Maghrib: Quran and Hadith

References from the Quran and hadith, with the Sunni view (Hanafi, Shafi‘i, Maliki, Hanbali) and the Shia view (Jafari) side by side.

Timing of Maghrib

Sahih al-Bukhari 561, Sahih Muslim 636 The Prophet ﷺ prayed Maghrib as soon as the sun had set and disappeared.
Sahih Muslim 612 The time of Maghrib lasts until the twilight has gone. The Hanafi and Hanbali schools follow this; the Maliki school gives Maghrib a short time.
Abu Dawud 418 My community will remain upon good as long as they do not delay Maghrib until the stars appear.

Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, chapter on prayer times, hadith 10 Imam al-Baqir: the time of Maghrib begins when the disk of the sun has disappeared.
Wasa’il al-Shi‘a, chapter on the start of Maghrib Sunset is known by the redness leaving the eastern sky, so the Jafari school waits a few minutes after sunset.
Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, chapter on prayer times, hadith 16 Imam al-Sadiq condemned delaying Maghrib until the stars appear.
Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, chapter on prayer times, hadith 18 Imam al-Sadiq: at sunset the fast may be broken and Maghrib is due, and the time of Isha follows until midnight.

Abu Dawud 418 Praying Maghrib on time keeps the community upon good.
Sahih Muslim 728, Tirmidhi 415 The 2 sunnah rak‘ahs after Maghrib are among the twelve daily rak‘ahs that build a house in Paradise.

Man La Yahduruhu al-Faqih, vol. 1, chapter on prayer times, hadith 20 Imam al-Sadiq: two rak‘ahs prayed after Maghrib are recorded in the highest ranks, and four bring a reward like an accepted Hajj.

3 fard rak‘ahs, never shortened when travelling, with 2 sunnah rak‘ahs after.
Sahih al-Bukhari 1183 Pray before Maghrib, for whoever wishes: 2 short voluntary rak‘ahs are allowed after the adhan.

3 obligatory rak‘ahs, never shortened when travelling, with 4 nafilah rak‘ahs after.
Wasa’il al-Shi‘a, vol. 4, p. 46 The daily prayers are 51 rak‘ahs, 17 obligatory and 34 nafilah.

Hadith numbers follow sunnah.com. Jafari sources are named by book, volume and chapter.

Last updated: Tuesday, 6 October 2026