Maghrib
Maghrib () is the fourth daily
salat in
Islam, offered at sunset. The word
maghrib is an
Arabic term for "of the setting (
sun)"; from the root
"ghuroob", "to set"; "to be hidden" (but it is not used for the setting of the
moon). It is also used in a manner similar to the metaphorical use of "to be eclipsed", which is used in the
English language.
The
Maghrib prayer is
the sunset daily prayer performed by practising
Muslims. It is the fourth of the five daily prayers (
salat). The five daily prayers collectively are one pillar of the
Five Pillars of Islam, in
Sunni Islam, and one of (the ten)
Furoo-ul-deen, according to
Shia Islam. It is a 3
rak'ah daily prayer and is prayed aloud. The prayer that follows the Maghrib daily prayer is the
Isha prayer (night-time daily prayer).
In both types of
Islam, the Maghrib daily prayer has three required (
Fard)
rak'ah. However, in Sunni Islam, two
Sunnah rak'ah following the Fard raka'ah are highly recommended. The Maghrib prayer also is the fastest daily prayer Muslims usually shall hold, due to its occupancy of the shortest time period allowed to recite.
Last but not least, the Maghrib prayer indicates the end of the daily Muslim obligatory
fasting during the holy month of
Ramadan.
Shia Islam
The time period within which the Maghrib daily prayer must be recited is the following:
* Time begins: once the Sun has completely set beneath the horizon.
* Time ends: at midnight. This is not necessarily at 24:00h; rather it is the time exactly between sunset and the beginning of dawn.
However, it is very important to recite the prayer as soon as the time begins.
Sunni Islam
The time period within which the Maghrib daily prayer must be recited is the following:
* Time begins: once the Sun has completely set beneath the horizon.
* Time ends: it is a consensus that the time for Maghrib salat ends when the
Isha salat begins. However, there is a disgreement amongst Sunni scholars as to when that does occur. According to some, the time ends when complete darkness has arrived and the disappearance of the white twilight. Others claim that the time ends when the red has disappeared from the sky. These times can be approximated by using the sun as a measure. When the sun has descended 12 degrees below the horizon, it is the equivalent to the disappearance of the red from the sky. For approximating when complete darkness begins, some astrologist argue that it occurs when the sun has descended 15 degrees below the horizon while others use the more safe number of 18 degreesaround one and a half hours after the beginning of the setting of the Sun.
However, it is very important to recite the prayer as soon as the time begins.
See also
*
Salat (Prayer)
*
Fajr (Dawn prayer)
*
Dhuhr (Mid-day prayer)
*
Asr (Afternoon prayer)
* Maghrib (Sunset prayer)
*
Isha'a (Night prayer)
