Rehras Sahib and Sohila Sahib are two different Sikh prayers that are part of the daily prayer routine. They are read at different times and have different places in the daily schedule.
Rehras Sahib is linked with the evening, while Sohila Sahib is read before going to sleep.
Main Difference
The easiest way to understand the difference is by looking at their place in the day.
| Rehras Sahib | Sohila Sahib |
|---|---|
| Evening prayer | Bedtime prayer |
| Read after the day’s activities | Read before sleeping |
| Part of the evening prayer routine | Part of the bedtime routine |
| Longer prayer | Shorter prayer |
Rehras Sahib
Rehras Sahib is the prayer traditionally read in the evening.
It includes several sections from the writings of different Sikh Gurus. The commonly used form includes So Dar, So Purakh, a section of Anand Sahib, Benti Chaupai, Mundavani, and Salok Mahalla 5.
It is generally read before the bedtime prayer.
Sohila Sahib
Kirtan Sohila, commonly called Sohila Sahib, is the prayer traditionally read before going to sleep.
It is a shorter prayer and contains five Shabads. These are associated with Guru Nanak Dev Ji, Guru Ram Das Ji, and Guru Arjan Dev Ji.
Sohila Sahib is the final prayer in the traditional daily routine.
Reading Time
The two prayers have different places in the day.
Rehras Sahib
Rehras Sahib is read in the evening, usually around sunset or after the day’s work.
Sohila Sahib
Sohila Sahib is read before sleeping, usually after completing the day’s activities and getting ready for bed.
Length
Rehras Sahib generally takes longer to read because it contains several sections.
Sohila Sahib is much shorter and can usually be completed in a few minutes.
The exact reading time depends on the person’s reading speed.
Purpose in Daily Routine
The two prayers also serve different points in the daily routine.
Rehras Sahib provides the evening prayer.
Sohila Sahib comes later, when the person is preparing to sleep.
Together, they form two separate parts of the daily prayer schedule.
Can You Read Them Together?
If you missed Rehras Sahib earlier, you can read it later when you have time.
You can then read Sohila Sahib before sleeping as part of the usual bedtime routine.
There is no need to treat them as one prayer because they are separate compositions.
Which Comes First?
In the traditional daily routine:
Rehras Sahib → Sohila Sahib
Rehras Sahib comes in the evening, followed later by Sohila Sahib at bedtime.
Simple Example
A simple routine could look like:
Morning → Morning prayers
Evening → Rehras Sahib
Before sleep → Sohila Sahib
This makes it easy to remember the place of each prayer.
Are They the Same?
No. Rehras Sahib and Sohila Sahib are different prayers.
They have different texts, different lengths, and different places in the daily prayer routine.
Both are important parts of Sikh daily prayer, but they should not be confused with each other.
Quick Comparison
| Point | Rehras Sahib | Sohila Sahib |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Evening prayer | Bedtime prayer |
| Time | Evening | Before sleep |
| Length | Longer | Shorter |
| Place | Evening routine | Bedtime routine |
| Also known as | Rehras | Kirtan Sohila |
Conclusion
Rehras Sahib is the evening prayer, while Sohila Sahib is the bedtime prayer. Rehras Sahib is generally read earlier in the evening, and Sohila Sahib is read later before going to sleep.
They are separate prayers with different texts and different places in the daily Sikh prayer routine.
Rehras Sahib in other Languages
Also read Rehras Sahib in english,Punjabi and hindi
Rehras Sahib Hindi
Below is the detail of the Hindi lyrics for devotees.
Rehras Sahib Punjabi
Below is the detail of the Punjabi lyrics for devotees.
Rehras Sahib English
Below is the detail of the English lyrics for devotees.