How to pray – in Shia Islam (Ja'fari)

1What all Muslims share

Before we look at the specifics, the most important point first: the prayer of Shia and Sunni Muslims is essentially the same prayer. Shared by all:

• Five obligatory prayers a day: Fajr (2 rak'at), Dhuhr (4), Asr (4), Maghrib (3) and Isha (4).
• The same qibla: the Kaaba in Makkah.
• The same conditions: ritual purity, clean clothes and place, proper covering, the right time and the intention.
• The same pillars: the opening takbir, standing, al-Fatiha, bowing (ruku'), two prostrations (sujud) in every rak'ah, the testimony and the greeting of peace.

Allah says: "And establish the prayer and give the zakah and bow with those who bow" (2:43), and: "Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing" (29:45). These verses apply to all Muslims alike. The Sunni description can be found in How to pray – in Sunni Islam.

2Prayer times and combining

In the Ja'fari school it is permitted to pray Dhuhr and Asr one after the other, and likewise Maghrib and Isha – even without travel or a special reason. So one prays all five prayers, but often at three times: Fajr in the morning, Dhuhr and Asr at midday, Maghrib and Isha in the evening. One basis for this is the report of Ibn Abbas that the Prophet ﷺ combined Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha in Madinah without fear or travel (Sahih Muslim). Many scholars of the school consider it more meritorious to pray each prayer at its own preferred time; combining remains permitted. The order is obligatory: Dhuhr before Asr, Maghrib before Isha. Current times are under Prayer times.

3The ablution (wudu)

The Quranic verse on ablution is the same for everyone (5:6). The Ja'fari school understands the head and the feet as being wiped (mash) with the remaining wetness. This is how wudu is performed:

1. 1Intention: Intend in your heart to perform wudu for Allah. It is recommended to wash the hands and rinse the mouth and nose beforehand.
2. 2Face: Wash the face from top to bottom – from the hairline to the chin, and in width between the outstretched middle finger and thumb.
3. 3Right arm: Wash it from the elbow down to the fingertips – from top to bottom.
4. 4Left arm: likewise, from the elbow to the fingertips.
5. 5Head: With the wetness still on the right hand, wipe over the front part of the head – without taking new water.
6. 6Feet: With the remaining wetness, wipe over the top of the foot from the tips of the toes to the joint – the right foot with the right hand, the left with the left.

Washing the face and arms once is obligatory, a second time is permitted, and no more is done. Order (tartib) and continuity (muwalat) are obligatory.

Ghusl (full bath) is performed after marital intercourse and after menstruation and post-natal bleeding – either in sequence (first head and neck, then the right side, then the left side of the body) or by complete immersion.

Tayammum (dry purification, 5:6, 4:43), when water is unavailable or harmful: strike both palms on clean earth, wipe the forehead with them from the hairline to the tip of the nose, then wipe the back of the right hand with the left palm and the back of the left hand with the right palm.

4The call to prayer (adhan) and iqamah

The adhan in its Ja'fari form:

• Allahu akbar (4×) – Allah is greater.
• Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah (2×) – I bear witness that there is no god but Allah.
• Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah (2×) – I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
• Hayya 'ala s-salah (2×) – Come to prayer.
• Hayya 'ala l-falah (2×) – Come to success.
• Hayya 'ala khayri l-'amal (2×) – Come to the best of deeds.
• Allahu akbar (2×) – Allah is greater.
• La ilaha illallah (2×) – There is no god but Allah.

After the testimony about the Prophet ﷺ, many believers add Ash-hadu anna 'Aliyyan waliyyullah – "I bear witness that Ali (عليه السلام) is the friend (wali) of Allah". Most Shia scholars regard this testimony as a recommended addition, but not as part of the obligatory adhan. The phrase As-salatu khayrun min an-nawm is not said in this school.

The iqamah is shorter: Allahu akbar (2×), the two testimonies (2× each), the three hayya calls (2× each), Qad qamati s-salah (2×) – "The prayer has begun", Allahu akbar (2×) and La ilaha illallah (1×).

5The prayer step by step

Using a two-rak'ah prayer (Fajr) as the example:

