What does Asr mean?
The afternoon prayer, four rak'ah.
Asr explained
Asr begins when an object's shadow equals its length (or twice its length in the Hanafi school) and ends at sunset. The Quran singles out the middle prayer for special care, and most scholars identify it as Asr.
The Prophet ﷺ warned that whoever misses Asr deliberately is like one whose family and wealth have been taken from him.
Related terms
- Salahصَلَاة
The five daily prayers, the second pillar of Islam.
- Dhuhrظُهْر
The midday prayer, four rak'ah, after the sun passes its highest point.
- Maghribمَغْرِب
The sunset prayer, three rak'ah, prayed right after the sun sets.
- Madhabمَذْهَب
A school of Islamic law. The four Sunni schools are Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali.
Questions about Asr
What does Asr mean?
Asr (عَصْر, 'Asr) means: The afternoon prayer, four rak'ah.
How is Asr written and pronounced in Arabic?
It is written عَصْر and pronounced 'Asr.
Where does Asr come from in the Quran or hadith?
Asr begins when an object's shadow equals its length (or twice its length in the Hanafi school) and ends at sunset. The Quran singles out the middle prayer for special care, and most scholars identify it as Asr. Source: Al-Baqarah 2:238; Sahih al-Bukhari 552.
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