Also, do they have to pray at specific times of day, for example, 8:00, noon, 4:00, etc.?
2006-07-02 06:19:24 · 18 answers · asked by dsluton 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Muslims are commanded to pray five times each day:
Fajr: Just before sunrise
Dhuhr: When the sun it at it's zenith (midday)
Asr: When the sun has declined and the shadow of an object is twice the object's actual height
Maghrib: At sunset, immediately upon the disappearance of the sun from the horizon (it is still a bit light out, but the sun is gone)
Isha: Nighttime, when all light has gone from the sky (approx 1 1/2 hours after maghrib)
So the specific times will change daily with seasonal changes. For example, in the summer, fajr will be very early, while in the winter it will be much later. The times will also vary from region to region. One response here mentioned that 'asr was at 4:35 today where that person is; where I am it was at 3:10.
There are other "optional" prayers that the Muslim is not obligated to offer, but which may be offered for additional rewards, in the hope of making amends for shortcomings in the obligatory prayers, etc. These include dhuha, a prayer in the morning when the sun has risen and the redness of sunrise has left the sky, tahajjud (aka "qiyaam al-layl") which is offered at any time between isha and fajr, istikhara which is offered with a specific supplication when asking God for guidance when making a decision, and more.
It is most desirable to offer each prayer immediately upon the entrance of the time for that prayer and to not delay its performance. Prayers cannot be offered before the entrance of their time. If one missed a prayer due to forgetfulness or having fallen asleep, he must make that prayer as soon as he remembers or wakes up. That doesn't mean that he can just sleep thinking he'll pray whenever he wakes up, but that if he accidentally oversleeps and misses a prayer, it's not a sin as long as he offers that prayer immediately upon awakening.
No need for a prayer rug unless the area is unclean (not dusty, but unclean from specific things such as blood, urine, etc.). Many Muslims think the prayer rug is needed or that it holds some religious significance, but that is a mistaken belief. And it's also fine to pray in one's shoes. We take off our shoes when entering the masjid and people's homes to keep those places clean.
A final note: You wrote "devout Muslims", but the prayer is something that divides Muslims from non-Muslims. The majority of Muslim scholars agree that a person who intentionally neglects the prayers is not a Muslim at all. Such a person must sincerely repent, make sure he makes the prayers, and generally strive hard in performing good deeds and avoiding sins.
2006-07-02 06:33:06 · answer #1 · answered by Miss_M 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
If I remember correctly, they're supposed to pray five times a day, though I'm not sure of the specific times except for sunset.
2006-07-02 06:22:57 · answer #2 · answered by crystalrabbit7 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
5: once at dawn (subuh), once slightly past noon (zohor), once in the afternoon (asar), once during sunset (maghrib) and once at night (isyak).
Specific times differ from region to region and depend on the positioning of the sun, though it is not entirely necessary to pray at those times. For example, today's prayer time for Asar is 4.35pm. It's best you pray at that time, though you can carry out that prayer anytime before the next, which is Maghrib at 7.15pm.
2006-07-02 06:27:39 · answer #3 · answered by Alqarine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think 5 times a day but i'm not muslim so i don't know they pray when the sound tells them to there is this setting in some of their clocks that makes a special noise when they are supposed to pray
2006-07-02 06:23:20 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
5 Times a day, at specific times, according to what time zone you live in..For example, We pray the mornning prayer before Sunrise, which is based according to what time zone you live in. The prayers are called Fajr (Dawn), Zoor (afternoon), Asr (mid-afternoon), Magrib (sunset), and Isha (night).
2006-07-02 07:32:08 · answer #5 · answered by Plus-Sized &Proud 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pray Each Day
2016-11-06 23:25:01 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
muslims pray 5 times aday
2006-07-02 08:05:27 · answer #7 · answered by ddddd 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
5 times i think. There was actually a concern over Muslim astronauts because they didn't know how to face Mecca from and orbiting space ship or station.
2006-07-02 06:23:39 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Five times. Fajar- morning, Zohar- afternoon, Asar-evening, magrib-sunset and isha-night. The time is ascertained and published for each city .
2006-07-02 06:27:05 · answer #9 · answered by kalabalu 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
5 times. Sunrise (Subuh), Noon (Zuhr), The Time between Noon and Sunset (Asr), Sunset (Maghrib), Night (Isha').
2006-07-02 06:22:39 · answer #10 · answered by haterhater 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