Question:
How many prayers are obligatory in a day and night? Provide the answer from the Quran and Hadith. [Fayyaz Khan Damanvi, Bradford]Answer:
❀ The Prophet (peace be upon him) said when he sent Mu'adh ibn Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) to Yemen:"
Tell them that Allah has enjoined upon them five prayers every day and night."
[Sahih Bukhari: 7372 & Sahih Muslim: 19/121]
❀ Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said:"
When Allah made the prayer obligatory, He enjoined two raka'ats in both residence and travel. Then, the prayer in travel remained as it was and the prayer in residence was increased."
[Sahih Bukhari: 350 & Sahih Muslim: 685/1570]
❀ In another narration by Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her)
:"Prayer was enjoined as two raka'ats, then the Prophet (peace be upon him) migrated, and it was made four raka'ats, and the prayer in travel was left as it was."
[Sahih Bukhari: 3935]
❀ Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
"Allah enjoined the prayer through the tongue of your Prophet (peace be upon him): four raka'ats in residence, two in travel, and one in fear."
[Sahih Muslim: 687/1575]
❀ Lady Aisha Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:
"Initially, two raka'ats were obligatory upon the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) in every prayer except for Maghrib, which was three. Then, Allah made the Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha prayers four raka'ats in residence, and the travel prayer remained as it was initially (two raka'ats except for Maghrib)."
[Musnad Ahmad, vol. 6, p. 272, Hadith 26869, other edition: 26338, and its chain is Hasan]
❀ Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) also narrated:
"The prayer in travel and residence was enjoined as two raka'ats each. When the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) settled in Medina, the prayer in residence was increased by two raka'ats each, but the Fajr prayer was left because of its lengthy recitation, and the Maghrib prayer was left because it is the Witr of the day."
[Sahih Ibn Hibban 180/4, Hadith 2727, other edition: 2738 & Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah 71/2, Hadith 944, and its chain is Hasan]
Note:
The narrator of this hadith, Mahbub ibn Hassan ibn Hilal ibn Abi Zainab, is Hasan al-Hadith. Majority of the Muhaddithin have declared him trustworthy and truthful.From these authentic hadiths, it is evident that five prayers are obligatory (for every accountable person) in a day and night:
➊ Fajr Prayer
➋ Dhuhr Prayer
➌ Asr Prayer
➍ Maghrib Prayer
➎ Isha Prayer
The Fajr and Isha prayers are particularly mentioned in the Quran.
[Surah An-Nur: 58]
Dhuhr is hinted at in Surah Bani Israel.
[Verse: 78]
Also see:
[Kitab al-Umm by Imam Shafi'i, 1/68]
Consensus
↰ There is consensus among Muslims that five prayers are obligatory in a day and night. Hafiz Ibn Hazm (d. 456 AH) states, "It is unanimously agreed that five prayers are obligatory.""It is unanimously agreed that in peace and fear, travel and residence, the Fajr prayer is two raka'ats (obligatory) and the Maghrib prayer is three raka'ats (obligatory). It is unanimously agreed that in peace, the prayers of Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha are four raka'ats (obligatory)."[Maratib al-Ijma, pp. 24-25]
From these authentic hadiths, it is also proven that in residence (in peace), Fajr is two raka'ats, Dhuhr is four, Asr is four, Maghrib is three, and Isha is four raka'ats obligatory. In travel, except for Maghrib, the other prayers are two raka'ats obligatory. While fighting with the disbelievers in fear, except for Fajr and Maghrib, the other prayers are one raka'at obligatory.
Important Note:
In travel, shortening the prayer is preferable, but praying the full prayer instead of shortening is entirely permissible and valid, as proven by authentic hadiths and the traditions of the Companions.Imam Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn Ibrahim ibn al-Mundhir al-Naysaburi (d. 318 AH) states:34: It is unanimously agreed that the time for Dhuhr prayer is after the sun passes its zenith.35: It is unanimously agreed that the Maghrib prayer is obligatory after the sun sets.36: It is unanimously agreed that the time for Fajr prayer is after the break of dawn (true dawn).
[Kitab al-Ijma, Translated, p. 24]
Conclusion:
From authentic hadiths and consensus, it is established that five prayers are obligatory for every accountable person in a day and night, as well as the times and the number of raka'ats for these prayers. Alhamdulillah.(27 Dhu al-Hijjah 1426 AH)