Asr is the third namaz which Muslims offer usually in the evening or before sunset. The timings of asr vary with the changing seasons. Also, the timings of Asr are different in distinct areas and countries.
There is only one part of Asr namaz i.e., four rikaat farz.
Following are the steps involved in salat e Asr but before them wuzu is performed.
Neeyat is the first step of namaz e Asr. We state our neeyat (intention) that we are going to pray the salat-e-asr. In the neeyat we say, “I intend to perform four rikaat farz for Allah at time of Asr with my face towards Khana Kabah,” and then we raise hands in a manner in the image below in this blog and say, “Allahu Akbar.”
After neeyat, first rikaat of four rikaat farz is offered. In first rikaat, while folding hands on chest, we recite Subhanaka then taaooz, then tasmeeh and then Surat ul Fatiha. After Surah e Fatiha, we recite a surat of Quran. Usually, Muslims recite Surah e Ikhlas or any surah from the last ten surats of Quran. After reciting Surah e Ikhlas, Takbir is said again. Then we go in Ruku and recite, “Subhana Rabbiyal Azeem” three times calmly. We return to the standing position and recite, “Sami Allahu Liman hamida rabbana lakal hamd.” After that, we again say Allahu Akbar in the same standing position. Then we go to prostration (sajdah) and recite, “Subhana Rabbiyal Ala” thrice. After sajdah we rise, sit and say, “Allahu Akbar.” Then we again go in sajdah and say “Subhana Rabbiyal Ala” thrice and rise, sit and say, “Allahu Akbar” again. Here first rikaat of Asr prayer gets over.
At completion of first rikaat, we stand up again for second rikaat and recite Surah e Fatiha with Surah ikhlas in the same standing position while folding the hands on chest. Same steps of saying Takbir, performing ruku and two sajdahs are performed in second rikaat. After second sajdah in second rikaat, while sitting in the position shown below in an image, we recite At-tahiyyat then tashahhud with first finger of right hand raised. Then we lower down the finger after reciting tashahhud till “muhammadan” and continue the recitation of remaining part of tashahhud. At the completion of tashahhud the second rikaat of four rikaat farz of Asr prayer is finished.
Then we stand up again for third rikaat and recite Surah e Fatiha and say “Allahu Akbar” after it. Then same steps of going in ruku, standing back then going again in sajdas are performed. After second sajdah, we rise and sit down and recite Allahu Akbar. Here third rikaat also gets over.
Then after saying Allahu Akbar in third rikaat, we stand up for fourth rikaat. In fourth rikaat till second sajdah, everything remains same as it was in third rikaat. After second sajdah, we again sit, recite Allahu Akbar then At-tahiyyat then tashahhud with first finger of right hand raised. We then lower down the finger after reciting tashahhud till “muhammadan” and continue the recitation of the remaining part of tashahhud. Then we recite darood shareef and Rabbana or Rabb-e-ja’alni.
After reciting Rabbana or Rabb-e-ja’alni we turn our face towards right side or right shoulder and say, “As Salaam-u alaikum wa rahmatullahe wabarakatu.” Then we turn our face towards left side and say again, “As Salaam-u alaikum wa rahmatullahe wabarakatu.” This is called salam and four rikaat farz of Asr prayer is finished here. And simultaneously, Asr namaz is also finished or completed here
