Prayer is the pillar of the Deen: Salah (صلاة) is the five daily prayers, and the Prophet (SAW) called prayer the pillar of the Deen: "Whoever establishes it — establishes the Deen. Whoever abandons it — demolishes the Deen." — Wasail al-Shia, Vol. 4, p. 34. — to be checked. Without its pillar, no building stands; without prayer, no Deen stands.
Five prayers, seventeen rak'at: Every day, five prayers are Wajib: Fajr (2 rak'at, from the Fajr Adhan to sunrise), Dhuhr (4 rak'at, from the Dhuhr Adhan to Asr), Asr (4 rak'at, sharing its time with Dhuhr, up to sunset), Maghrib (3 rak'at, from the Maghrib Adhan to midnight), and Isha (4 rak'at, sharing its time with Maghrib, to midnight). That is 17 rak'at every day.
Combining prayers is permitted: In the Shia tradition, combining Dhuhr with Asr, and Maghrib with Isha, is permitted without a specific reason (Tawdhih, Issue 736). — to be checked. So a believer may pray five times a day, or combine them into three sittings — Fajr alone, Dhuhr and Asr together, Maghrib and Isha together.
Missing a prayer is a major sin: Missing a prayer intentionally is a major sin, and the missed prayer must be made up as Qadha immediately. Deliberate abandonment of Salah — even once — is among the gravest sins (Tawdhih, Issue 791). — to be checked. The first thing a servant is asked about on the Day of Judgement is the prayer: if it is accepted, everything is accepted; if it is rejected, everything is rejected (Imam al-Baqir (as), Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, p. 268). — to be checked.
Prayer is possible for everyone: Allah does not ask what you cannot do. Pray standing if you can; if you cannot stand, pray sitting; if you cannot sit, pray lying down; if you are completely immobile, pray with your eyes only. The traveller, whose journey exceeds 8 Farsakh (about 45 km), prays 2 rak'at for Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha instead of 4. And when water is harmful or unavailable, Tayammum replaces Wudu.
Example
Bilal is at work when the Dhuhr Adhan sounds. His meeting runs long, so at the break he prays Dhuhr and Asr together in five quiet minutes. No meeting overrides Salah — the Prophet (SAW) prayed even in battle. Bilal's office is not an excuse, and the combination makes it easy.
Key Terms
- Salah (صلاة) — the ritual prayer, five times a day
- Rak'ah (رکعت) — one unit of prayer, containing standing, bowing, and prostrations
- Qadha (قضا) — making up a prayer (or fast) that was missed
- Jam' (جمع) — combining two prayers, such as Dhuhr with Asr
Quran or Hadith
Quran 4:103 — "Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers — a decree of specified times." — to be checked.
Quran 30:31 — "Establish prayer and do not be among the polytheists." — to be checked.
The Prophet (SAW): "Prayer is the pillar of the Deen. Whoever establishes it — establishes the Deen. Whoever abandons it — demolishes the Deen." — Wasail al-Shia, Vol. 4, p. 34. — to be checked.
Imam al-Baqir (as): "The first thing a servant is asked about on Qiyamah is the prayer. If accepted — everything is accepted. If rejected — everything is rejected." — Al-Kafi, Vol. 3, p. 268. — to be checked.
Fresh diagram to be drawn: A day timeline from dawn to midnight showing the five prayer windows and their rak'at counts, with a bracket showing Dhuhr+Asr combined and Maghrib+Isha combined.
- Salah is the pillar of the Deen — five prayers, 17 rak'at every day.
- Fajr 2, Dhuhr 4, Asr 4, Maghrib 3, Isha 4.
- Combining Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha is permitted.
- Missing a prayer intentionally is a major sin; it must be made up as Qadha immediately.
- The traveller prays 2 rak'at for Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha; the sick pray sitting or lying down.