Dhuhr Prayer

The Dhuhr prayer (Arabic: صلاة الظهر) is one of the five daily prayers obligatory for every Muslim. It begins when the sun passes its zenith in the sky and continues for an extended period until the Asr prayer begins. It is the first prayer performed after midday, preceding Fajr in the morning sequence.

Dhuhr consists of four obligatory rakats (units). The Quranic recitation during the rakats is customarily low (inaudible), differing from Fajr, Maghrib, and Isha, which include portions recited aloud. When the prayer is performed in congregation, the imam also recites quietly.

Time

The time of the prayer is determined by the position of the sun in the sky. When the sun reaches its highest point for the day (true noon), prayer is suspended briefly; once the sun begins its descent toward the east, the time for Dhuhr begins. Schools of Islamic law differ on the end time, based on the length of an object's shadow relative to the object itself.

Friday and Dhuhr

On Friday, the Jumu'ah prayer replaces Dhuhr for men obligated to attend congregational prayer at the mosque. Jumu'ah consists of two rakats with a sermon (khutbah) included. Those exempt from attending Jumu'ah—such as women, travelers, or those with valid excuses—perform the four rakats of Dhuhr instead.

Sunnah Prayer

In addition to the four obligatory rakats, supplementary rakats (rawaatib) are performed before and after Dhuhr. Schools of law differ on the number; it is commonly stated as two or four rakats before and two after.

Travel Concessions

Islamic law permits travelers to shorten (qasr) the four rakats to two, and according to some schools, to combine (jam') Dhuhr and Asr at a single time. Other circumstances, such as illness or heavy rain, may also warrant combining the prayers, though the conditions differ among schools.