Maghrib Prayer

What is Maghrib prayer?

Maghrib is the fourth of the five obligatory daily prayers in Islam. It is performed immediately after sunset, when the sun has disappeared below the horizon.

The obligatory Maghrib prayer consists of three rak'ahs. It marks the transition from daylight into evening and is followed by the final obligatory prayer of the day, Isha.

Maghrib at a glance

Why is Maghrib important?

Maghrib comes at one of the most visible transitions of the day: sunset. The work and activity of daylight begin to give way to evening, and Muslims pause for prayer as the day closes.

Its timing gives Maghrib a distinctive place in the daily prayer cycle. Fajr begins around dawn, Dhuhr follows midday, Asr occupies the afternoon, Maghrib begins at sunset, and Isha follows at night.

Maghrib therefore connects the end of the daylight hours with remembrance and worship.

When does Maghrib begin?

Maghrib begins when the sun has completely set below the horizon. This is why prayer schedules closely associate the Maghrib time with sunset.

Unlike Fajr and Isha, which are calculated using twilight angles, the beginning of Maghrib is tied directly to the observable setting of the sun.

When does Maghrib end?

The Maghrib prayer period continues into the evening until the time for Isha begins.

Muslims commonly perform Maghrib relatively soon after sunset rather than delaying it unnecessarily.

How many rak'ahs are in Maghrib?

The obligatory Maghrib prayer consists of three rak'ahs. Two Sunnah rak'ahs are commonly performed afterward.

Maghrib and fasting

Maghrib has special importance during Ramadan and other Islamic fasts because sunset marks the end of the daily fasting period.

A fasting Muslim abstains from food and drink from true dawn until sunset. When the sun sets, the fast may be broken, traditionally beginning with iftar before or around the time of Maghrib prayer.

This creates a direct relationship between the astronomical sunset, the end of fasting, and the beginning of Maghrib.

Maghrib and iftar

The meal used to break the fast is called iftar. During Ramadan, Muslim communities around the world watch the Maghrib time closely because it signals that the day's fast has ended.

The Sunnah encourages Muslims not to delay breaking the fast once sunset has occurred.

Sunset and Maghrib

Prayer schedules often show sunset and Maghrib at the same or nearly the same time because sunset determines the beginning of Maghrib.

Maghrib and Isha are separate prayers

Maghrib begins at sunset and is followed later by Isha. The period between them corresponds to the evening twilight.

Isha does not begin immediately at sunset. Its starting time is associated with the disappearance of evening twilight, which is why prayer schedules list Maghrib and Isha separately.

Key points

• Maghrib is the fourth obligatory prayer of the day.
• The obligatory prayer contains three rak'ahs.
• Maghrib begins when the sun sets.
• Its prayer period continues until Isha begins.
• Sunset also marks the end of the daily Islamic fast.
• Two Sunnah rak'ahs are commonly prayed after Maghrib.

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Find Maghrib and the other daily prayer times for your city.