Asr Prayer Time — What Time Is Asr Today?
Asr (العصر) — the third of five daily prayers. Time depends on your location, the date, and your madhab. Auto-detect below or browse by city.
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What is Asr?
Asr (العصر) is the third of the five obligatory daily prayers in Islam, performed in the afternoon. The word means “the afternoon” or “the epoch.” The Quran dedicates an entire chapter to it — Surah Al-Asr (103) — and in Surah Al-Baqarah (2:238) Allah specifically commands believers to protect the prayers and especially the salat al-wusta (the middle prayer), which many scholars identify as Asr.
Shafi'i vs Hanafi Asr Time
Asr is the only prayer defined by shadow length, not the sun's angle. Two valid positions exist:
Shafi'i / Maliki / Hanbali — Shadow Factor 1
Asr begins when an object's shadow equals its own height (plus the noon shadow). This is the earlier afternoon time and is followed by the majority of Muslims worldwide.
Hanafi — Shadow Factor 2
Asr begins when an object's shadow equals twiceits height (plus the noon shadow). This is the later afternoon time, followed by South Asian Muslims. It can be 30–102 minutes after the Shafi'i time depending on season.
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How big is the difference — exactly?
Our detailed comparison shows real sample times for New York, Dearborn, and Houston across summer and winter — differences of up to 102 minutes.
Asr times by city
Dearborn and New York pages show both Shafi'i and Hanafi Asr times side by side.
How Asr Time Is Calculated — The Shadow Method
Unlike every other prayer in Islam, Asr is not determined by the sun's angle above or below the horizon. It is defined entirely by the length of shadows cast on the ground. This makes Asr the most distinctive calculation in Islamic prayer times.
The formula is: Asr shadow length = noon shadow + (shadow factor × object height). The noon shadow (the shortest shadow of the day, at solar noon) is subtracted from the calculation to account for latitude differences — a necessity because at high latitudes in summer, shadows never become short even at midday.
The two valid shadow factors are 1 (Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali) and 2 (Hanafi). Both have sound scholarly bases going back to the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the early generations of Muslim scholars.
The Difference in Real Times — Shafi'i vs Hanafi
The gap between the two Asr times is not trivial. It varies by latitude and season:
| Location & Month | Shafi'i Asr | Hanafi Asr | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York — June | 4:35 PM | 6:08 PM | +93 min |
| New York — December | 1:58 PM | 2:50 PM | +52 min |
| Dearborn, MI — June | 4:35 PM | 6:17 PM | +102 min |
| Houston, TX — June | 4:53 PM | 6:16 PM | +83 min |
The difference is largest in summer at northern latitudes (where shadows change slowly in the afternoon) and smallest in winter (when shadows lengthen more rapidly). See the full Shafi'i vs Hanafi Asr comparison for a complete breakdown with monthly data.
Which Asr Time Should You Use?
Follow your madhab:
- South Asian background (Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, Afghan): You most likely follow the Hanafi school. Use the later Asr time (shadow factor 2). This is the time your mosque almost certainly uses.
- Arab, African, Southeast Asian, Turkish, or most other backgrounds: You most likely follow the Shafi'i, Maliki, or Hanbali school. Use the earlier Asr time (shadow factor 1).
- Not sure? Match your local mosque. Call them or attend once and observe when they pray Asr — that is your answer.
Hanafi Muslims who need to join a congregation praying at the earlier Shafi'i time (for example while travelling or at a non-Hanafi mosque) may do so — most Hanafi scholars permit this when there is a genuine reason. It should not become routine without need.
How Many Rakaat Is Asr?
Asr consists of 4 Fard (obligatory) rak'aat. There is also a Sunnah of 4 rak'aat before the Fard. The Prophet (ﷺ) is reported to have said: “May Allah have mercy on the one who prays four rak'aat before Asr.” (Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi). This pre-Asr Sunnah is Sunnah Ghayr Mu'akkadah (a non-emphasized voluntary prayer) — virtuous to perform but not as strongly stressed as the pre-Fajr or post-Dhuhr Sunnahs.
There is no Sunnah prayer after Asr. The Prophet (ﷺ) prohibited voluntary prayers after Asr until sunset, except for making up missed prayers (qada).
