Worship & Rituals
Shuruq (Sunrise)
Shurūq
Sunrise — the moment the disc of the sun rises above the horizon. It marks the end of the Fajr prayer time. Praying during actual sunrise is disliked; after full ascent, Duha time begins.
What is Shuruq?
Shuruq (Arabic الشروق) is the moment of sunrise — when the upper edge of the sun's disc first appears above the horizon. In the daily prayer schedule, Shuruq marks the end of the Fajr prayer time: no obligatory Fajr may be performed after the sun has risen, and it must instead be made up as a missed prayer (qada).
Ruling on Prayer at Sunrise
The Prophet ﷺ explicitly forbade prayer during three moments of the day, one of which is the moment of sunrise itself:
"There is no prayer after Fajr until the sun rises, nor after Asr until the sun sets" (Bukhari 581).
This prohibition applies to actual sunrise and continues until the sun has fully cleared the horizon by roughly a spear's length (approximately 15–20 minutes after sunrise), after which the disliked time ends and the Duha (mid-morning) prayer time begins.
Why the Prohibition?
The Prophet ﷺ explained that the sun rises "between the two horns of a devil" (Muslim 832) — a symbolic reference to pre-Islamic sun worship. The prohibition preserves Islamic prayer from any resemblance to worshipping the sun.
Distinction: Sunrise vs Duha
- Shuruq (sunrise) — the instant the sun appears; prayer is forbidden.
- Ishraq (post-sunrise) — about 15–20 minutes after sunrise; prayer is permitted. Two rakah after full sunrise carry a great reward: "Whoever prays Fajr in congregation and stays sitting remembering Allah until sunrise, then prays two rakah, has the reward of a complete Hajj and Umrah" (Tirmidhi 586).
- Duha (mid-morning) — from when the sun is a spear's length high until just before Dhuhr; the prayer of Duha is a beloved voluntary act.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is watching the sunrise permissible?
Yes — watching sunrise is permissible and even encouraged as a reflection on Allah's signs. It is praying during the actual rising moment that is prohibited.
What if my Fajr prayer time ended at sunrise but I hadn't prayed yet?
Perform it immediately as qada — a missed prayer that must be made up as soon as one remembers or awakens. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever forgets a prayer, let him pray it when he remembers it" (Muslim 684).
Etymology & origin
From Arabic root sh-r-q (to rise, illuminate). "Shuruq" is the rising, especially of the sun. The related word "mashriq" (east) shares this root, meaning "place of rising".
References
- Quran:
- ["Taha 20:130 — Glorify Him before the rising of the sun and before its setting","Qaf 50:39 — Glorify with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun"]
- Hadith:
- ["Bukhari 581 — No prayer after Fajr until sunrise","Muslim 832 — Sun rises between two horns of a devil","Tirmidhi 586 — Reward of Hajj for two rakat after sunrise","Muslim 684 — Pray when you remember a missed prayer"]
Related terms
Adhan
The Islamic call to prayer announced from the mosque before each of the five daily prayers, proclaiming faith and inviting Muslims to worship.
Asr Prayer (Afternoon)
The afternoon prayer, performed from when the shadow exceeds the object's length until sunset; 4 Rakahs.
Duha Prayer (Forenoon)
The voluntary mid-morning prayer, performed between full sunrise and just before Dhuhr. A beloved Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, with 2 to 8 rakah, that expresses gratitude for the day.
Fajr Prayer (Dawn)
The dawn prayer, performed between the appearance of true dawn (Subh as-Sadiq) and sunrise; the first of the five daily prayers.
Fard
An obligatory act in Islam, established by definitive scriptural evidence. Denial of a Fard is a matter of faith; abandoning one is a major sin. Includes the five daily prayers, Ramadan fasting, Zakat, and Hajj.
Maghrib Prayer (Sunset)
The sunset prayer, performed immediately after sunset until the red twilight disappears; 3 Rakahs.