How to Pray Zuhr? The Explanation You're Looking For

Hi all readers! Are you looking for an explanation of "how to pray Zuhr?"? If your answer is “Yes”, congratulations! Now you are reading the right article. Why? Because that is what I will explain in this article. As Muslims, we must understand that. That's why I wrote this article. So, you should read it to the end!

Specifically, there are six important things about “how to pray Zuhr? Which I will explain in this article. The six important things I mean are as follows:

What Is Zuhr Prayer?

The first important thing about “how to pray Zuhr? What I will explain now is "what is Zuhr prayer?". I want you to understand that first because it is one of the important questions in this discussion that must be well understood.

In short, I would like to say that the Zuhr prayer is one of the obligatory prayers in Islam. What this means is that mature Muslims are required to perform the Zuhr prayer. If they don't do that, they sin.

We can find an explanation that the Zuhr prayer is one of the obligatory prayers in Islam in the Quran and hadith below:

فَاِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلٰوةَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللّٰهَ قِيَامًا وَّقُعُوْدًا وَّعَلٰى جُنُوْبِكُمْ ۚ فَاِذَا اطْمَأْنَنْتُمْ فَاَقِيْمُوا الصَّلٰوةَ ۚ اِنَّ الصَّلٰوةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ كِتٰبًا مَّوْقُوْتًا

And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times. (An-Nisa [04]; 103).

قَالَ رَسُوْلُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ لِمُعَاذٍ بْنِ جَبَلٍ لَمَّا أَرْسَلَهُ إِلَى الْيَمَنِ : إِنَّكَ تَقْدَمُ عَلَى قَوْم أَهْلِ كِتَاب فَلْيَكُنْ أَوَّلَ مَا تَدْعُوهُمْ إِلَيْهِ عِبَادَةُ اللَّهِ فَإِذَا عَرَفُوا اللَّهَ فَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ فَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ خَمْسَ صَلَوَات فِي يَوْمِهِمْ وَلَيْلَتِهِمْ فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا فَأَخْبِرْهُمْ أَنَّ اللَّهَ فَرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ زَكَاةً مِنْ أَمْوَالِهِمْ وَتُرَدُّ عَلَى فُقَرَائِهِمْ فَإِذَا أَطَاعُوا بِهَا فَخُذْ مِنْهُمْ وَتَوَقَّ كَرَائِمَ أَمْوَالِ النَّاسِ

The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said to Mu'adz bin Jabal when he sent him to Yemen, "You will come to the People of the Book. So, your first task is to invite them to worship God. If they know it, then you have to tell them that Allah has obliged them to pray five times a day. If they have done it (prayer), then tell them that Allah requires them to give alms from their property which is then given to the needy from their class. If they have obeyed the order, then take the rest. However, do not take their best assets."

That is a brief explanation of "what is Zuhr prayer?". As Muslims, we must understand that.

How Many Rakat in Zuhr?

The second important thing about “how to pray Zuhr? What I will explain now is "how many rakat in Zuhr?". I want you to understand that because it is one of the important questions about the Zuhr prayer that must be well understood.

Before I explain the answer to the question "how many rakat in Zuhr?", I will quote a hadith that is specifically related to this discussion. The hadith I mean is as follows:

عَنْ عَائِشَةَ زَوْجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَتْ كَانَ أَوَّلَ مَا افْتُرِضَ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الصَّلَاةُ رَكْعَتَانِ رَكْعَتَانِ إِلَّا الْمَغْرِبَ فَإِنَّهَا كَانَتْ ثَلَاثًا ثُمَّ أَتَمَّ اللَّهُ الظُّهْرَ وَالْعَصْرَ وَالْعِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةَ أَرْبَعًا فِي الْحَضَرِ وَأَقَرَّ الصَّلَاةَ عَلَى فَرْضِهَا الْأَوَّلِ فِي السَّفَرِ

From Aisha, the wife of the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam, she said: Among that which was obligated on Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was Salat which was two Rakats two Rakats except for Zuhr which was three, and then Allah made Zuhr, Asr and Isha four while one is not Traveling, and made it the same as it was obligated the first time while Traveling (meaning Two Rakats).

All readers! If we understand the above hadith, we can conclude that there are four rak'ahs in Zuhr. As Muslims, we must understand that.

That's a brief explanation of "how many rakat in Zuhr?". As Muslims, we must understand that.

How to Pray Zuhr?

