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
Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage)
The lesser pilgrimage to Mecca, which can be performed at any time of the year.
Bismillah (In the Name of Allah)
The formula "In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful," which opens prayer and action.
Qasr (Shortened Prayer)
The permission to shorten the four-rak'ah prayers to two rak'ah during travel.
Ma'ad (Resurrection)
Belief in resurrection and judgment day — the fifth article of faith in Shia Islam.
Qabd (Folding the Arms in Prayer)
The practice of folding the arms over the chest or below the navel during the standing position in prayer.
Sunan Abu Dawud (Abu Dawud's Hadith Collection)
One of the six canonical hadith collections in Sunni Islam with a special focus on legal narrations.