The Forbidden Time and the Asr Window
The Asr prayer window opens at the calculated Asr time and remains open until sunset. However, an important hadith narrated in Sahih Muslim reports that the Prophet (ﷺ) prohibited starting a prayer when the sun is turning yellow (pale and reddish just before setting). This sign typically appears 20–40 minutes before actual sunset.
Scholars distinguish between the preferred time (before the sun yellows) and the valid time (before the sun actually sets). Completing Asr before the sun becomes visibly yellow is strongly recommended. Starting Asr after that point is disliked (makruh) but the prayer is still valid if completed before sunset.
Practically: do not delay Asr until the sun is visibly low and orange. If it is that late, pray immediately — even if the sun has begun to look yellow — to avoid missing the prayer entirely.
Asr and the Salat al-Wusta
Surah Al-Baqarah (2:238) contains a special command: “Protect the prayers and [especially] the middle prayer (salat al-wusta), and stand before Allah in devout obedience.”
The majority of classical scholars — including Ibn Masud, Ali ibn Abi Talib (ra), and others — identify Asr as the salat al-wusta. The reasoning: with five daily prayers, Asr is the third and literally the middle one. Its timing (mid-afternoon, when people are typically busy with work and commerce) makes it easy to neglect, which is precisely why Allah singled it out for extra emphasis.
The Prophet (ﷺ) reinforced this on the Day of the Battle of Ahzab when he said: “They have distracted us from the middle prayer — the Asr prayer. May Allah fill their graves and homes with fire.” (Bukhari and Muslim). Punctuality in Asr is not optional — it is among the most emphasized obligations in the Quran.
Surah Al-Asr — The Prayer and the Chapter
Surah Al-Asr (Chapter 103) is one of the shortest chapters in the Quran — only three verses — yet scholars throughout history have noted it contains the essence of the entire message of Islam. Imam al-Shafi'i reportedly said: “If people reflected on Surah Al-Asr alone, it would be enough for them.”
The chapter takes its name from the word Asrby which Allah swears in the opening verse: “By the afternoon (Asr)...”. This oath emphasizes the value of time itself. Performing the Asr prayer on time is a direct expression of the chapter's message: those who believe, do righteous deeds, exhort each other to truth, and exhort each other to patience — they are the ones not in loss.
Frequently Asked Questions About Asr Prayer Time
What time is Asr today?
Asr time depends on three things: your location, today's date, and your madhab. The Shafi'i/Maliki/Hanbali Asr is earlier — when an object's shadow equals its height. The Hanafi Asr is later — when the shadow is twice the object's height. The difference ranges from 30 to 102 minutes depending on season and latitude. Use the calculator above to find both times for your exact location.
Why do some apps show a different Asr time than others?
Different apps use different shadow factors. Apps set to the Shafi'i/Maliki/Hanbali method use shadow factor 1 (shadow = object height). Apps set to the Hanafi method use shadow factor 2 (shadow = twice the object height). This is the single most common reason two prayer time sources disagree — not an error, just a different madhab setting.
How do I know which Asr time to use — Shafi'i or Hanafi?
Follow your madhab: if you have a South Asian background (Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, or Afghan), you likely follow the Hanafi school and should use the later Asr time (shadow factor 2). If you have an Arab, African, Southeast Asian, or most other backgrounds, you likely follow the Shafi'i, Maliki, or Hanbali school and should use the earlier time (shadow factor 1). When in doubt, follow the Asr time your local mosque uses.
Can a Hanafi Muslim pray Asr at the Shafi'i time?
Most Hanafi scholars permit praying at the Shafi'i time when there is a genuine need — for example, when travelling, joining a congregation at a mosque that prays earlier, or to avoid missing Asr entirely. It is not ideal and should not become a habit without reason. The preferred (mustahabb) time for Hanafis remains the later shadow-factor-2 time.
What is the Asr prayer window — when does it end?
The Asr prayer window opens at the calculated Asr time (by your madhab) and closes when the sun sets below the horizon. However, the Prophet (ﷺ) prohibited starting a new prayer once the sun becomes visibly yellow and pale — this sign typically appears 20–40 minutes before sunset. You should complete Asr before the sun turns yellow. Praying after that point is strongly disliked (makruh) though still valid before sunset.