What Time is Maghrib Prayer Today?

Beautiful sunset marking the Maghrib prayer time and Iftar

Maghrib is the fourth of the five daily obligatory prayers (Salah) in Islam. It is performed immediately after sunset. Because it marks the end of the daylight hours, it is also the exact time Muslims break their daily fast (Iftar) during the holy month of Ramadan.

The time for Maghrib enters the exact moment the upper edge of the sun's disk completely disappears beneath the western horizon. Because sunset changes every single day based on the solar calendar and your geographical location, Maghrib time is constantly shifting.

Find Your Maghrib Time: Instead of guessing when the sun has set, you can use our US States Directory to find the mathematically precise Maghrib time down to the exact minute for your specific city and zip code.

How Many Rakats is Maghrib Prayer?

The Maghrib prayer consists of a total of seven rakats (units of prayer), divided into three parts:

3 Rakats Fard: The mandatory portion of the prayer. In congregation, the Imam recites the Quran aloud during the first two rakats.
2 Rakats Sunnah: Highly recommended voluntary prayers performed immediately after the Fard.
2 Rakats Nafl: Optional voluntary prayers.

When Does the Time for Maghrib End?

The time for Maghrib is notably shorter than most other prayers. It begins at sunset and ends when the twilight (the red glow in the sky) completely disappears. Once the twilight is gone, the time for Isha (the night prayer) begins.

Typically, in the USA, Maghrib time lasts for about 70 to 90 minutes depending on the season and your latitude. Because the window is so short, it is highly recommended to perform the Maghrib prayer as soon as possible after sunset.

Maghrib and Iftar in Ramadan

During Ramadan, the Adhan (call to prayer) for Maghrib signals the end of the fasting day. It is a Sunnah (tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) to hasten the breaking of the fast. Muslims typically break their fast with dates and water immediately upon the arrival of Maghrib time, before performing the actual Maghrib prayer.