How to Pray 5 Times a Day: A Practical Daily Guide

Five daily prayers are the backbone of a Muslim's spiritual life. But if you are new to praying consistently, or coming back to prayer after a break, fitting five prayers into a modern schedule can feel overwhelming. The good news is that each prayer only takes about 5 to 10 minutes, and once you build the routine, it becomes second nature.

The Five Daily Prayers

Each prayer has a specific time window. You do not have to pray at the exact second the time begins, but you should pray before the window ends.

1. Fajr (Dawn Prayer)

When: From the first light of dawn until just before sunrise. This is typically the hardest prayer for most people because it requires waking up early.

Rakaat: 2 obligatory rakaat (plus 2 sunnah before).

Duration: About 5 minutes for the fard prayer.

Tip: Set multiple alarms with 5-minute gaps. Better yet, use an app like Just Pray that sends you a heads-up notification before Fajr, a notification at the time, and a reminder if you have not logged it. The three-layer approach makes it much harder to sleep through.

2. Dhuhr (Midday Prayer)

When: After the sun passes its highest point until the shadow of an object equals its length. Roughly around midday to early afternoon.

Rakaat: 4 obligatory rakaat.

Duration: About 7 to 8 minutes.

Tip: This usually falls during lunch break at work or school. Find a quiet corner, an empty meeting room, or even your car. Many Muslims use this prayer as a natural midday reset.

3. Asr (Afternoon Prayer)

When: When the shadow of an object is equal to its length until just before sunset.

Rakaat: 4 obligatory rakaat.

Duration: About 7 to 8 minutes.

Tip: Asr often falls during the busiest part of the afternoon. Set a reminder for the start of Asr time so you do not accidentally let it slip while you are focused on work.

4. Maghrib (Sunset Prayer)

When: Right after sunset until the red twilight disappears. This is the shortest window of all five prayers.

Rakaat: 3 obligatory rakaat.

Duration: About 5 to 6 minutes.

Tip: Because Maghrib has the shortest window, pray it as soon as you can after sunset. Many people pair it with iftar during Ramadan, but year-round, it is best to pray it promptly.

5. Isha (Night Prayer)

When: After the red twilight has disappeared until midnight (or the last third of the night according to some scholars).

Rakaat: 4 obligatory rakaat.

Duration: About 7 to 8 minutes.

Tip: Isha gives you the most flexibility since the window is long. Just make sure you actually pray it and do not keep pushing it back until you fall asleep.

Total Time Commitment

If you add up the fard prayers alone, you are looking at about 30 to 35 minutes spread across the entire day. That is less time than most people spend scrolling social media in a single sitting. When you think of it that way, five prayers a day is very manageable.

Practical Tips for Consistency

Start with the Easy Ones

If you are not currently praying all five, do not pressure yourself to go from zero to five overnight. Start with the ones that fit naturally into your schedule. Maghrib is easy because it is right at sunset. Isha is flexible. Build up from there.

Anchor Prayers to Existing Habits

Pair each prayer with something you already do. Fajr right when your alarm goes off. Dhuhr right when you take your lunch break. Asr when you finish your afternoon coffee. Maghrib right when you get home. Isha right before your bedtime routine.

Use a Prayer Tracker

Tracking your prayers creates accountability. When you can see your streak, when you can watch your Garden of Deeds grow in Just Pray, when you know your prayer circle can see your progress, you are far more likely to stay consistent. The data also helps you identify which prayer you miss most so you can focus on fixing that one.

Prepare for Each Prayer

Know where you will pray each prayer before the day starts. Have a prayer mat at work. Know which room you will use. Keep wudu if possible so you are ready to pray the moment the time comes in.

Use Prayer Focus Mode

When it is time to pray, distractions are your enemy. Just Pray's Prayer Focus mode blocks distracting apps on your phone during prayer time, so you can focus entirely on your salah without your phone buzzing with notifications.

What If You Miss a Prayer?

Missing a prayer does not mean the day is ruined. Make it up as soon as you remember. The important thing is to not let one missed prayer turn into two, then three, then giving up for the day. Every prayer is its own opportunity.

A prayer tracker helps here too. When you see a gap in your streak, it motivates you to make sure tomorrow is different. Progress is not about perfection but about consistency over time.