The Five Daily Prayers
Muslims pray five times a day: Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha. What each prayer is and when it is prayed.
How many times a day do Muslims pray?
Muslims pray five times a day. The five daily prayers (salah) are spread from dawn to night, and their times follow the position of the sun, so they change through the year and from place to place.
| Prayer | When it starts | Ends | Fard rakat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr الفجر | True dawn, when light appears on the horizon | Sunrise | 2 |
| Dhuhr الظهر | Just after the sun passes its highest point | Asr | 4 |
| Asr العصر | When a shadow reaches a set length in the afternoon | Sunset | 4 |
| Maghrib المغرب | Just after sunset | When twilight fades | 3 |
| Isha العشاء | When twilight has gone and the sky is dark | Fajr (preferably by midnight) | 4 |
Why the times change
Because the prayers follow the sun, Fajr is earlier and Isha later in summer, and the gaps shrink in winter. Places further from the equator see the biggest changes. Find today's times on the prayer times page.
Friday prayer
On Fridays, men usually pray Jumu'ah in congregation at the mosque in place of Dhuhr. It includes a short sermon (khutbah) and two rakat.
Sunrise is not a prayer time
Timetables often list sunrise (shuruq) between Fajr and Dhuhr. It marks the end of Fajr. Praying while the sun is rising is avoided.
Questions
What are the names of the five prayers?
Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset) and Isha (night).
How many rakat are there in total?
17 obligatory (fard) rakat a day: 2, 4, 4, 3 and 4. Many Muslims add sunnah prayers before or after.
Can prayers be combined?
Many scholars allow combining Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha when travelling, and in some other cases. Ask your local imam for guidance.
By the TimeNowTools team · Last reviewed 19 October 2026