Zuhr prayer

Zhuhr prayer
Zenith of Noon in the Philippines
Official nameصلاة الظهر، صلاة الزوال
Also calledZenith prayer
Observed byMuslims
TypeIslamic
SignificanceA Muslim prayer offered to God at the noon hour of the morning
ObservancesSunnah prayers
BeginsZenith
EndsSunnis (except Hanafis): The time when shadows are of equal length with their objects

Hanafis: The time when shadows are twice as large as their objects

Shias: The time when there is only enough time to perform Asr before sunset

Many Quranists: Sunset
FrequencyDaily
Related toSalah, Five Pillars of Islam
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The Zuhr prayer[a] (also transliterated as Dhuhr, Duhr, Thuhr[1] or Luhar[citation needed]) is one of the five daily mandatory Islamic prayers (salah). It is observed after Fajr and before Asr prayers, between the zenith of noon and sunset, and contains 4 rak'a (units).[2]

On Friday, the Zuhr prayer is replaced or preceded by Friday prayer (jum'a) which is obligatory for Muslim men who are above the age of puberty and meet certain requirements to pray in congregation either in a mosque or with a group of Muslims.[3] The sermon is delivered by the imam.

The five daily prayers collectively are one pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam in Sunni Islam, and one of the ten Ancillaries of the Faith (Furū al-Dīn) according to Shia Islam.

Performance

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The Zuhr prayer consists of four compulsory (fardh) rak'a. In addition, there is a voluntary Sunnah prayer, although the details of it vary by branch of Islam. In Zuhr, Al-Fatiha and the additional surah are to be read quietly or in a whisper (israr).[4]

The Hanafi school believes there are four rak'a before the compulsory prayer and two rak'a after the compulsory prayer of confirmed sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah) prayer. The Hanafi school also believes there are 4 rak'a of non-confirmed sunnah (ghair mu'akkadah) prayer after the compulsory prayer.[5] The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools believe there are two rak'a of confirmed sunnah prayer before the compulsory prayer, and two additional rak'a before and after the compulsory prayer as non-confirmed sunnah prayer.[6][7] In the Maliki school, there is confirmed sunnah prayer before and after the compulsory prayer. There is no limit to the amount of rak'a for these, but it is recommended (mustahabb) for it to be at least two rak'a, and it is better to pray four rak'a.[8]

Textual references

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Quran

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Quran 17:18 mentions "the prayer from the decline of the sun", referencing Zuhr:

Observe the prayer from the decline of the sun until the darkness of the night and the dawn prayer, for certainly the dawn prayer is witnessed ˹by angels˺.

— Quran 17:78 ("The Clear Quran" translation by Mustafa Khattab)

Some argue that Quran 2:238's "middle prayer" is about Zuhr. However the predominant view amongst scholars is that it refers to Asr.[9][10][11][12]

Observe the ˹five obligatory˺ prayers—especially the middle prayer1—and stand in true devotion to Allah.

— Quran 2:238 ("The Clear Quran" translation by Mustafa Khattab)

Hadith

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Some ahadith claim there are benefits to Zuhr:

It was narrated from Umm Habibah that: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever prays four rak'ahs before Zuhr and four after, the Fire will not touch him."

— Sunan an-Nasa'i 1817

Abdullah bin As-Sa'ib narrated: "Allah's Messenger would pray four (Rak'ah) after the Zawal of the sun before Az-Zuhr. He said: 'It is an hour in which the gates of the heavens are opened, and I love that a righteous deed should be raised up for me in it.'"

— Jami` at-Tirmidhi 478

Timings

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By school
School Start time End time
Sunni Islam when the Sun is at its zenith and begins to decline.[13] when shadows are of equal length with their objects; in the Hanafi school, when shadows are twice as large as their objects.[14]
Shia Islam when the Sun is at its zenith and begins to decline.[15] when there is enough time to perform only Asr before the sunset.[16][17]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Arabic: صَلَاة ٱلظُّهْر, romanized: Ṣalāt al-Ẓuhr

References

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  1. ^ "Dhuhr". www.al-islam.org. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  2. ^ "Salat al-Duhr". Oxford Islamic Studies Online. Archived from the original on 2019-10-25. Retrieved 2019-10-25. Noon prayer. Second of five mandatory daily prayers (salat), containing four cycles (rakah). Performed immediately after the sun reaches its zenith. Given the restrictions of modern business hours, it is increasingly being performed in the workplace during lunch breaks. On Fridays it is part of the communal prayers (jumah).
  3. ^ "Sunan Abi Dawud 1067 - Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat) - كتاب الصلاة - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)". sunnah.com. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
  4. ^ Monnot, Guy (1995). Encyclopaedia of Islam. Vol. VIII (New ed.). Leiden: Brill Publishers. p. 928. ISBN 9004098348.
  5. ^ sufyan (2011-07-05). "What Are the Confirmed Sunna and Non-Confirmed Sunna Prayers Associated With the Obligatory Prayers?". SeekersGuidance. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  6. ^ "Types Of Prayer (Shafii) | islam and ihsan". 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  7. ^ "Building Jannah: The Sunan ar-Rawatib | Mohammad Zahid". www.inkoffaith.com. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  8. ^ "Types of Salat (Maliki) | islam and ihsan". 2021-05-27. Retrieved 2024-10-11.
  9. ^ "True Islam - Number of Salat". Quran-Islam. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  10. ^ Yüksel, Edip; Shaiban, Layth Saleh al-; Schulte-Nafeh, Martha, eds. (2007). The Quran: A Reformist Translation. United States of America: Brainbow Press. pp. 72, 508–509. ISBN 978-0-9796715-0-0.
  11. ^ Al-Farabi, Abu Musa (2020-02-02). "Q&A: The 'Middle' Prayer -". Renascence Foundation. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  12. ^ Prayer, Ahmed Abdulla | (2020-04-07). "The Five Daily Prayers Not Mentioned In The Quran?". My Islam. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  13. ^ The Encyclopaedia of Islam. 7: Mif - Naz. Leiden: Brill. 1993. p. 27. ISBN 978-90-04-09419-2.
  14. ^ The Encyclopaedia of Islam. 7: Mif - Naz. Leiden: Brill. 1993. p. 27. ISBN 978-90-04-09419-2.
  15. ^ "Question 27 : Why do the Shi'ah perform the five daily prayers in three periods?". www.al-islam.org. 2013-01-30. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  16. ^ "Question 27 : Why do the Shi'ah perform the five daily prayers in three periods?". www.al-islam.org. 2013-01-30. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
  17. ^ "Prayer (Salat): According to Five Islamic Schools of Law Part 1". www.al-islam.org. 2013-11-12. Retrieved 2024-10-06.


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