Chashat and Ishraque Prayers
Question:
Asslam Alaikum.Thanks for my earlier questions. Will you please tell me the starting time of Sala tul Chashat and Ishraque and their ending times.
Thanks
Answer:
Assalamu Alaykum,
These are not two different prayers, but the same prayer with two names. Chasht is a Persian word meaning beginning of the day. Ishraq is an Arabic word with the same implication. In fact both these are the same as the prayer of Dhuha, otherwise known as the prayer of Awwabin. So we are talking about the same non-obligatory prayer with four different names (one of which – Chasht – is used only by South Asian Muslims).
The timing of this prayer starts from when the sun rise is completed and the sun is fully above the horizon till just before the time of the Noon (Zhuhur) prayer. Based on some narratives it’s best time is when the sun is high enough that it is normally possible to feel its heat.
Please note that other than the obligatory prayers and prayers that are read for special occasions (like prayer for rain, deceased or eclipse) all the other prayers are in fact in the category of Nafl (recommended) prayers. Some narrations refer to a specific time of the day for a Nafl prayer and in this way that Nafl prayer will be known by a specific name.
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May 2013