A Concise and Comprehensive Guide to the Minchah Prayers

When Do We Recite Minchah?

The Minchah prayer corresponds to the afternoon Tamid offering, which may be offered from half an hour* after chatzot (midday). This time is called Minchah Gedolah.

While the Minchah offering is valid if offered after this time, when the Temple stood the afternoon Tamid was usually offered from the ninth-and-a-half hour onward (and before sunset). This time is called MinchahKetanah. It is preferable to pray Minchah after this time.

Ideally, as soon as the time of Minchah Ketanah arrives, one should pray Minchah, with a minyan (quorum of men).

If, however, there are significant reasons for praying Minchah earlier (such as in yeshivot and schools, where praying later would disrupt the learning schedule), one may pray after Minchah Gedolah.

Similarly, if there will only be a minyan for Minchah Gedolah and not for Minchah Ketanah, one should pray earlier with a minyan.

What One May Not Do Before Minchah

In most case, one may not eat a large meal (with bread) before praying Minchah.

If a person is invited to a seudat mitzvah (such as a meal following a brit milah), and everyone present has already prayed Minchah and he has not, he may pray alone and then wash for bread, as long as he is able to concentrate on the prayer. Otherwise, he may join the meal without washing for bread.

Similarly, other activities that may lead a person to forget or delay the Minchah prayer are not allowed before praying, such as having a haircut.

Praying in Less-Than-Ideal Conditions

The Minchah prayer must ideally be recited before sunset. If one begins before sunset, one may continue afterward, and this applies to the chazan’s repetition of the Amidah as well.

If a person forgot to pray Minchah and only realizes after sunset, he may still pray up until thirteen-and-a-half minutes after sunset.

If a person is traveling and unable to focus on praying during the journey, he may pray two Maariv Amidah prayers. However, if he can pray during the journey this is preferable.

If a traveler can better focus on the prayer while remaining seated, he should pray in a seated position, with his feet together and bowing his head and upper body at the appropriate times. If he can pray standing while maintaining his focus, he should do so.

Why Is Minchah So Special?

The Talmud stresses the importance of the Minchah prayer, citing the prayers of Eliyahu Hanavi (the prophet Elijah) on Mount Carmel which were only answered by Hashem at Minchah time.

The Tur, one of the earliest compilers of halachah, points out that while Shacharit is recited at the start of the day and Maariv at the end, reciting Minchah necessitates interrupting whatever we may be doing in the middle of the day and going to pray. This extra level of sacrifice makes our prayers that much more significant and special in the eyes of Hashem.

Children who are able to pray the Shacharit prayers should also be taught to pray Minchah.

*An hour in halachah is calculated by dividing the length of all the daylight hours by twelve. The resulting hours are called “sha’ot zemaniyot—seasonal hours” and are longer during the summer and shorter during the winter.