For Muslims, daily prayer is an essential practice. Observing Salah (also called Salat or Namaz) at the correct times is one of the pillars of Islam and a religious requirement.
This article provides prayer time information for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. We’ll focus on D.C. itself, as well as nearby Lanham, Maryland.
Read on for prayer schedules, the Qibla direction, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Prayer Times in Maryland (Lanham)
For Muslims living in Lanham, Maryland, and the surrounding areas, here’s a look at the prayer times for March 2025.
Below, you’ll find the Emsaq, Iqamah, Sunrise, Dhur, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha times for each day of the month. This information is designed to help you observe your prayers accurately and on time.
As always, it’s a good idea to confirm these times with your local mosque, as slight variations may occur.
Important Dates and Observances
Here are a couple of dates to keep in mind:
- Jum’a (Friday Prayer): Jum’a prayer will be held at 1:30 PM.
- Don’t forget that Daylight Savings Time begins on March 9, 2025. Also, Eid al-Fitr prayers are scheduled for March 31, 2025.
Prayer Times in Washington D.C.
For Muslims in Washington, D.C., observing daily prayer times is an important part of their faith. Here’s a look at prayer times and other helpful information for those in the D.C. area.
Prayer Timetable for April 2025
[Detailed prayer timetable for Washington, D.C. for April 2025, including Fajr, Sunrise, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha times will be inserted here once available.]
Accurate prayer times are essential for the Muslim community in D.C. to properly observe their daily prayers.
Qibla Direction
Qibla is the direction that Muslims face when praying. When praying, Muslims face the Kaaba, which is at the center of the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
The Qibla direction for Washington, D.C. is 57°.
Understanding Islamic Prayer
For Muslims, prayer is a central part of daily life. Here’s a little background on prayer in Islam.
Basic Concepts of Salah
Salah (also called Salat or Namaz) is one of the five pillars of Islam, the core beliefs and practices all Muslims follow.
Muslims pray five times each day: at dawn (Fajr), at noon (Dhuhr), in the afternoon (Asr), at sunset (Maghrib), and at night (Isha).
Rakats and Their Significance
Each prayer is made up of units called Rakats, a set of prescribed movements and recitations. Each of the daily prayers includes a specific number of Rakats.
Within each prayer, there are Fard (obligatory), Sunnah (practices of the Prophet Muhammad), and Nafl (voluntary) Rakats.
Importance of Sunnah Prayers
Sunnah prayers are based on the practices and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Performing Sunnah prayers is not obligatory, but it’s considered a way to draw closer to Allah and gain extra blessings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 5 prayer times?
Actually, there are five obligatory prayer times in Islam, not seven. These are Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (noon), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isha (night). Each prayer has a specific time window within which it must be performed, and these times are determined by the position of the sun.
What time does Taraweeh start?
Taraweeh prayers are special prayers performed during the month of Ramadan. They are prayed after the Isha (night) prayer. The exact time depends on when Isha is prayed, which varies each night. Usually, it begins shortly after Isha and can last for an hour or more, depending on the length of the recitation.
What is the forbidden time for prayer?
There are specific times when prayer is generally discouraged or forbidden in Islam. These times are: when the sun is rising, when the sun is at its zenith (highest point in the sky at noon), and when the sun is setting. These prohibitions are designed to avoid any resemblance to sun-worshipping practices.
Some scholars also discourage praying immediately after Fajr prayer until the sun has fully risen and after Asr prayer until Maghrib prayer begins, although this is a matter of differing opinions.
Final Thoughts
Knowing the precise times for each prayer and the correct Qibla direction is essential for Muslims seeking to fulfill their religious obligations. It allows for the proper and timely observance of Salat, one of the five pillars of Islam.
This article has provided prayer times for Lanham, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., and offered guidance for finding accurate times in other locations.
If you live in the D.C. metro area, I hope you find this information helpful for your daily prayers. Remember, a wealth of Islamic knowledge, including prayer timetables and answers to frequently asked questions, is readily available online and in your community.