When Are the Five Daily Prayer Times?

Question

Tauhid Lab Assistant · Accepted Answer

> **TL;DR:** The five daily prayers occur at specific solar moments: Fajr (true dawn until just before sunrise), Zuhr (after the sun passes its zenith), ‘Asr (late afternoon), Maghrib (immediately after sunset), and ‘Isha (after twilight disappears until around midnight as the optimal limit) [HAD1]. These times are anchored in explicit prophetic teachings, illuminated by Qur’anic commentary, detailed by classical jurists, and practically guided by reliable fatwas for daily scheduling [HAD1][TAF6][RIS1][FAT5].

## Authoritative Timing Overview

- Salat (structured ritual prayer performed five times daily) is tied to precise solar windows: Zuhr begins after the sun declines from its zenith; ‘Asr starts when a person’s shadow equals his height; Maghrib runs from the moment the sun sets until dusk disappears; ‘Isha extends until midnight (optimal limit); Fajr spans from true dawn until sunrise [HAD1]. The Prophet’s practice further clarifies optimal performance: delaying Zuhr in intense heat, praying ‘Asr while the sun is still clear, Maghrib immediately at its time, ‘Isha sometimes earlier and sometimes later depending on people’s attendance, and Fajr when first light mixes with the night’s darkness [HAD2]. He preferred delaying ‘Isha somewhat, disliked sleeping before or engaging in prolonged talk after it, and recited substantial portions in Fajr while it was still dark—indicating it is prayed well before sunrise [HAD3].

- The Qur’an commands establishing prayer from the sun’s decline to night’s deep darkness, and highlights the recitation at dawn (Qur’an al-Fajr) as witnessed—classically explained as the five set times within the day’s transitions [TAF6]. Classical tafsir notes that “morning” covers Fajr, “evening” includes Maghrib and ‘Isha, while midday is Zuhr and late afternoon is ‘Asr—thus encompassing all five [TAF1][TAF2][TAF3][TAF4][TAF5].

- Classical jurists define Fajr as beginning at the “second dawn,” a horizontal spread of light on the horizon (not the brief vertical false dawn), and ending at sunrise [RIS1]. Zuhr begins just after zenith; its end is the subject of a well-known juristic discussion (see Divergent Perspectives below) [RIS1]. ‘Asr begins when Zuhr ends and lasts until sunset [RIS1]. Maghrib begins at sunset and continues while twilight remains [RIS2]. ‘Isha begins when twilight disappears and lasts through the night, with decline in merit after the midpoint according to many jurists [RIS2][RIS4].

- Forbidden time windows refine practice: do not pray during sunrise, at the sun’s zenith (zawāl—when it is exactly overhead), or during sunset [HAD4]. Additionally, no supererogatory prayer is offered after Fajr until sunrise, nor after ‘Asr until sunset, to avoid resemblance to sun-worship timings [HAD5]. Corresponding fatwa guidance reiterates sunrise, sunset, and zawāl as strictly prohibited windows, and cautions against delaying ‘Asr to when the sun yellows near setting [FAT4].

- Regular Sunnah (Sunan Rawātib—regular voluntary units accompanying the obligatory prayers) frame one’s day: two before Zuhr and two after, two after Maghrib, two after ‘Isha, and two before Fajr at the time after the adhan and after true dawn—these are emphasized practices that protect and beautify the obligatory schedule [HAD6].

### Practical fatwa pointers for timing and tools
- With or without apps, the anchor is the sky: Maghrib begins only after full sunset; praying before sunset is invalid [FAT5]. Fajr ends the instant the sun begins to rise; praying beyond that is invalid for Fajr’s time [FAT5].  
- For Fajr’s best window, it is recommended not to delay so close to sunrise that validity becomes doubtful—pray with sufficient margin [FAT3].  
- “Degrees” settings in apps (e.g., 18°, 15°) are merely approximations; the actual determinant is the sun’s phases: Fajr is true dawn (subh sadiq) and ‘Isha begins with the disappearance of twilight—not a fixed degree [FAT1].  
- Making up missed prayers (qadā’—makeup prayers) is allowed most times, except during sunrise, zawāl, and sunset; it remains allowed after Fajr until sunrise and after ‘Asr until the sun begins to yellow before sunset [FAT2].

### Why these times—and why they work
Prayer times align with the day’s major transitions—dawn, midday decline, late afternoon, sunset, and deepening night—concentrating remembrance at pivots when the heart is most receptive and the world most reflective of divine governance [TAF6]. Traditional teaching emphasizes that these transitions are moments when gratitude, reflection, and reliance naturally deepen, making the timing spiritually strategic [TAF1][TAF2][TAF3][TAF4][TAF5]. Contemporary teachers often explain that these windows mirror divine order and mercy, punctuating the day to gather presence and purpose [YT2][YT5], and establish disciplined, collective remembrance as a “regimented army” standing before the Lord, whether in congregation or alone [YT4][YT3][YT1].

