Islamic Fiqh > Prayer > The times of the 5 daily prayers
The boundaries of each prayer time according to the Sunnah, the disliked times, and how to manage cloudy skies.
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Updated on 06 October 2026 at 10:50 PM
The scholars of the whole community agree: Allah has set boundaries for the 5 prayers, and praying before the time or letting the time pass is not permitted; what passes the time becomes a makeup (qada). Allah says: "the prayer has been enjoined upon the believers at specified hours" (4:103).
The angel Jibril prayed twice with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) at both limits of every time, to show him the boundaries (at-Tirmidhi 149, Abu Dawud 393). A man also came to ask about the times; the Prophet answered: "attend the prayer with us", and Bilal was ordered to call at dawn when dawn appeared, then at midday when the sun declined, and so on (Muslim 613). Ibn 'Umar reports the summarized limits: the time of fajr lasts until the first edge of the sun rises; the time of dhuhr begins when the sun leaves its zenith; the time of isha extends until the middle of the night (Muslim 612).
The Prophet delayed isha until the middle of the night (al-Bukhari 546). 'Umar wrote to Abu Musa al-Ash'ari: pray isha until a third of the night, and if you delay, until half of it, and do not be among the heedless (reported by Malik in the Muwatta).
An-Nawawi summarizes the view of Malik, Ahmad, Dawud and the majority of scholars: the prayer becomes obligatory at the start of its time, and the obligation remains as long as one can pray. The times then extend to their end for the one with an excuse or the negligent person; his prayer is then a makeup.
'Uqba ibn 'Amir reports that the Prophet forbade praying at 3 moments: at sunrise until the sun rises higher, at the exact zenith until it inclines, and at sunset (Muslim 831).
The Hanafis and the Hanbalis also forbid prayer in the middle of the day. In Mecca, prayer remains allowed at any hour: "do not prevent anyone from circumambulating this House and praying at any hour he wishes, by night or day" (reported by Abu Dawud).
Plan your days around the 5 times rather than the reverse. The time of maghrib is the shortest: pray it without delay. Under a cloudy sky, the displayed times remain your reference and praying early protects against overrun.
Al-Mughni by Ibn Qudama · Hanbali school
The Muslims have agreed that the five prayers have appointed times that are known and defined, and this is found in authentic and sound hadiths, most of which we shall mention in their proper places, Allah willing.
Question 109; Abu al-Qasim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "When the sun declines, the zuhr prayer becomes obligatory."
Al-Khirqi began with the zuhr prayer because Jibril began with it when he led the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in prayer, in the hadith of Ibn Abbas and Jabir; and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) began with it when he taught the Companions the prayer times, in the hadith of Burayda and others; and the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, began with it when they were asked about the times, in the hadith of Abu Barza, Jabir and others. This prayer is called "the first", "al-hajir" and "zuhr". Abu Barza said: the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to pray al-hajir, which they call "the first", when the sun declined. This is agreed upon, meaning when the sun passes its zenith.
Until the red glow on the horizon disappears after sunset; then 'isha's time begins.
No, except the traveler's or rain combining per the schools; praying asr before the time starts invalidates the prayer.
Pray fajr immediately as soon as possible (as soon as remembered): a prayer missed by sleep or forgetfulness is prayed at the reminder, without waiting.
Use a reliable prayer calendar (app or site per your country's official calculation) and add a 5-10 minute precaution for the time's entry.