As one of the five daily prayers in Islam, Asr holds great significance for Muslims. However, there is often confusion regarding the number of rakats (cycles of prayer) that should be performed during this prayer. In this article, we will explore the number of rakats in Asr and the evidence to support it.
What is Asr Prayer?
Asr prayer is the afternoon prayer in Islam. It is performed after the Zuhr prayer and before the Maghrib prayer. Asr prayer consists of four rakats.
The Number of Rakats in Asr Prayer
The number of rakats in Asr prayer is four. There is clear evidence in the hadith literature to support this.
Hadith Evidence
The hadith of Ibn Abbas reports:
The Prophet would pray eight rakats and would make them short.
This hadith refers to the voluntary prayers that are performed before and after the obligatory Asr prayer, the sunnah prayers. The sunnah prayers before Asr consist of four rakats, while the sunnah prayers after Asr consist of two rakats.
Furthermore, there is a hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah that states:
The Prophet said: May Allah have mercy on a man who prays four before Asr.
This hadith refers to the four rakats of voluntary prayer that can be performed before the obligatory Asr prayer.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the number of rakats in Asr prayer is four. This is supported by clear evidence in the hadith literature. Muslims should aim to perform this prayer in the correct manner in order to fulfil their religious obligations.