The third important thing about “how to pray Zuhr? What I'm going to explain now is a specific answer. I want you to understand that because that is the main topic of this article. So, you should read the explanation below very well.

In general, there are eight main things that we must do if we want to perform the Zuhr prayer. The eight main things I mean are as follows:

• You must cleanse your body of minor hadas (الحَدَثُ الأَصْغَرُ) and major hadas (الحَدَثُ الأَكْبَرُ).
• You must wear holy clothes to perform the Zuhr prayer.
• You must find a holy place to perform the Zuhr prayer.
• You must face the Qiblah.
• You have to do Takbir Ihram.

We can find an explanation of the prayer after Takbir Ihram in the hadith below:

عَنْ عَلِيٍّ بْنِ أَبِيْ طَالِبٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ عَنْ رَسُوْلِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنَّهُ كَانَ إِذَا قَامَ إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَالَ ؛ وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِيَ لِلَّذِيْ فَطَرَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ حَنِيْفاً وَمَا أَنَا مِنَ الْمُشْرِكِيْنَ إِنَّ صَلَاتِيْ وَنُسُكِيْ وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِيْ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهُ وَبِذَالِكَ أُمِرْتُ وَأَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ ، اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ الْمَلِكُ لَا إِلَهَ إلَّا أَنْتَ ، أَنْتَ رَبِّيْ وَ أَنَا عَبْدُكَ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِيْ وَاعْتَرَفْتُ بِذَنْبِيْ فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ ذُنُوْبِيْ جَمِيْعاً إِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَاهْدِنِيْ لِأَحْسَنِ الْأَخْلَاقِ لَا يَهْدِي لِأَحْسَنِهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ وَاصْرِفْ عَنِّيْ سَيِّئَهَا لَا يَصْرِفُ عَنِّيْ سَيِّئَهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ ، لَبَّيْكَ وَسَعْدَيْكَ وَالْخَيْرَ كُلُّه فِيْ يَدَيْكَ وَالشَّرُ لَيْسَ إِلَيْكَ أَنَا بِكَ وَإِلَيْكَ تَبَارَكْتَ وَتَعَالَيْتَ أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْكَ . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ . وَفِيْ رِوَايَةٍ لَهُ إِنَّ ذَلِكَ فِيْ صَلَاةِ اللَّيْلِ

From Ali ibn Abi Talib radliyallaahu ‘anhu, from the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, that if he had stood prayers, he said, "I face my face to God who has created the heavens and the earth, in conditions of accepting Islam. I am not a polytheist. Indeed, my prayer, my worship, my life, and my death are due to God, the Lord who controls the universe. There isn't anything for him. That's why I was ordered and I included people who surrendered. O Allah, You are the Ruler. There is no god but You. You are my Lord and I am Your servant. I have judged myself and I confess my sin, then forgive all my sins, actually no one forgives all sins except only You. Show the best ethical pocket. No one can show that other than You. Avoid me from the worst ethics, no one can avoid me from that except for You. I answer your call and I like to obey you. All good is in your power. Evil does not draw near to you. Your goodness is always multiplying and you are holy of all shortcomings. I ask forgiveness of you and change to you.” The hadith is narrated by Muslim. He (Muslim) has another history that explains, that prayer is read at night prayer times.

• You have to say Niyyat for the Zuhr prayer During Takbir Ihram.

The Niyyat for Zuhr prayer alone is as follows:

أُصَلِّى فَرْضَ الظُّهْرِ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةِ أَدَاءً لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

I intend to perform the obligatory prayers, Zuhr, four rak'ahs, facing Qiblah, as an obligation, because of Allah Taala.

The Niyyat for the Zuhr Prayer as Imam is as follows:

أُصَلِّى فَرْضَ الظُّهْرِ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةِ أَدَاءً إِمَامًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

I intend to perform the obligatory prayers, Zuhr, four rak'ahs, facing Qiblah, as Imam, as an obligation, because of Allah Taala.

The Niyyat for the Zuhr Prayer as Makmum is as follows:

أُصَلِّى فَرْضَ الظُّهْرِ أَرْبَعَ رَكَعَاتٍ مُسْتَقْبِلَ الْقِبْلَةِ أَدَاءً مَأْمُوْمًا لِلَّهِ تَعَالَى

I intend to perform the obligatory prayers, Zuhr, four rak'ahs, facing Qiblah, as Makmum, as an obligation, because of Allah Taala.

