Ishraq: Quran and Hadith
References from the Quran and hadith, with the Sunni view (Hanafi, Shafi‘i, Maliki, Hanbali) and the Shia view (Jafari) side by side.
Timing of Ishraq
Sunni view (Hanafi, Shafi‘i, Maliki, Hanbali)
- Sahih Muslim 831, 832 Do not pray while the sun is rising until it has risen high, which is why Ishraq starts about 15 minutes after sunrise.
- Many scholars count Ishraq as the early part of the Duha time.
Shia view (Jafari)
- The Jafari school has no separate Ishraq prayer. Recommended prayers may be offered once the sun has risen.
Benefits of Ishraq
Sunni view (Hanafi, Shafi‘i, Maliki, Hanbali)
- Tirmidhi 586 Whoever prays Fajr in congregation, sits remembering Allah until the sun rises, then prays two rak‘ahs, has a reward like that of Hajj and Umrah. Al-Tirmidhi graded it hasan gharib; some scholars consider it weak.
Shia view (Jafari)
- No narration on a separate Ishraq prayer is relied on in the Jafari school.
The Ishraq prayer: rak‘ahs
Sunni view (Hanafi, Shafi‘i, Maliki, Hanbali)
- 2 rak‘ahs, or 4.
Shia view (Jafari)
- No separate Ishraq prayer.
Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Jafari sources are named by book, volume and chapter.
References for the other prayers
Last updated: Tuesday, 6 October 2026