Fajr

Fajr is the first of the five daily prayers in Islam and is performed before sunrise. The word fajr means dawn in Arabic, and the prayer marks the beginning of the day’s acts of worship for practicing Muslims. The timing of Fajr is tied to the appearance of morning light on the horizon and varies by location and season.

In Islamic jurisprudence, there are two dawn concepts: fajr al-sadiq (true dawn) and fajr al-kadhib (false dawn). True dawn is the faint, horizontal light that appears along the eastern horizon and indicates that the time for the dawn prayer has begun, as well as the start of the fasting period for those observing Ramadan. False dawn is a pale light that can appear earlier and is not considered the start of the Fajr prayer.

The Fajr prayer consists of two rak’ahs (units). Its time begins at fajr al-sadiq and ends at sunrise. The exact start and length of dawn depend on local conditions and the method used to determine dawn. Some communities rely on astronomical calculations, while others depend on the sighting of the horizon. In many modern contexts, organizations specify fajr using fixed twilight angles (for example, 18 degrees below the horizon) or other calculation methods, which can lead to regional variations.

Practically, fajr is also significant in Ramadan, as it marks the moment when the pre-dawn meal (suhoor) ends and the daily fast begins. Because dawn times vary with latitude and season, Muslims often consult local prayer timetables or apps to determine the correct fajr time for their location.