### Modern, professional applications
- Calendar discipline: Block standing appointments for Fajr (true dawn to sunrise), Zuhr (post-zenith), ‘Asr (late afternoon), Maghrib (immediately after sunset), and ‘Isha (after twilight) to avoid conflicts with high-stakes calls; keep a 10–15 minute buffer to prevent slip into prohibited windows [HAD1][HAD4][HAD5][FAT5].  
- Travel/rescheduling: If a meeting pushes you late, ensure Fajr ends before sunrise and Maghrib never starts before full sunset; consult a local masjid timetable and sky cues for confirmation [HAD1][FAT5].  
- App settings: If your app shows multiple Fajr/‘Isha options, remember degrees are estimates; choose reliable local masjid times if available, knowing that subh sadiq and twilight are the real determinants [FAT1].  
- Evenings: Avoid heavy late-night chatter that jeopardizes prompt Fajr; the Prophet disliked sleeping before ‘Isha or prolonged talk after it, both for guarding ‘Isha and safeguarding Fajr [HAD3].  
- Build Sunnah margins: Two Sunnah before Fajr and after Maghrib/‘Isha create protective buffers around the fard times and reinforce your schedule [HAD6].

### Psychological, social, and ethical benefits
- Fajr’s “witnessed” recitation cultivates clarity at dawn, aligning inner attention before the day’s demands [TAF6].  
- Spaced prayers segment the day into renewal intervals, limiting drift into heedlessness while promoting ethical steadiness through constant realignment [TAF1][TAF2][TAF3][TAF4][TAF5].  
- Community cohesion grows when Maghrib and ‘Isha are prayed together at reliable windows; prophetic flexibility for ‘Isha—earlier or later, depending on the congregation—enhances inclusion without losing rigor [HAD2].  
- Respecting forbidden windows trains principled restraint, purifying intention by avoiding any resemblance to misguided patterns of worship [HAD4][HAD5].

## Divergent Perspectives

- End of Zuhr and start of ‘Asr:  
  • View A (Abu Hanifa): Zuhr ends when an object’s shadow becomes twice its length (beyond the zenith shadow); ‘Asr begins thereafter [RIS4].  
  • View B (Abu Yusuf, Muhammad, and many jurists): Zuhr ends when the shadow equals the object’s length (beyond the zenith shadow); ‘Asr begins at that point [RIS1].  
  Both agree Zuhr begins right after the sun declines from the zenith and ‘Asr lasts until sunset [RIS1][RIS4].

- End of Maghrib and start of ‘Isha:  
  • Prophetic description: Maghrib lasts so long as dusk has not gone; ‘Isha begins when twilight disappears [HAD1].  
  • Classical articulation: Many jurists describe this as the disappearance of the red twilight (shafaq ahmar), with ‘Isha then open until late night, though delaying beyond midnight is discouraged in merit [RIS2]. This complements the optimal limit to midnight conveyed in the hadith, while some schools note permissibility later with reduced merit or necessity considerations [HAD1][RIS2].

- Extent of ‘Isha time:  
  • Optimal: Until midnight per the explicit prophetic wording [HAD1].  
  • Extended permissibility (Hanafi articulation): Time remains until dawn, though delaying past midnight is makruh (disliked) and loses reward; hence praying earlier is preferable [RIS2].

- Best time for Fajr within its window:  
  • Lighter recitation at early dawn while still dark reflects the Prophet’s practice and indicates praying comfortably before sunrise [HAD3].  
  • Fatwa guidance: It is mustahab (recommended) to avoid cutting it close to sunrise so there is room to repeat if needed, still comfortably within time [FAT3].

Finally, three red lines always remain: no voluntary prayers at sunrise, zenith, or sunset [HAD4], and no prayers after Fajr or after ‘Asr until the sun clears those danger periods [HAD5]. For makeups (qadā’—missed obligatory prayers), jurists allow them broadly except at sunrise, sunset, and zenith; even after Fajr and after ‘Asr, qadā’ remains permissible until the immediately prohibited minutes near the sun’s yellowing and rising, respectively [FAT2]. When in doubt with digital timetables, trust the sun’s movement: Maghrib only after full sunset, Fajr only from true dawn, and never beyond sunrise [FAT5][FAT1]. If specialized local issues arise (e.g., high latitudes or conflicting timetables), consult a qualified scholar for your region.

Supplementary note: Contemporary presenters often emphasize that the five times are alluded to across multiple verses, requiring knowledge of Arabic and classical exegesis to see the full mapping, but firmly established through the Prophetic Sunnah and scholarly consensus [YT1][YT2][YT5][YT3][YT4].

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