English

Why do Muslims pray five times a day?

Short answerMuslims pray five times a day because God prescribed it, and it is the most direct link between a person and their Lord. The prayers are spread through the day (dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset and night), keeping a person mindful of God, bringing calm and order, and reminding them that all of life belongs to Him.

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The command

God made prayer an obligation for believers at fixed times:

Quran
فَإِذَا قَضَيۡتُمُ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ فَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ قِيَٰمٗا وَقُعُودٗا وَعَلَىٰ جُنُوبِكُمۡۚ فَإِذَا ٱطۡمَأۡنَنتُمۡ فَأَقِيمُواْ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَۚ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ كَانَتۡ عَلَى ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ كِتَٰبٗا مَّوۡقُوتٗا

And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allāh standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.

An-Nisa 4:103

And its first purpose is the remembrance of God:

Quran
إِنَّنِيٓ أَنَا ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۠ فَٱعۡبُدۡنِي وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِذِكۡرِيٓ

Indeed, I am Allāh. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.

Ta-Ha 20:14

The five times

  • Fajr: from true dawn until sunrise.
  • Dhuhr: after the sun passes its zenith.
  • Asr: the afternoon, until shortly before sunset.
  • Maghrib: right after sunset.
  • Isha: after twilight fades, extending to around midnight.

Times differ by city and season; see the prayer-times page for your city.

What it does for the believer

Hadith
أَرَأَيْتُمْ لَوْ أَنَّ نَهَرًا بِبَابِ أَحَدِكُمْ يَغْتَسِلُ فِيهِ كُلَّ يَوْمٍ خَمْسًا، هَلْ يَبْقَى مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْءٌ؟ قَالُوا: لَا يَبْقَى مِنْ دَرَنِهِ شَيْءٌ، قَالَ: فَذَلِكَ مَثَلُ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسِ، يَمْحُو اللَّهُ بِهِنَّ الْخَطَايَا

Tell me: if there were a river at the door of one of you, and he bathed in it five times every day, would any dirt remain on him? They said: No dirt would remain. He said: That is the likeness of the five prayers; through them God erases sins.

Al-Bukhari 528, Muslim 667

How is prayer performed?

Prayer is performed after wudu, facing the Kaaba, with standing, bowing, prostration and recitation of Al-Fatihah and other verses. A step-by-step guide is on the Wudu & Prayer page.

Frequently asked questions

Must I pray in a mosque?

Prayer is valid in any clean place. Men are strongly encouraged to pray in congregation at the mosque; women may pray at home or at the mosque.

What if I cannot yet recite in Arabic?

Start with what you know and remember God as you can, learning gradually; God knows your effort.

Texts and translations are under scholarly review.