Isha (Night Prayer)
The fifth and final daily prayer, performed when darkness has fallen.
Isha (Arabic: عشاء) is the fifth and final of the daily obligatory prayers in Islam. The word "isha" means "night" or "evening" in Arabic and refers to the prayer that is performed after the red twilight has disappeared from the sky.
The Isha prayer consists of four rak'ah. It is prayed from the time the red or white twilight disappears (depending on the school of law) and lasts until midnight or the beginning of the Fajr prayer. It is permissible — but not recommended — to delay the Isha prayer until late in the evening.
At higher latitudes, the Isha time can be challenging in summer, as the astronomical twilight never fully disappears in the northernmost months. Therefore, angle-based calculation methods are used to determine the Isha time, typically with a solar angle of 15°-18° below the horizon. In summer, this can mean very late prayer times.
During Ramadan, the Tarawih prayer (a voluntary night prayer) is performed immediately after Isha. The Witr prayer, which is strongly recommended, is performed after Isha and before Fajr.
Related terms
Ziyarat al-Jami'ah al-Kabirah
A comprehensive visitation prayer to all twelve Imams, taught by Imam Ali al-Hadi.
Tawassul (Intercession/Mediation)
Seeking nearness to Allah through holy persons such as the Prophet and Ahl al-Bayt.
Qiyas (Analogical Reasoning)
Legal analogy used to derive Islamic rules for new situations based on established rules.
Salat al-Mayyit (Funeral Prayer)
The prayer for the deceased, performed before the burial.
Usul al-Fiqh (Principles of Jurisprudence)
Islamic legal theory that defines the methods for deriving legal rules from the sacred sources.
Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage)
The lesser pilgrimage to Mecca, which can be performed at any time of the year.