The 5 Daily Prayers

The five daily prayers (Salah) are the second Pillar of Islam — obligatory on every adult Muslim. Their times are determined by the sun's position, which is why they shift slightly each day and vary by location. Understanding the logic behind prayer times helps you never miss a prayer, wherever you are.

Fajr — Dawn Prayer

Time: From true dawn (Fajr Sadiq) until sunrise. Rak'ahs: 2 Fard + 2 Sunnah before. This is considered the most virtuous prayer — the Prophet ﷺ said the two Sunnah of Fajr are better than the world and all it contains.

Dhuhr — Midday Prayer

Time: After the sun passes its peak (solar noon) until Asr begins. Rak'ahs: 4 Fard + 4 Sunnah before + 2 Sunnah after. On Fridays, the Jumu'ah prayer (2 Fard) replaces Dhuhr for men in congregation.

Asr — Afternoon Prayer

Time: When an object's shadow equals its length (Shafi'i/Maliki/Hanbali) or double its length (Hanafi) until sunset. Rak'ahs: 4 Fard. The Prophet ﷺ gave special warning against missing Asr.

Maghrib — Sunset Prayer

Time: Immediately after sunset until the red twilight disappears from the horizon — approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. Rak'ahs: 3 Fard + 2 Sunnah after. Scholars agree Maghrib should not be delayed.

Isha — Night Prayer

Time: After the red and white twilight disappears until midnight (or dawn, though delaying beyond midnight is disliked). Rak'ahs: 4 Fard + 2 Sunnah after + 3 Witr. The best time is before midnight.

Why Prayer Times Change Daily

Because times are based on the sun's position, they shift by 1 to 3 minutes each day as Earth orbits the sun and the length of daylight changes. In northern countries like Norway or Sweden, summer Fajr can be as early as 2:00 AM, while winter Asr may be before 3:00 PM.

Calculation Methods

Different organisations calculate prayer times using slightly different angles for dawn and dusk. Common methods include ISNA (North America), MWL (Muslim World League), and Karachi (South Asia). Our tool lets you select the method most appropriate for your region.

Get accurate times for your location: Open Prayer Times →