Guide
The Five Daily Prayers in Islam, Explained
Muslims observe five obligatory prayers (salah) each day, each tied to the position of the sun rather than the clock. Because the sun moves through the sky differently depending on where you are and the time of year, every prayer has a window that opens and closes at a specific moment. Here is what each prayer is and when it falls.
Fajr — the dawn prayer
Fajr begins at true dawn (subh sadiq), when the first light spreads horizontally across the horizon, and its window closes at sunrise. It is prayed before the day begins, in the quiet of early morning.
Dhuhr — the midday prayer
Dhuhr starts just after the sun passes its highest point (solar noon, or zenith) and begins to decline. Its window lasts until the time for Asr begins. On the timetable this is why Dhuhr always sits close to local noon.
Asr — the afternoon prayer
Asr begins in the afternoon, defined by the length of an object's shadow. In the majority (Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali) view it starts when an object's shadow equals its own length plus its shadow at noon; in the Hanafi view, twice its length. Its window lasts until sunset.
Maghrib — the sunset prayer
Maghrib begins immediately after the sun has fully set below the horizon and lasts until the twilight disappears. It marks the transition from day into evening.
Isha — the night prayer
Isha begins once the evening twilight has faded and full darkness has set in. Its window extends through the night — traditionally until midnight, and by necessity until the following dawn.
Why the times shift each day
Because these prayers track the sun, their times drift by a minute or two each day and vary widely by location and season. See how prayer times are calculated, or look up the daily timetable for your city.