How to Perform the Maghrib (Sunset) Prayer

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Plus, when to pray Maghrib & how many rakats to perform
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The Maghrib prayer, which takes place just after sunset, is a beautiful tradition and religious obligation for Muslims around the globe. But how do you pray it for yourself? Whether you’re new to Islam or looking to strengthen your Islamic faith, we’re here to help. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through when and how to pray the Maghrib prayer, as well as how to prepare for prayer. Read on to learn more!

Performing Maghrib Prayer

Pray Maghrib every day, just after sunset. Make an intention to pray and enter the Qiyam standing position. Say “Allahu akbar” and pray to ward off Shaytan. Then, perform the 3 obligatory rakats, which each begin by reciting the Surah al-Fatiha. End the prayer with Taslim.

Section 1 of 5:

How to Pray Maghrib

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  1. Think about the prayer you intend to perform, and mentally note your intention to perform it . This doesn’t need to be done in Arabic—you can also make your intention in English, or whichever language you’d like. For instance, you might say something in your mind like: [1]
    • “I intend to offer 3 (or 5) rakat for Maghrib today.”
  2. Qiyam is a standing position, during which you stand with your hands folded in front of you. From this position, raise your hands up to your ears with your palms facing outwards. Then say the Takbir: “Allahu akbar” (“God is great”). [2]
    • After you say the Takbir, lower your hands again.
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  3. Many people perform a short dua (supplication) after this prayer, which is sunnah. This means that the prophet (PBUH) practiced this, but it is not obligatory. If you’d like to recite this dua, you can say the following: [3]
    • “Subhanaka Allahumma wa bihamdika wa tabarakasmuka, wa ta’ala jadduka wa la ilaha ghairuk”
    • Translation : “Glorious You are O Allah, and with Your praise, and blessed is Your Name, and exalted is Your majesty, and none has the right to be worshipped but You.”
  4. Before beginning your first rakat, it’s customary to ward off Shaytan, the malevolent force opposed to the will of Allah. To do so, say the following prayer: [4]
    • “A‘oodhu Billaahi min ash-Shaytaan ir-rajeem”
    • Translation : “I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan.”
  5. Every rakat begins with the recitation of Surah al-Fatiha, the first chapter of the Quran. After reciting this chapter, say “Ameen” (“I affirm Allah’s truth.”). Surah al-Fatiha goes as follows: [5]
    • “Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem Maaliki Yawmid-Deen Iyyaaka na’budu wa lyyaaka nasta’een Ihdinas-Siraatal-Mustaqeem Siraatal-lazeena an’amta ‘alaihim ghayril-maghdoobi ‘alaihim wa lad-daaalleen”
    • Translation : “With the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful. Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, the All-Merciful, the Very Merciful, the Master of the Day of Requital. You alone do we worship, and from You alone do we seek help. Take us on the straight path, the path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not of those who have incurred Your wrath, nor of those who have gone astray.”
  6. For your first two rakat, select another part of the Quran to recite after Surah al-Fatiha. You can choose any section of the Quran, but if you’re just starting out, it’s useful to choose a shorter, more easily memorizable Surah, like one of the following: [6]
    • Surah Kafirun: “Qul yaa-ai yuhal kaafiroon Laa a’budu ma t’abudoon Wa laa antum ‘aabidoona maa a’bud Wa laa ana ‘abidum maa ‘abattum Wa laa antum ‘aabidoona ma a’bud Lakum deenukum wa liya deen”
    • Translation : “Say, “O disbelievers, I do not worship what you worship. Nor are you worshipers of what I worship. Nor will I be a worshipper of what you worship. Nor will you be worshippers of what I worship. For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.”
    • Surah Nas: “Qul a’uzu birabbin naas Malikin naas Ilaahin naas Min sharril was waasil khannaas Al lazee yuwas wisu fee sudoorin naas Minal jinnati wan naas”
    • Translation : “Say, “I seek refuge in the Lord of mankind, the Sovereign of mankind, the God of mankind, from the evil of the retreating whisperer, who whispers [evil] into the breasts of mankind from among the jinn and mankind.”
