Maghrib (Prayer)

Maghrib is the fourth of the five daily prayers obligatory upon Muslims. Its time begins at sunset (called gurubka in Somali), and continues until the red twilight disappears from the western sky. The word maghrib is Arabic, derived from the root gharaba, meaning to set or enter, and is also used to denote the west.

The Maghrib prayer consists of three rak'as (prayer cycles). In the first two rak'as, the Fatihah and another surah are recited aloud, while in the third rak'a only the Fatihah is recited. When Maghrib is performed in congregation, the imam raises his voice during the recitation of the first two rak'as, which differs from the other daily prayers where recitation is silent.

Time

Maghrib time begins when the last part of the sun disappears below the horizon. This time window is shorter than those of the other prayers, and many scholars recommend that it be performed quickly after the call to prayer. It ends when the red twilight fades from the western sky, immediately followed by the time for Isha prayer. Because sunset times vary by location and season, the Maghrib schedule changes every day.

Connection to Fasting

Maghrib time marks the break-fast during Ramadan and all other fasting. Muslims who are fasting break their fast when the call to Maghrib prayer is announced. The common practice is to eat first and then perform the prayer.

Associated Prayers

Beyond the three obligatory rak'as, there are supererogatory (sunna) prayers performed alongside Maghrib. The well-known ones are two rak'as after the obligatory prayer, which many scholars classify as established sunna (sunna ratiba). There are also two rak'as before the obligatory prayer that some scholars consider recommended (mustahab). The Hanafi and Shafi'i schools have detailed distinctions regarding the number and status of these supererogatory prayers.