It is called Solatul Ishraq (Ishraq Prayer) and it is performed immediately after the sun rises. The time for the Ishraq prayer begins fifteen to twenty minutes after sunrise and consists of two Rak’ahs.
Praying Ishraq is considered to yield greater rewards than performing the lesser Umrah according to some traditions.It
is a supererogatory prayer which is not considered obligatory but is thought to
confer extra benefit on the person performing them. It does not only draw one
closer to God but also helps one attain better success in the hereafter.
Prophet
Mohammad (SAW) said, ’Whoever prays Fajr (the morning prayer) in the congregation,
then sits remembering Allah until the sun has risen, then he prays two rak’ah
(the voluntary Ishraq prayer), then for him is the reward like that of a Hajj
and Umrah’. [Tirmidhi]
What
better motivation would this be for a Muslim who starts his day with a great
privilege by being rewarded as someone who performed both Hajj and Ummurah
completely. This indeed is a truly blessed way to spend our early mornings and
set the right tone for the day.
HOW
TO PERFORM ISHRAQ PRAYER
Once
you start the prayer, read Surah Fatiha and another surah. Bow down into ruku,
rise from the ruku position and then prostrate into sujood.
When
you start the second rak’ah and return to the standing position, recite the
Surah Fatiha again. Recite another surah, and then, continue with the rak’ah.
You
can do as many rak’ahs as you feel are necessary. Ishraq only requires you to
perform two rak’ahs for your prayers, but you can say more if you want to. Many
Muslims believe that Ishraq is a very powerful prayer, so doing more rak’ahs
can help you to achieve your intention for the prayer. Some Islamic scholars said an even number of
rakats for Ishraq, even if they perform more than the required amount.
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