  7. Ruk’u is a bowing position, during which you lean forward with your legs still straight. Position your torso almost parallel to the ground, and your hands on your knees. As you move into this position, say “Allahu Akbar.” Then, once you’re in Ruk’u, repeat the following prayer 3 times: [7]
    • “Subhaana rabbiyal ‘atheem”
    • Translation : “Glory be to my Lord, the Supreme.”
  8. Rise back into the standing position (Qiyam). As you do so, say the following words: “Sami’-Allahu liman hamidah” (“Allah listens to the one who praises Him”). When you’re standing upright again, say, “Rabbanaa wa lakal hamd” (Our Lord, and to You belongs the praise.”) [8]
  9. Sujood is a position during which you’ll perform prostration. Lower yourself to the ground, with your toes, knees, nose, and forehead touching the floor. Place your palms on the floor as well, beside your head. As you lower yourself into Sujood, say “Allahu Akbar.” Then, when you’re in Sujood, repeat the following 3 times: [9]
    • “Subhaana rabbiyal ‘alaa.”
    • Translation : “Glory be to my Lord Most High.”
  10. Juloos is the sitting position. Sit on your knees, placing your weight on your left thigh. Keep the toes of your right foot upright and facing the Qiblah, and your hands placed on your knees. As you enter Juloos, say “Allahu Akbar.” Then, when you’re in the sitting position, repeat the following 3 times: [10]
    • “Rabbighfirlee”
    • Translation : “O Allah, forgive me.”
  11. Return to the prostration position, with your toes, knees, palms, forehead and nose touching the floor. As you do so, say “Allahu Akbar.” When you’re in sujood, repeat the following three times in order to complete your first rakat: [11]
    • “Subhaana rabbiyal ‘alaa.”
    • Translation : “Glory be to my Lord Most High.”
  12. The steps of the second rakat are identical to the first rakat, just with the addition of the Tashahud at the end. [12]
    • Rise into Qiyam, then begin your second rakat with the recitation of Surah al-Fatiha.
    • After reciting al-Fatiha, select a different verse from the Quran for your second rakat.
    • Enter Ruk’u, return to Qiyam, and then enter Sujood (reciting the same prayers as in the first rakat).
    • Rise into Juloos and enter Sujood again (reciting the same prayers as in the first rakat).
  13. At the end of the second rakat, rise from Sujood back into Juloos (the sitting position). In this position, recite the Tashahud, which goes as follows: [13]
    • “At-tahiy-yatu lil-lahi was-salawatu wat-taiyibatu . Assalamu 'Alaika aiyuhan-Nabiyu wa-rahmatul-lahi wa-barakatuhu. Assalamu alai-na wa-'ala i-ba-dil-lahis-sali-hin. Ash-hadu al-la ilaha il-lal-lahu wa ash-hadu an-na Muhammadan 'abdu hu wa Rasuluh.”
    • Translation : “All the compliments are for Allah and all the prayers and all the good things (are for Allah). Peace be on you, O Prophet, and Allah's mercy and blessings (are on you). And peace be on us and on the good (pious) worshipers of Allah. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Apostle.”
  14. After finishing the Tashahud, return to Qiyam to begin the third rakat, starting with the recitation of Surah al-Fatiha. Keep in mind that you do not need to recite an extra Surah after Fatiha during the third rakat. The third rakat is otherwise identical to the first rakat. [14]
  15. After reciting the Surah al-Fatiha, follow the same process as you did in the first and second rakat:
    • Enter Ruk’u and recite “Subhaana rabbiyal ‘atheem” 3 times.
    • Return to Qiyam and give praise to Allah.
    • Enter Sujood and recite “Subhaana rabbiyal ‘alaa” 3 times.
    • Rise into Juloos and recite “Rabbighfirlee” 3 times.
    • Enter Sujood and recite “Subhaana rabbiyal ‘alaa” 3 times.
  16. After completing the third rakat, you have finished the mandatory rakats for Maghrib. At this point, you can now perform the 2 optional additional rakats for a total of 5 rakats. These 2 additional rakats do not require readings other than Surah al-Fatiha. [15]
    • Keep in mind that after the first additional rakat (rakat number 4), it’s conventional to perform the Tashahud once again.
  17. After completing the rakats (either 3 or 5), you’re ready to end the prayer. Sit in the Juloos position, turn your head to the right, and say, “Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah” (“May the peace and mercy of Allah be upon you”). Then, turn your head to the left and repeat the phrase. The Maghrib prayer is now complete. [16]
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Section 2 of 5:

