16

In another post, I asked Is it permissible for Sunni Muslims to pray behind Shi'a Muslims?.

What I want to know now are the major differences so that I can understand this issue better.

Rebecca J. Stones
  • 20,778
  • 38
  • 158
  • 329
PracticingFerret
  • 2,534
  • 11
  • 41
  • 71
  • maybe it would be best to combine the two questions like by adding, also please elaborate on the details of shiaa prayer so i may understand the isssue more – NesreenA Jul 23 '12 at 22:48
  • 7
    No they address two pretty distinct issues - let's leave them separate. – Ansari Jul 23 '12 at 22:50

4 Answers4

12

When we start talking about prayer, we should to be aware of which practices within that prayer are wajib (compulsory) and which are mustahabb (recommended or optional).

Before the actual prayer starts, it is common but optional to read the adhan and iqaamat.

There are differences between the Sunni and Shia adhan as detailed in this wikipedia entry.

Shia add the line "Ash hado anna Aliyan wali-Allah" in their adhan, however they all unanimously agree that this line is not part of the adhan and is optional.

With regards to the actual prayer:

  1. Shia pray with their hands by their sides, whereas Sunnis either pray with their hands folded, or by their sides depending on the madhhab (Maliki's from West Africa pray with their hands by their sides).
  2. After the rukoo, when standing back up again, it is common, but optional for Shia to say "Samey Allahho-layman hamedah" (Allah listens to one who praises him). Sunnis also say this
  3. In between the two prostrations, it is common but optional for Shia to say "Astaghfir-oollaha Rabbee wa atoobo-ilaih".
  4. After the 2nd prostration when standing back up again, after saying Allahu-Akbar, Shia say "Bay hawlillahay wa quoowa-teyhe aqoomo aqood" (Due to the vigor given by Allah and because of the vitality from Him, I rise and stand).
  5. In the second rakat, after the second surah, it is very common, but again optional for Shia to read a dua/qunoot. While Sunnis also believe that qunoot is an optional part of prayer, from what I've seen it is rare.
  6. In a 3 or 4 rakat prayer, after the 2nd prostration of the 2nd rakat, Shias only recite the tashahhud. I believe Sunnis recite both the taslim/salaam as well as the tashahhud.
  7. After the last rakat and final prostration, both Shias and Sunnis recite the tashahhud and taslim/salaam which officially ends the prayer, immediately after which, Shias optionally say Allahu-Akbar 3 times and recite salawat 3 times.
  8. Immediately after reciting tashahhud (in either 2nd or last rakat), it is wajib for Shia to recite a salawat.
  9. I believe there are some differences in the Sunni and Shia taslim.
  10. Shias prostrate on to a small clay or stone block - for why, see this question.

Some notes:

  • The salawat after the tashahhud is the usual salawat to the Prophet (ص) that all Muslims read, i.e.: "Allaahumma salli `alaa Muhammadin wa Aali Muhammad". It is incorrect to say that this is meant just for Imam Ali (ع).
  • Once the taslim has been read the prayer is finished. Anything after the taslim are optional mustahabb pratices.
  • One of these optional practices is to read a tasbeeh, i.e. 100 beads on a string - 34 x Allahu Akbar, 33 x Alhamdo lillah, 33 x Subhan-Allah
  • While a very tiny minority of Shia add the line "And I bear witness that the Amir of the Mu'mineen is Ali, the wali of Allah" to the tashahhud, this is due to ignorance. All Shia scholars and jurists unanimously agree that adding this line is bidah and will make the prayer void.
Community
  • 1
Adnan
  • 364
  • 1
  • 5
  • Assalamu alaykum Wa-rahmutAllah Wa-barakatuhu, points two and seven are in error i think. But otherwise a very good answer – PracticingFerret Aug 07 '12 at 17:10
  • @Pureferret For point 2, do you mean that Sunnis do say that phrase after rukoo? If so, sorry I was not aware. Also, please clarify why you think point 7 is incorrect. – Adnan Aug 07 '12 at 17:19
  • Adnan, yes that's what I mean about point 2, as for point 7, I meant point 6. The tasleem is only ever said at the end of the prayers. – PracticingFerret Aug 07 '12 at 17:54
  • 2
    @Pureferret, thanks, answer amended. Plus I've added a point which I had previously forgot to mention. – Adnan Aug 07 '12 at 18:18
  • Thanks! Could you check over the other question? Maybe just giving a comment on whether you think it's accurate? – PracticingFerret Aug 07 '12 at 18:20
  • There doesn't seem to be an 'Add comment' link on the other answer (maybe my reputation is not high enough) so I'll just comment here:

    Points 1 & 2 are accurate, however, as I mentioned in my answer, they do not fall under the wajib acts of prayer, plus all Shias know that "Ash hado anna Aliyan wali-Allah" is an optional line of the adhan.

    I disagree with points 3 and 4 and my answer explains why.

    As for what happens after the prayer, that is all optional, so practices vary from community to community.

