Prayer Times During Ramadan: A Complete Guide

The two prayers that define Ramadan's rhythm

Of the five daily prayers, two take on completely new weight during Ramadan:

• Fajr — marks the beginning of the fast. The moment Fajr enters, eating and drinking stop. Suhoor must be completed before this time.
• Maghrib — marks the end of the fast. Iftar begins the instant Maghrib enters, when the sun sets below the horizon.

The other three prayers — Dhuhr, Asr, and Isha — are prayed normally, though Isha gains special significance as the gateway to Tarawih. Nothing about how these times are calculated changes in Ramadan; what changes is their meaning and the rituals attached to them.

Get your city's full Ramadan prayer schedule — including daily Fajr and Maghrib times — on any city page. The monthly calendar shows all 30 days at once.

Fajr and Suhoor: the exact cutoff

The fasting day begins at Fajr — specifically at Subh Sadiq (true dawn), the moment a horizontal whiteness spreads across the eastern horizon. This is what the listed Fajr time on any prayer schedule represents.

The Quran (2:187) specifies: “Eat and drink until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct from the black thread.” Scholars universally interpret this as the Fajr time. So:

• Eating and drinking are permissible right up to the Fajr time listed on your schedule
• You must stop at Fajr — even if you have not yet prayed Fajr (sleeping through Fajr does not extend the Suhoor window)
• A common precaution used by many scholars and families: stop eating 10 minutes before the listed Fajr time, to avoid uncertainty about local calculation accuracy or time-display rounding

Important:Fajr shifts by 1–3 minutes every single day throughout Ramadan as the Earth continues its orbit. In summer Ramadans (Northern Hemisphere), Fajr creeps earlier each morning. In winter Ramadans, it shifts later. Never assume yesterday's Fajr time applies today.

How much does Fajr move during Ramadan?

The shift across a 30-day Ramadan depends on the season and your latitude. Here are approximate ranges for US cities:

A 39–44 minute shift over 30 days is significant — it means the last few days of Ramadan give you noticeably less time for Suhoor than the first days. Plan meals and wake-up times accordingly as the month progresses.

Maghrib and Iftar: when to break the fast

Iftar is at Maghrib — when the sun's disk disappears below the horizon. This is the same as the Maghrib prayer time on your schedule. It is universally agreed upon across all four Sunni madhabs and all calculation methods.

The Sunnah is to break the fast immediately when Maghrib enters — with dates and water, then pray Maghrib, then eat the full meal. Delaying Iftar after the Maghrib time has no religious basis.

Like Fajr, Maghrib shifts daily during Ramadan:

• In a February–March Ramadan (Northern Hemisphere): Maghrib gets progressively later each day — more daylight as spring approaches means longer fasting hours near the end of the month
• In an October–November Ramadan: Maghrib gets earlier — shorter days, shorter fasting hours as winter approaches

The difference in fasting hours between day 1 and day 30 of Ramadan can be 30–60 minutes depending on your location.

Tarawih: the night prayer of Ramadan

Tarawih is a voluntary night prayer performed after Isha throughout Ramadan. It is strongly recommended (Sunnah Mu'akkadah) and typically prayed in congregation at mosques.

A few practical points:

• When it starts: After Isha prayer is complete. Most mosques begin Tarawih 15–30 minutes after the listed Isha time to allow for the obligatory prayers and Witr.
• Duration: Ranges from 45 minutes (8-rakaat congregations completing Quran in 30 nights) to 2 hours (20-rakaat congregations). The number of rakaat is a matter of scholarly difference; both 8 and 20 are valid positions.
• At home: Tarawih can be prayed individually at home if attending the mosque is not possible. Pray any even number of rakaat after Isha, ending with Witr.

Laylat al-Qadr and the last ten nights

The last ten nights of Ramadan are the most spiritually significant of the year, containing Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Power). During this period, many Muslims:

• Stay for I'tikaf (seclusion in the mosque for the last 10 days)
• Pray Tahajjud/Qiyam — voluntary prayers in the last third of the night (roughly from 2 AM to Fajr)
• Make Du'a at Suhoor time — the pre-dawn period carries special acceptance for supplication

The “last third of the night” is calculated differently by different scholars, but a practical approximation: divide the hours between Maghrib and Fajr into thirds. The final third begins approximately 2.5–3 hours before Fajr and ends at Fajr itself.

The monthly calendar on each city prayer page shows all 30 days of Fajr and Maghrib times — useful for planning Suhoor and Iftar for the entire month at once.

Ramadan prayer schedule at a glance

High-latitude Ramadan: special considerations

Muslims in cities above approximately 50°N latitude (Edmonton, London, Oslo, Helsinki) face unique challenges when Ramadan falls in summer:

• Extremely long fasting hours — up to 19–21 hours in midsummer at northern latitudes
• Astronomically ambiguous nights — in some areas, astronomical twilight never fully disappears in summer, making Isha times technically undefined

Scholarly bodies in affected countries (UK, Canada, Scandinavia) have issued local fatawa on how to handle these situations. Common approaches: follow Mecca times, use a fixed Fajr/Isha angle applied from a reference latitude, or follow the nearest Muslim-majority country. Consult your local Islamic authority if you are in a high-latitude region.

For US cities (all below 49°N), this is not an issue — standard prayer times apply year-round.

Practical Ramadan prayer tips

1. Download a monthly calendar — on any city page, the monthly calendar table shows all 30 days of Fajr and Maghrib so you can plan in advance
2. Set two alarms for Suhoor — one to wake up, one as a 10-minute warning before Fajr
3. Note Maghrib in your phone calendar for Iftar, especially in the first week while adjusting to the schedule
4. Check times daily — the 1–3 minute daily shift adds up quickly; by the last week, Fajr will be noticeably earlier than the first week (or later, depending on season)
5. For Tarawih at home: Start after completing Isha + its 2 sunnah. Pray in sets of 2 rakaat. End with Witr (1, 3, or any odd number of rakaat).

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Fajr time change during Ramadan?

Yes — Fajr shifts 1–3 minutes every day throughout Ramadan, just as it does year-round. In a spring Ramadan, Fajr moves earlier each morning. Always check the day's specific time; don't rely on yesterday's.

What time do you stop eating for Suhoor?

At the Fajr time listed on your prayer schedule. Eating is permissible right up to Fajr. Many families stop 10 minutes early as a precaution. Sleeping past Fajr does not extend the Suhoor window.

Is Iftar at Maghrib time?

Yes — the Maghrib time on your prayer schedule is your Iftar time. The Sunnah is to break the fast immediately when Maghrib enters, with dates and water, then pray Maghrib.

Do all five prayers change during Ramadan?

All five shift gradually as the sun's position changes — this happens every day of the year, not just Ramadan. What's unique to Ramadan is Tarawih (after Isha), Tahajjud/Qiyam (last third of night), and the special status of Fajr (Suhoor cutoff) and Maghrib (Iftar).

When does Tarawih start?

After Isha prayer is complete. Most mosques begin Tarawih 15–30 minutes after the listed Isha time. Duration varies by congregation (45 min to 2 hours). Check your mosque's posted schedule for their specific start time.