What do I need to do before praying Maghrib?

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  1. Wudu and ghusl, the Islamic rituals of purification, are themselves acts of worship and are necessary before prayer. Perform wudu if you’ve used the restroom, passed gas, entered into deep sleep, or touched your genitals since the last time you performed either wudu or ghusl. If you’ve engaged in sexual activity or have been menstruating, ghusl is required, instead. [17]
  2. Both men and women are required to dress conservatively during prayer. Men are required to wear enough clothing to cover the back and front of their bodies between their navels and their knees, as well as cover their shoulders. [18] Women have to cover their entire bodies, with the exception of their hands and faces. It’s required that both men and women wear loose clothing that isn’t transparent. [19]
  3. Muslims are required to pray toward the Qibla, which is the name given to the direction of the holy mosque in Mecca. There are special compasses and websites, such as Google’s Qibla Finder , that can help you find the Qibla no matter where in the world you are. [20]
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Section 3 of 5:

How many rakats are in Maghrib?

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  1. Maghrib consists of 3 obligatory rakats . A rakat is a prayer unit in Islam, during which Muslims go through a series of prayers and actions. Each rakat takes about 1 minute to pray, meaning that praying Maghrib will take you around 3 minutes total. When praying with an imam in a mosque, however, it may take longer. [21]
    • Keep in mind that it’s considered a sin to rush through prayers in Islam. Take your time when praying Maghrib.
  2. These rakats are considered Sunnah, meaning that they were done by the Prophet (PBUH) habitually, but are not considered required. These rakats are performed after the 3 obligatory (Fard) rakats during Maghrib. [22]
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Section 4 of 5:

When do I have to pray Maghrib?

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  1. Since sunset happens at a different time each day, most Muslims use a timetable provided by their local mosque to know when to pray. You can also use a website to provide you with the exact time for prayer, like IslamicFinder.org or Salah.com . Or, do a quick Google search. [23]
    • Try your best to avoid missing these prayers. If you forget or sleep through Maghrib, you’re permitted to make it up as soon as you remember to do it. [24]
  2. If you’re currently menstruating, don’t pray any of the obligatory prayers (including Maghrib) until you’ve stopped—there’s no need to make up for any missed prayers during this time. [25] Women who are experiencing bleeding post-birth also are obligated to skip Maghrib and other obligatory prayers. [26]
    • If you have mobility issues, keep in mind that the prayer sequence for Maghrib requires movement that includes kneeling, prostrating, and standing back up. If you can’t perform these motions, sitting or lying down to pray is allowed. [27]
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Section 5 of 5:

What is Maghrib?

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  1. Together, these 5 obligatory prayers, also known as Salah or Namaaz, are the second pillar of Islam. Maghrib is known as the sunset prayer, since this is the time of day during which it takes place, and the word “maghrib” means sunset in Arabic. [28]
    • Prayer in Islam has a number of benefits—it grows your relationship with Allah, purifies your sins, and gives you the opportunity to practice self-reflection and grow spiritually.
    • Imam Mekaeel Mohsin agrees, saying that “there's a reason for” the 5 obligatory prayers, especially in the fast-paced “world that we are living in today.” He says these prayers require you to take a “spiritual break” and help you “connect with your Lord.”

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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.mymasjid.ca/beginners-guide-learn-pray-salah/chapter-4/
      2. ↑ https://myislam.org/how-to-pray-salah/
      3. ↑ https://myislam.org/opening-dua-of-salah/
      4. ↑ https://islamqa.info/en/answers/222629/seeking-refuge-with-allah-from-the-accursed-shaytaan-during-the-month-of-ramadan
      5. ↑ https://www.alislam.org/quran/app/1
      6. ↑ https://myislam.org/short-surahs/
      7. ↑ https://myislam.org/how-to-pray-salah/
      8. ↑ https://myislam.org/how-to-pray-salah/
      9. ↑ https://myislam.org/how-to-pray-salah/
      1. ↑ https://www.mymasjid.ca/beginners-guide-learn-pray-salah/chapter-4/
      2. ↑ https://www.mymasjid.ca/beginners-guide-learn-pray-salah/chapter-4/
      3. ↑ https://myislam.org/how-to-pray-salah/
      4. ↑ https://www.duasrevival.com/basics/way-of-life/tashahud
      5. ↑ https://myislam.org/how-to-pray-salah/
      6. ↑ https://islamqa.info/en/answers/33779/sunnah-prayers-what-are-their-virtues-and-times
      7. ↑ https://myislam.org/how-to-pray-salah/
      8. ↑ https://www.iium.edu.my/deed/lawbase/risalah_maliki/book02.html
      9. ↑ https://raleighmasjid.org/fiqh/prayer-salah/what-are-men-required-to-wear-during-islamic-obligatory-prayers-dress-requirements-length-colors-images-writing-design-etc/
      10. ↑ https://islamqa.info/en/answers/32993/can-women-pray-while-wearing-pants
      11. ↑ https://myislam.org/how-to-pray-salah/
      12. ↑ https://muslimversity.com/how-many-times-a-day-do-muslims-pray/
      13. ↑ https://islamqa.info/en/answers/33779/sunnah-prayers-what-are-their-virtues-and-times
      14. ↑ https://muslimversity.com/how-many-times-a-day-do-muslims-pray/#What_times_do_Muslims_pray
      15. ↑ https://islamqa.info/en/answers/111783/how-to-make-up-missed-prayers
      16. ↑ https://islamqa.info/en/answers/70438/dos-and-donts-during-menstruation
      17. ↑ https://islamqa.info/en/answers/319/maximum-period-of-nifas
      18. ↑ https://theislamicworkplace.com/disability-and-islam/
      19. ↑ https://muslimversity.com/how-many-times-a-day-do-muslims-pray/

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