Islamic prayer times: a complete guide to the five daily prayers

Muslims around the world pray five times a day — Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha — at times determined by the position of the sun. Understanding when each prayer begins and ends is fundamental to Islamic practice.

The Five Daily Prayers

Fajr (Pre-Dawn Prayer) Fajr begins at true dawn, when the first light appears on the eastern horizon as a thin horizontal line. This is the time known as "astronomical twilight" — specifically when the sun is about 15° to 18° below the horizon, depending on the calculation method. Fajr ends at sunrise.

For many Muslims, Fajr is the most challenging prayer simply because it requires waking before dawn. The reward, however, is significant — starting the day with intention and mindfulness.

Dhuhr (Midday Prayer) Dhuhr begins just after the sun crosses the meridian (solar noon) — the moment the sun is at its highest point in the sky. You can tell when Dhuhr begins by observing shadows: when your shadow is at its shortest and begins to grow again, Dhuhr has started. It ends when Asr begins.

Asr (Afternoon Prayer) The start of Asr depends on the juristic school. In the Shafi'i and Hanbali schools, Asr begins when an object's shadow equals its own length plus the shadow length at noon. In the Hanafi school, Asr begins when the shadow is twice the object's length. Asr ends at sunset.

Maghrib (Sunset Prayer) Maghrib begins immediately after sunset — when the upper edge of the sun's disk disappears below the horizon. The prayer window is relatively short compared to other prayers. Maghrib ends when the red twilight fades from the western sky.

Isha (Night Prayer) Isha begins when the red or white twilight disappears from the western sky, and the sky becomes fully dark. Like Fajr, the exact angle below the horizon varies by calculation method — typically 15° to 18°. Isha ends at midnight or before Fajr, depending on the school of thought.

What Affects Prayer Times?

Several factors determine the exact prayer times for any given location and date:

• Latitude and longitude — your exact position on Earth determines sun angles
• Date and season — the sun's path changes throughout the year
• Elevation — higher altitudes see sunrise earlier and sunset later
• Calculation method — different organizations use slightly different sun angles for Fajr and Isha

Calculation Methods

The most common calculation methods for determining Fajr and Isha times include:

• ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) — Fajr at 15°, Isha at 15°. Standard in the US and Canada.
• MWL (Muslim World League) — Fajr at 18°, Isha at 17°. Used in many parts of the world.
• Egyptian — Fajr at 19.5°, Isha at 17.5°. Common in Africa and the Middle East.
• Umm al-Qura — Used in Saudi Arabia, with fixed Isha time of 90 minutes after Maghrib.

For North American Muslims, the ISNA method is most widely accepted and is what our prayer times calculator uses.

Finding Accurate Prayer Times

The most reliable way to get prayer times is through a calculator that uses your city's exact coordinates. Our prayer times tool calculates all five daily prayers for 200+ cities, including the Qibla direction and a 7-day schedule. Times are computed locally in your browser, so they're always accurate and up-to-date.

Check prayer times for popular cities: New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Dearborn, Philadelphia.