفجر ما لم تطلع الشمس، فإذا طلعت الشمس فأمسك عن الصلاة، فإنها تطلع بين قرني شيطان).
“The time for Fajr prayer is from the rising of dawn until the rising of the sun. Once the sun has risen, refrain from prayer because it rises between the two horns of the devil.”
Dhuhr prayer
It begins from the time when the sun passes its zenith until the start of the time for Asr, and the evidence for this is the saying of the Prophet PBUH:
(وقت الظهر إذا زالت الشمس وكان ظل الرجل كطوله، ما لم يحضر العصر).
“The time for Dhuhr prayer is when the sun passes its zenith and the shadow of a man is equal to his height, so long as Asr time has not begun.”
Asr prayer
It begins when the sun’s rays turn yellow, based on the hadith:
(ووقت العصر ما لم تصفر الشمس)
“The time of Asr prayer is as long as the sun has not turned yellow.”
Maghrib prayer
It begins at sunset, from the red twilight, based on the saying of the Prophet PBUH:
(ووقت صلاة المغرب ما لم يغب الشفق)
“The time for Maghrib prayer is as long as the twilight has not disappeared.” (Muslim)
Isha prayer
It begins from the disappearance of the red twilight and continues until midnight, as in the hadith:
(ووقت صلاة العشاء إلى نصف الليل الأوسط)
“The time for Isha prayer is until the middle of the night.” (Muslim)
What is the significance of Fard prayers in Islam?
To understand what is fard in islam and its importance, it is necessary to know that prayer is the second pillar of Islam and the foundation of the religion. It must be adhered to and performed on time, and one must be diligent in being humble during prayer. This is based on the saying of Allah (SWT):
(قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ * الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ)
’Qad aflaha al-mu’minuna * alladhina hum fi salatihim khashi’un.’
“Certainly, the believers have succeeded. Those who are humble in their prayers.” (Quran 23:1-2)
Our Islamic religion has emphasized the importance of performing prayer on time due to its great virtues. It prevents indecency and evil, as Allah (SWT) says:
اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَى عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِ وَلَذِكْرُ اللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ)
’Utlu ma oohiya ilayka min al-kitabi wa aqimi al-salata inna al-salata tanha ‘an al-fahsha’i wa al-munkari wa la-dhikru Allahi akbaru wa-Allahu ya’lamu ma tasna’un.’
“Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows what you do.” (Quran 29:45)
The obligatory prayer is considered one of the best deeds to Allah, as it washes away sins and wrongdoings. As the Prophet PBUH said:
(مثل الصلوات الخمس كمثل نهرٍ غمرٍ على باب أحدكم يغتسل منه كل يوم خمس مرات)
“The example of the five prayers is like a flowing river at the door of one of you where he washes every day five times.” (Muslim)
Some people may ask: what does allah yerhamo mean? It means that Allah conceals the sins and wrongdoings of the servant. Because Allah (SWT) is Al-Rahman, Al-Rahim (the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful), we ask Him to have mercy on His servants, show compassion to them, and forgive their sins and wrongdoings.
Are there any conditions for performing Fard prayers??
There are several conditions that must be met for the obligatory prayer “Fard” to be valid. The most prominent of these conditions are:
- The person must be a Muslim for the prayer to be obligatory on them.
- Sanity is one of the most important conditions for prayer to be obligatory on a person; there is no prayer upon the insane.
- Discernment is one of the most important conditions, as a person is ordered to perform prayer from the age of seven.
- Purity (through Wudu) is the most important condition for prayer, so a Muslim must be pure before performing it.
So when someone asks: What are the fard prayers? It means the prayer that is obligatory upon every Muslim has these conditions, male and female, and whoever abandons it is sinful.
What is the difference between obligatory salah & sunnah prayers?
The difference between the Obligatory prayer and the Sunnah prayer is as follows:
The obligatory prayers (Al-Salawat al-Fard)
These are the prayers that must be performed every day and night. There are five prayers: Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha. All Muslims are obligated to perform them. The evidence for this is that a man came to the Prophet (PBUH) asking him about prayer, and he told him: “Five prayers in the day and night.”
The Sunnah Salah (Nafl Salah))
Sunnah prayers are the prayers that are recommended to perform, but they are not obligatory. A Muslim is not sinful if they do not perform them, but they are rewarded for performing them. Among them are the Witr prayer, two rak’ahs before Fajr, two rak’ahs after Dhuhr, and two rak’ahs after Maghrib and Isha. One of the most prominent pieces of evidence for this is the hadith:
(ركعتا الفجر خير من الدنيا وما فيها).
“Two rak’ahs of Fajr are better than this world and all that it contains.” (Muslim)
It is preferable for a Muslim to pray in the mosque, as congregational prayer is twenty-seven times better than individual prayer. However, there is no objection to performing prayer at home, especially for women. This is in response to the question: Where can a Muslim pray?
Is it okay to just pray fard?
Yes, it is permissible for Muslims to perform only the Fard prayers, as they are obligatory, and the Sharia has obligated them upon every Muslim, male and female. This is based on the hadith:
(العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة فمن تركها فقد كفر)
“The covenant between us and them is the prayer, so whoever abandons it has disbelieved.” (Tirmidhi)
As for the voluntary prayer, it is not obligatory, and a person is not punished for abandoning it.
Is Dua recommended after fard prayer?
It is recommended to make supplication after completing the Fard prayer, whether for oneself or for others. However, it is not established that raising the hands while making supplication is legislated. It is preferred to make supplication aloud after the Fard and Sunnah prayers.
Some people ask: Which Surah to Recite in Duha Prayer? It is Sunnah to recite Surah Ash-Shams or Surah Ad-Duha, and one can recite any part of the Holy Quran that is easy for them.
What happens if a person misses a Fard prayer?
If the time for an obligatory prayer is missed, one must perform it whenever they remember it and be diligent in not forgetting it or neglecting prayer, because the first thing that a person will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgment is prayer. This is in accordance with the hadith:
(إن أول ما يحاسب به العبد بصلاته فإن صلحت فقد أفلح وأنجح وإن فسدت فقد خاب وخسر)
“The first thing a servant will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgment is his prayer. If it is in order, then he has succeeded and been saved. If it is deficient, then he has failed and lost.” (Tirmidhi)
What are the Top 5 Islam Rules on Marriage Every Muslim Should Know? These are: the individual must be sane, adult, and free; the marriage must be publicized; it must be based on mutual consent between the spouses; and there must be witnesses to the marriage and a guardian for the woman present.
What should I do if I forget to perform a Fard prayer?
If a Muslim forgets to perform an obligatory prayer, they must repent and seek forgiveness and then perform the prayer whenever they remember it, in accordance with the Prophet’s (PBUH) saying:
(من نسي صلاة فليصلها إذا ذكرها لا كفارة لها إلا ذلك).
“Whoever forgets a prayer should pray it when they remember it, there is no expiation for it except that.”
Some people ask about the meaning of “may allah accept your prayers arabic”, which means that Allah (SWT) has responded to your supplication and accepted it.
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