Elements of Islamic Studies

Lesson 26: Times of Prayers

  1. Subh: Beginning from subh al-sadiq, ending at sunrise;
  2. Zuhr: Beginning from exact noon, ending when only four rak’ats time remains to sunset;
  3. Asr: Beginning after lapsing of four rak’ats time from noon, ending at sunset;
  4. Maghrib: Beginning after sunset when the reddish color at east vanishes, ending when only four rak’ats time remains to exact mid-night.
  5. Isha: Beginning after lapsing of 3 rak’ats time from sunset, ending at midnight,
    Note 1 If any person did not pray Maghrib and Isha in time owing to some appreciable difficulty, he should pray both prayers before Subh without niyyah of 'ada' or 'qadha'
    Note 2. Midnight is 12 hours after exact noon. .

Some Details About Time

1. Time of fadhilah (the most excellent time for prayer)

It is better to pray in the time of fadhilah when the prayers are more greatly rewarded:
(a) Subh: From the subh al-sadiq up to the time when red color appears on the horizon;
(b) Zuhr: From the noon up to the time when the shadow of a given thing becomes equal to its length.
(c) Asr: After the time of fadhilah of Zuhr up to the time when the shadow of a given thing becomes double of its length;
(d) Maghrib: After sunset up to the time when the red color on the western horizon vanishes;
(e) ‘Isha: After the time of fadhilah of Maghrib.

2. Reserved and Joint times

(a) Zuhr: four rak’ats time after noon is the reserved time of Zuhr. If anyone prays Asr in that time, it will be batil (invalid);
(b) Asr: four rak’ats time before the sunset is the reserved time of Asr; if anyone prays Zuhr in that time, it will be batil, The time between these two reserved times is the joint time of Zuhr and Asr.
(c) Maghrib: three rak’ats time after sunset is reserved for Maghrib. If anyone prays Isha in that time, it will be batil;
(d) Isha: four rak’ats time before midnight is reserved for Isha; if anyone prays Maghrib in that time, it will be batil. The time between the two reserved times is joint time of Maghrib and Isha.