Rak'a in the context of "Asr prayer"

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⭐ Core Definition: Rak'a

A Rak'a (Arabic: ركعة rakʿah, pronounced [ˈrakʕah] lit. "bow"; plural: ركعات rakaʿāt) is a single iteration of prescribed movements and supplications performed by Muslims as part of the prescribed obligatory prayer known as salah. Each of the five daily prayers observed by Muslims consists of a number of raka'at.

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Rak'a in the context of Salah

Salah (Arabic: ٱلصَّلَاةُ, romanizedaṣ-Ṣalāh, also spelled Salat), also known as Namaz (Persian: نماز, romanizednamāz), is the practice of formal worship in Islam, consisting of a series of ritual prayers performed at prescribed times daily. These prayers, which consist of units known as rak'ah, include a specific set of physical postures, recitation from the Quran, and prayers from the Sunnah, and are performed while facing the direction towards the Kaaba in Mecca (qibla). The number of rak'ah varies depending on the specific prayer. Variations in practice are observed among adherents of different madhahib (schools of Islamic jurisprudence). The term salah may denote worship in general or specifically refer to the obligatory prayers performed by Muslims five times daily, or, in some traditions, three times daily.

The obligatory prayers play an integral role in the Islamic faith, and are regarded as the second and most important, after shahadah, of the Five Pillars of Islam for Sunnis, and one of the Ancillaries of the Faith for Shiites. In addition, supererogatory salah, such as Sunnah prayer and Nafl prayer, may be performed at any time, subject to certain restrictions. Wudu, an act of ritual purification, is required prior to performing salah. Prayers may be conducted individually or in congregation, with certain prayers, such as the Friday and Eid prayers, requiring a collective setting and a khutbah (sermon). Some concessions are made for Muslims who are physically unable to perform the salah in its original form, or are travelling.

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Rak'a in the context of Fajr prayer

The fajr prayer, alternatively transliterated as fadjr prayer, and also known as the subh prayer, is one of the five daily mandatory Islamic prayers (salah). Consisting of two rak'a ("bows"), it is performed between the break of dawn and sunrise. It is one of two prayers mentioned by name in the Qur'an. Due to its timing, Islamic belief holds the fajr prayer to be of great importance. During the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, Muslims begin fasting with the fajr prayer.

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Rak'a in the context of Maghrib (prayer)

Maghrib (Arabic: صلاة المغرب) is one of the five mandatory salah (Islamic prayers), and contains three cycles (rak'a). If counted from midnight, it is the fourth one.

According to Shia and Sunni Muslims, the period for Maghrib prayer starts just after sunset, following Asr prayer, and ends at the beginning of night, the start of the Isha prayer. As for Shia Muslims, since they allow Maghrib and Isha prayers to be performed one after another, the period for Maghrib prayer extends until midnight. Sunni Muslims (Except for the Hanafi school) are also permitted to combine Maghrib and Isha prayers if they are traveling and incapable of performing the prayers separately. In this case, the period for Maghrib prayer extends from sunset to dawn, as with Shiites.

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Rak'a in the context of Salat al-Tawba

Salat al-Tawbah; (Prayer of Repentance, also Namaz-e-Tawbah) is a Muslim prayer consisting of two rak'as (units or cycles of ritual prayer), according to Sunni tradition, or four rak'as, according to Shi'a tradition. The prayer is called for if a Muslim falls into sin—whether the sin is major or minor.

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Rak'a in the context of Fajr (prayer)

The fajr prayer, alternatively transliterated as fadjr prayer, and also known as the subh prayer, is one of the five daily mandatory Islamic prayers (salah). Consisting of two rak'a ("bows"), it is performed between the break of dawn and sunrise. It is one of two prayers mentioned by name in the Qur'an.

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