WAEC Islamic Religious Studies (IRS) 2023 Theory — Question 4

Model answer

The obligatory prayers (Ṣalawāt) are the five daily prayers: Ṣubḥ/Fajr, Ẓuhr, 'Aṣr, Maghrib and Ishā'. (i) Ṣubḥ/Fajr consists of two rak'ah, observed at dawn/early morning, with recitation said aloud. (ii) Ẓuhr has four rak'ah, observed immediately after mid-day, recitation said silently. (iii) 'Aṣr is four rak'ah, observed in late afternoon, recitation silent. (iv) Maghrib is a three rak'ah prayer, observed after sunset, first two rak'ah recited aloud. (v) Ishā' is the last obligatory prayer with four rak'ah, observed before retiring to bed, first two rak'ah recited aloud. Observance of these five distinguishes a Muslim from a non-Muslim; they can be observed individually or congregationally, must be performed in clean places facing the Qiblah, and each has a fixed time that should neither be omitted nor delayed. It is during Ṣalāt that a believer's Mi'rāj (spiritual ascension) to Allah takes place.