• You have to perform all the obligations of praying in the four rak'ahs in the Zuhr prayer.
• You must perform Salaam and intend to perform the Zuhr prayer.

That is a brief explanation of "how to pray Zuhr?". As Muslims, we must understand that.

Can I Pray Zuhr Before the Time?

The fourth important thing about “how to pray Zuhr? What I will explain now is "can I pray Zuhr before the time?". I want you to understand that because it is one of the important questions about the Zuhr prayer that must be well understood. In addition, there are some Muslims who do not understand it.

In general, all prayers in Islam, whether they are obligatory prayers (Fajr, Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha) or Sunnah prayers (Qabliyah, Ba'diyah, Witr, Tahajjud, and so on) must be done at their respective times. But in some cases, some of the obligatory prayers in Islam may be performed in combination with other obligatory prayers. There are strict rules about it that Muslims must understand. I will explain it briefly at the end of the discussion in this article and in other articles.

As a basic knowledge of that, as Muslims we must know that all prayers in Islam must be done on time. Thus, the Zuhr prayer must be performed on time unless there is a reason that allows Muslims to perform the Zuhr prayer at the time of the Asr prayer or not at the time.

That is a brief explanation of "can I pray Zuhr before the time?". As Muslims, we must understand that.

When Is Zuhr Prayer Time?

The fifth important thing about “how to pray Zuhr? What I will explain now is "when is Zuhr prayer time?". I want you to understand that because it is one of the important things in this discussion that must be well understood.

Before I explain "when is Zuhr prayer time?", firstly, I will quote a hadith that is specifically related to this discussion. The hadith I mean is as follows:

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو ، أَنَّ رَسُوْلَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ :‏‏ وَقْتُ الظُّهْرِ إِذَا زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَكَانَ ظِلُّ الرَّجُلِ كَطُولِهِ مَا لَمْ يَحْضُرِ الْعَصْرُ وَوَقْتُ الْعَصْرِ مَا لَمْ تَصْفَرَّ الشَّمْسُ وَوَقْتُ صَلاَةِ الْمَغْرِبِ مَا لَمْ يَغِبِ الشَّفَقُ وَوَقْتُ صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ الأَوْسَطِ وَوَقْتُ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ مِنْ طُلُوعِ الْفَجْرِ مَا لَمْ تَطْلُعِ الشَّمْسُ فَإِذَا طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَأَمْسِكْ عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّهَا تَطْلُعُ بَيْنَ قَرْنَىْ شَيْطَانٍ

From Abdullah bin Amr reported, that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: The time of the noon prayer is when the sun passes the meridian and a man's shadow is the same (length) as his height, (and it lasts) as long as the time for the afternoon prayer has not come; the time for the afternoon prayer is as long as the sun has not become pale; the time of the evening prayer is as long as the twilight has not ended; the time of the night prayer is up to the middle of the average night and the time of the morning prayer is from the appearance of dawn, as long as the sun has not risen; but when the sun rises, refrain from prayer for it rises between the horns of the devil.

All readers! If we understand the hadith above, we can conclude that the time for the Zuhr prayer is the time when the sun has tilted (to the west) and a person's shadow is equal to his height, and during the time for the Asr prayer.

That is a brief explanation of "when is Zuhr prayer time?". As Muslims, we must understand that.

How to Combine Zuhr and Asr?

The sixth important thing about “how to pray Zuhr? What I will explain now is "how to combine Zuhr and Asr?". I want you to understand that at the end of the discussion in this article because it is one of the important questions about the Zuhr prayer that must be understood well.

In the previous paragraphs, I have said that some of the obligatory prayers in Islam may be performed in combination with other obligatory prayers. It is called the Jama prayer (صَلَاةُ الجَمْعِ). In several previous articles, I have explained a few things about it.

In short, I would like to say that if you want to combine Zuhr and Asr, you can do it in two ways:

• You can do that at the time of the Zuhr prayer (جَمْعَ التَّقْدِيْمِ).
• You can do it at the time of Asr prayer (جَمْعَ التَّأْخِيْرِ).

There are many important things that we must understand about combining Zuhr and Asr. I will explain that in the next few articles. God willing.

That's a brief explanation of "how to combine Zuhr and Asr?". As Muslims, we must understand that.

All readers! That is a brief explanation of "how to pray Zuhr?" and some important things about it. Do you understand? If you want to ask, please ask!

I think that's enough for this article. May be useful. Amen.

See you again in the next article!