     – Adnan Aug 07 '12 at 18:33
6

Differences: in Shia Islam:

  1. Method of Wiping feet during ablution (Wudhu)
  2. In Shia Islam, it is permitted (but not recommended to not combine) to combine the Prayers (Zuhr and Asr, Maghrib and Isha)
  3. In Adhan (Call to Prayer); Shia say “Hayya ‘ala Khayril ‘Amal” (Come to the Best of Deeds) (Shia believe this was removed from Azan by Muaviyeh)
  4. Shia Muslims do not cross their right hand over left while Praying and keep them hanged.
  5. Concluding the Prayers with Three Takbirs (Saying: Allahu Akbar!) (Not compulsory)
  6. Prostrating on Earth (or part of earth like Turbah or a stone)
  7. It is recommended to pray on the Soil of Karbala.
  8. Prayers for the Dead (Salat al-Mayyit)
  9. Tarawih Prayers is recommended by performing it in Jamaat is Haram

Reference and detailed answer and reasoning:

Chapter 13 of the book: Inquiries About Shi'a Islam (by Imam Sayed Moustafa al-Qazwini)

اللهم صل علی محمد و آل محمد
  • 11,603
  • 19
  • 68
  • 148
Battle of Karbala
  • 13,731
  • 8
  • 43
  • 86
4

Major differences are:

  1. In their adhan and iqaamah, they say "I bear witness that Ali is the wali of Allah"

  2. In their adhan, they add "Come to the best of works" and believe it was removed form Azan by Muaviyeh - whereas according to the Sunni's you only have Come to prayer and Come to success

  3. In their tashahud, they add "And I bear witness that the Amir of the Mu'mineen is Ali, the wali of Allah"

  4. In their Salaam, after the tashahud, they add, "Peace be upon you (referencing Ali R.A)"

What they do after the Salah

  1. They praise Fatima They do Fatima's Tsbihat taught by prophet SAWW (34 Allahu Akbar, 33 Al-Hamdu LeLlah, 33 Subhan Allah). (This is recommended and not obligatory)

  2. They say Allahu Akbar 34 times (according to Sunni's this is done 33 times)

  3. They make a sujood of thankfulness as a highly recommended practice after prayer.

  4. They send curses on the enemies of the "infallibles" as a recommended practice.

  5. They do "Ziyaraat" (a short Salam to soul of Prophet (SAWW) and Imams while standing toward direction of their graves)

My answer comes from authentic Shia sources

اللهم صل علی محمد و آل محمد
  • 11,603
  • 19
  • 68
  • 148
  • 3
    which source(s)? please mention it in your answer. – Ashu Jul 24 '12 at 05:16
  • I searched for "How to pray like the shia" and found a site that teaches new shia muslims how to pray and goes into detail about the aspects of their salaah. –  Jul 24 '12 at 05:24
  • sunnah use hand in front at pray – Mohammad Efazati Jul 24 '12 at 05:53
  • 3
    azan and After Salaah are not from prayer and so irrelevant to question. but can be useful. also "tashahud" is part of prayer and shia never add "And I bear witness that the Amir of the Mu'mineen is Ali, the wali of Allah" to Tashahhud. this is clearly false about shia prayer. it is added to Azzan and not in prayer. what you said at no.1 after sahaah is http://www.duas.org/tasbihzehra.htm mention your source. – Battle of Karbala Sep 08 '12 at 16:01
  • 2
    Number 3 of the major differences is absolutely false. – Zahra E Sep 08 '12 at 18:52
  • What you said about Adhan and Iqaamah in shia it is not right, we do not add the sentence that you said as a part of Adhan and Iqaamah, it would be Bed'ah to do so and thus forbidden, but only as an encouraged sayings between all the main sentences of the Adhan and Iqaamah, that is a Shia person can skip it and still be right with no major loss. Also we believe "Come to the best of works" was in Adhan and Iqaamah as Sunnah until the second Caliph removed it during a war and only added in Adhan before the Sobh praying that "praying is better than sleeping". – owari Oct 07 '12 at 13:14
  • Also there are some major differences between Shia and Sunni prayings not listed here, Adhan and Iqaamah is pre-Sallah and a list is given to post-sallah actions, but the question was about Sallah itself if I am right!? so -1 – owari Oct 07 '12 at 13:20
  • I as a Shia, hear the third number of the answer for the first time, as seems wrong. – اللهم صل علی محمد و آل محمد Jan 18 '16 at 06:46
  • I have actually heard with my own ears some shia saying as you pointed out in 1 and 4, when they was praying. But I cannot tell which "madhab" they were following or if they are a minority or majority. But it do exist. – Kilise Feb 25 '16 at 23:08
-3

This page would definitely meet your need . http://islam.about.com/cs/divisions/f/shia_sunni.htm

Touhid
  • 1
  • 1
  • 1
    if you add relevant part of your source to answer, that would be fit to site rules. If you say whole part is important maybe you should include introduction part or one or two examples. – nim Jan 20 '16 at 13:09