The five daily prayers or Salah is the second pillar of faith in Islam. Offering the five daily prayers is integral to our belief since doing so constantly reminds us of Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and our purpose in this world.
The command to establish prayer has been reiterated time and again in the Holy Quran. It is mentioned over 67 times in the Quran, highlighting the significance of praying Salah. Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) says in the Quran:
“Be wakeful of your service of prayer, and the midmost service; and honor God by standing before Him in devotion.” [2:238]
But Salah has to be established under certain conditions. Amongst the most important requirements is offering prayers at their prescribed times throughout the day. each of the five prayers has a specified period within which the Salah can be prayed.
The Five Daily Prayer Timings
Each of the five daily prayers has to be prayed at the correct time and order. According to a Hadith narrated by Hazrat Abdullah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ), offering prayer at the right time is among the best deeds:
I asked the Prophet (ﷺ) Which deed is the dearest to Allah?” He replied, “To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times.” I asked, “What is the next (in goodness)?” He replied, “To be good and dutiful to your parents” I again asked, “What is the next (in goodness)?” He replied, ‘To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah’s cause.” `Abdullah added, “I asked only that much, and if I had asked more, the Prophet (ﷺ) would have told me more.” [Sahih Bukhari 527]
The daily prayer times in Islam are fixed. Here is the approximate timing for each prayer:
Fajr
Offered before dawn, Fajr prayer is a pre-dawn prayer, and the time for it is very short, as it must be prayed before daybreak.
Dhuhr
The time for Dhuhr prayer starts just after noon when the sun is at its highest point and lasts well into the afternoon. There is ample time to pray Dhuhr prayer and this is also why it is the prayer with most Rakah after Isha.
Asr
Asr prayer can be prayed in the late afternoon. The time for Asr lasts just before sunset. The Prophet (ﷺ) is reported to have recommended delaying the Asr prayer, especially during summer, so it can be prayed when the heat of the sun is not as extreme.
Maghrib
The Maghrib prayer should be offered right after sunset. Like the Fajr prayer, it has a very short time limit.
Isha
Isha is the night prayer. It should be prayed just before one goes to bed.
While prayer timings are based on the position of the sun and the time of the day, it can be hard to find an accurate time to offer prayers. While there are many ways of finding out the exact prayer time anywhere in the world, you should be able to calculate the timings yourself as well.
Also Read: Inspiring Namaz Quotes in English | Quotes about Salah
Figuring out Accurate Prayer Timings-A Step-by-Step Guide
Normally, you can easily figure out the exact prayer time if you have a prayer alert application on your smartphone or live in a Muslim-majority country and the call to prayer can be heard clearly. However, if both these are not possible, you can find out the time for each prayer by following these steps:
Step #1 Know Approximate Prayer Timings
Even if you do not know the exact timings of each prayer, you should at least be aware of the timings as per Islamic tradition. This means knowing the time of day when each prayer must be prayed, as mentioned above. You should, for example, know that Fajr is prayed before dawn, while Maghrib is prayed right after sunset.
Step #2 Determine your Location
Timings are affected by your geographical location. It is important to know your location since changes in the time of the day, that is, the position of the sun during the day, depends upon the Earth’s rotation. This is why timings differ across different longitudinal positions. It is not hard to figure out your precise location using maps or even digital devices.
Step #3 Know Local Time Zones
Timings can be very tricky as time zones can vary nationwide as well. Even if you know the prayer timings, make sure you’re the time zone you are in is consistent with the time zone for which prayer timings are available. Otherwise, you have to figure out the prayer timings for your location.
Step #4 Know the Fiqh You Follow
Different schools of jurisprudence of Fiqh in Islam have slightly different rulings about prayer timings. In Hanafi jurisprudence, for instance, it is recommended that the Asr and Isha prayer be delayed as much as possible. This is based on the interpretation of certain Hadith of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ).
Step #5 Use Location and Fiqh to Help Figure Out Prayer Timings
Using your location and the rulings of the Fiqh you follow, determine the prayer timings. Many resources, such as computer software, mobile applications, and so on, are available for you to calculate the prayer times.
Step #6 Keep Track of Prayer through Local Mosques
If there is a mosque or Islamic center near you, that is also a great way to keep track of prayer times. A local mosque can provide accurate prayer times for the five daily prayers.
Step #7 Remember to Make Adjustments in Different Seasons
It is necessary to adjust the prayer timings according to seasonal changes. Changes in the season result in a change in daylight hours. Nights are longer in winter, while mornings are shorter. This is why Fajr, Dhuhr, and Asr prayers are less spaced out during winters than during summers.
Praying for Salvation
Praying Salah is essential to our faith. Salah has some requirements that must be fulfilled because Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) commands us to establish prayer. This means praying each of the five prayers at the proper time, facing the Qibla direction, and being in a state of Wudhu (ablution).
Prayers can only be prayed at their prescribed time. Nowadays, there are so many resources available that figuring out the correct prayer timings is not an issue. But if you still struggle to determine accurate prayer times for your location, you can always observe the movement of the sun throughout the day and estimate the times. This is how prayer times were determined during the time of the Holy Prophet (ﷺ), so there is no prohibition regarding this. After all, it is better to offer Salah at the approximate time rather than to miss prayers entirely simply because you do not know the times.
