Prayer Times & Live Salah Schedule

The Divine Obligation of Salah at Appointed Times

The ritual prayer (Salah / صلاة) is the second pillar of Islam and the foremost physical act of worship connecting the servant directly to their Creator. In the Holy Quran, Almighty Allah emphasizes that prayers are not arbitrary in their timing, but are strictly tied to the celestial movement of the sun across the heavens:

"Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times." (Surah An-Nisa 4:103)

In Surah Al-Isra (17:78), Allah SWT outlines the cycle of daily worship:

"Establish prayer at the decline of the sun from its meridian until the darkness of the night and [also] the Quran of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed." (Surah Al-Isra 17:78)

Maintaining the five daily prayers at their prescribed earliest times (Awwal al-Waqt) is described by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as the most beloved deed to Allah. When asked, "Which deed is best?" the Prophet ﷺ replied: "Prayer offered at its proper time." (Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim).

The Five Daily Prayer Intervals Explained

1. Fajr (The Dawn Prayer - صلاة الفجر)

The Fajr prayer window commences at Subh Sadiq (True Dawn)—the moment a horizontal white thread of light appears across the eastern horizon. It must be completed before the upper edge of the sun's disc rises above the horizon (Sunrise / Shuruq). Astronomical conventions measure Fajr when the sun is between 15° to 18.5° below the eastern horizon.

2. Dhuhr (The Midday / Noon Prayer - صلاة الظهر)

Dhuhr begins immediately following Zawal (the moment the sun passes its highest zenith at solar noon and begins its descent westward). It continues until the beginning of Asr time. It is recommended to perform Dhuhr slightly after Zawal to avoid praying during the prohibited meridian stillness.

3. Asr (The Afternoon Prayer - صلاة العصر)

The Quran specifically honors Asr as As-Salat Al-Wusta (The Middle Prayer): "Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:238).

Asr begins when the shadow of an object equals its own height (Standard / Shafi'i method) or double its height (Hanafi method) plus the shadow length at midday. It ends when the sun begins to set.

4. Maghrib (The Sunset Prayer - صلاة المغرب)

Maghrib begins the exact instant the entire solar disc disappears completely beneath the western horizon. The prayer window is relatively brief, continuing until the red or white twilight (Shafaq) has disappeared from the evening sky.

5. Isha (The Night Prayer - صلاة العشاء)

Isha begins when the evening twilight (Shafaq al-Ahmar or Shafaq al-Abyad) has completely faded, leaving the sky fully dark. This occurs when the sun reaches approximately 15° to 18° below the western horizon. Its preferred time extends until the first third or middle of the night (Nisf al-Layl).

Astronomical Methods & Twilight Angles Compared

Because the Earth's atmosphere refracts light, modern calculation algorithms utilize sun altitude angle conventions approved by international Islamic authorities:

Forbidden Times for Prayer (Awqat al-Nahy)

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ explicitly prohibited offering voluntary prayers (Nawafil) during three specific daily periods to distance Islamic monotheism from pagan sun-worship practices:

• From sunrise until Ishraq: For approximately 15 to 20 minutes after the upper rim of the sun appears until it rises to the height of a spear.
• During exact solar zenith (Istawa): For approximately 5 to 10 minutes right before Dhuhr time when the sun is directly overhead.
• From after Asr until full sunset: During the yellowing and setting of the sun into the horizon.

Tahajjud & The Last Third of the Night (Qiyam al-Layl)

In addition to the five mandatory prayers, the Holy Quran and prophetic traditions extol the unmatched spiritual status of Tahajjud (the voluntary night prayer). Allah SWT praises those who awaken in the depth of the night in Surah As-Sajdah (32:16): "They arise from [their] beds; they supplicate their Lord in fear and aspiration, and from what We have provided them, they spend."

The most virtuous period for offering Tahajjud is during the last third of the night (Al-Thuluth Al-Akhir). To calculate this golden interval precisely:

1. Calculate the total span between sunset (Maghrib) and the following day's dawn (Fajr).
2. Divide the total duration by 3.
3. Subtract this one-third value from Fajr time. The remaining window leading into Fajr constitutes the final third of the night, when Allah descends to the lowest heaven in a manner befitting His Majesty, answering supplications and forgiving those who ask.

Frequently Asked Questions About Prayer Times

1. What should I do if I miss a prayer due to sleep or forgetfulness?

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ stated: "Whoever forgets a prayer or sleeps through its time, its expiation is that he prays it as soon as he remembers it; there is no other expiation for it." (Sahih al-Bukhari). You should perform the missed prayer immediately upon waking or remembering.

2. How is the middle of the night (Nisf al-Layl) calculated for Isha?

To determine the middle of the night, calculate the total duration in hours and minutes between sunset (Maghrib) and the following day's dawn (Fajr), divide that time in half, and add it to Maghrib time. For example, if Maghrib is at 6:00 PM and Fajr is at 4:00 AM (a 10-hour span), Nisf al-Layl is at 11:00 PM (5 hours after Maghrib).

3. Is it permissible to combine Dhuhr & Asr or Maghrib & Isha?

Combining prayers (Jam') is explicitly permitted during lawful travel (Safar), torrential rain or severe snowstorms, and extreme medical or safety necessity, as established in the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.