1. 1Intention (niyyah): Stand facing the qibla and intend in your heart, e.g. "I pray the Fajr prayer, two rak'at, seeking nearness to Allah."
2. 2Opening takbir (takbirat al-ihram): Raise your hands to the level of your ears and say Allahu akbar (الله أكبر) – "Allah is greater".
3. 3Standing (qiyam): The arms hang calmly at the sides, the hands resting on the thighs. The hands are not folded in front of the body. Your gaze rests on the place of prostration.
4. 4Al-Fatiha: Recite the Opening chapter, beginning with Bismillahi r-Rahmani r-Rahim. No Amin is said after al-Fatiha; according to Ja'fari teaching it is not to be said in the prayer.
5. 5A complete surah: In the first two rak'at a whole further surah follows, with its basmala, e.g. Al-Ikhlas or al-Qadr.
6. 6Qunut (in the second rak'ah): After the surah and before bowing, raise your hands in front of your face, palms upwards, and make a supplication, e.g. Rabbana atina fi d-dunya hasanah, wa fi l-akhirati hasanah, wa qina 'adhaba n-nar – "Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and protect us from the punishment of the Fire" (2:201). The qunut is strongly recommended.
7. 7Bowing (ruku'): Say Allahu akbar, bow with your hands on your knees and say Subhana Rabbiyal-'Azimi wa bihamdih (سبحان ربي العظيم وبحمده) – "Glory be to my Lord, the Magnificent, and praise be to Him".
8. 8Rising: Stand fully upright and be still for a moment. It is recommended to say Sami'a llahu liman hamidah – "Allah hears the one who praises Him".
9. 9Prostration (sujud): Say Allahu akbar and prostrate on seven parts of the body: the forehead, both palms, both knees and the big toes. The forehead rests on earth or on something that grows from the earth and is neither eaten nor worn – usually a turbah. Say Subhana Rabbiyal-A'la wa bihamdih (سبحان ربي الأعلى وبحمده) – "Glory be to my Lord, the Most High, and praise be to Him".
10. 10Sitting between the prostrations: Allahu akbar, sit up calmly. It is recommended to say Astaghfirullaha Rabbi wa atubu ilayh – "I seek forgiveness from Allah, my Lord, and turn to Him in repentance".
11. 11Second prostration: Allahu akbar, as before, with the same glorification.
12. 12Rising for the second rak'ah: While standing up it is recommended to say Bihawlillahi wa quwwatihi aqumu wa aq'ud – "By the might and power of Allah I stand and sit". In the second rak'ah repeat steps 4 to 11, including the qunut (step 6).
13. 13Tashahhud: After the second prostration remain seated and say: Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan 'abduhu wa rasuluh. Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammadin wa ali Muhammad – "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger. O Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad."
14. 14Salam: As-salamu 'alayka ayyuha n-nabiyyu wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. As-salamu 'alayna wa 'ala 'ibadillahi s-salihin. As-salamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh – "Peace be upon you, O Prophet, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Peace be upon us and upon the righteous servants of Allah. Peace be upon you all and the mercy of Allah and His blessings." With this the prayer is complete.
15. 15Three takbirs at the end: It is recommended to then say Allahu akbar three times, raising the hands to the ears each time.

For three or four rak'at: After the second rak'ah you say only the tashahhud (step 13) and then stand up. In the third and fourth rak'at you quietly recite either al-Fatiha or the "four glorifications" (at-tasbihat al-arba'ah): Subhanallahi wa l-hamdu lillahi wa la ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar – "Glory be to Allah, all praise is for Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is greater". They are usually said three times. In the final sitting the tashahhud and salam follow.

6Why prostrate on earth?

The Prophet ﷺ said: "The earth has been made for me a place of prostration and a means of purification" (Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim). From this and from reports of the Imams (عليهم السلام), the Ja'fari school derives that the forehead in prostration should rest on natural earth, or on what grows from it and is not eaten or worn – such as stone, sand, wood or palm leaves. Carpets and clothing do not count. That is why many use a turbah, a small tablet of pure clay: it is simply a clean piece of earth that can be carried anywhere. The turbah is not worshipped; one prostrates on it, not to it. Many cherish clay from Karbala out of love for Imam Husayn (عليه السلام), but any pure earth is valid.

7After the prayer: the tasbih of Fatimah

After the prayer many say the tasbih of Fatimah az-Zahra (عليها السلام): 34× Allahu akbar, 33× Alhamdulillah and 33× Subhanallah. The Prophet ﷺ taught this glorification to his daughter Fatimah and to Ali (عليه السلام); the report is also found in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim. You will find more supplications under Duas.

8Travellers, women and the sick

Travellers must shorten the four-rak'ah prayers to two (qasr, 4:101) when the journey reaches a set minimum distance (roughly 44 km, according to the rulings of your marja'). Fajr and Maghrib remain unchanged. Women pray in the same way; during menstruation and post-natal bleeding there is no prayer, and it is not made up. The sick pray as they are able – sitting or lying down; Allah does not burden a soul beyond its capacity (2:286). The Friday prayer (62:9) is held in many Shia communities; for its exact status one follows one's own marja'.

9Shared sources and mutual respect

Sunni and Shia Muslims pray to the same Lord, read the same Quran, love the same Prophet ﷺ and his family, and turn towards the same Kaaba. The differences in prayer are differences of legal interpretation (fiqh), based on reports that each school has examined with care.

The Amman Message (2004), affirmed in 2005 by an international conference of Islamic scholars, explicitly recognised eight schools of law – among them the four Sunni schools and the Ja'fari school – and declared that no one who follows any of these schools may be declared a non-Muslim.

In the United Arab Emirates, Muslims of all schools pray side by side: in mosques, at work, while travelling. Whoever stands next to someone who holds their hands differently or prays on a turbah is standing beside a brother or sister in prayer.

10Learn with a teacher of your school

This chapter gives a careful overview of Ja'fari practice, but it does not replace instruction. The precise rulings are found in the practical law manuals (Tawdih al-Masa'il) of the scholars. Learn the details from a qualified teacher in your community and follow the rulings of your marja'. May Allah accept your prayer.