Children say these names every day. Knowing what they mean connects prayer to the sky they see.
The five names
| Prayer | Arabic | Meaning | In the sky |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr | فَجْر | dawn | First light before sunrise |
| Dhuhr | ظُهْر | midday | Just after the sun’s highest point |
| Asr | عَصْر | late afternoon; time | Shadows grow long |
| Maghrib | مَغْرِب | sunset; the place of setting | Just after sunset |
| Isha | عِشَاء | night-time | When the twilight has gone |
Word links
- مَغْرِب and غَرْب (west) share a root: the sun sets in the west. Morocco is called الْمَغْرِب, “the land of the sunset”.
- Surah Al-’Asr (103) begins وَالْعَصْرِ, “By time”.
- Surah Al-Fajr (89) and Surah Ad-Duha (93, mid-morning) are also named after times of day.
Why times move in the UK
Because prayers follow the sun, their times change a lot through the British year: Isha can be very late in summer and early in winter. Watching the sky together helps children understand.
An activity
On a weekend day, go outside at each prayer time and look at the sky. Your child draws what they see next to each prayer name.
Teacher’s tip: children who understand that Maghrib means sunset often start reminding the family when they see the sun go down.
Related: Rak’ahs in each prayer and direction words.
