Prayer Times

The Five Daily Prayers (Salah)

Salah — the five daily prayers — is the second pillar of Islam and the most repeated act of worship in a Muslim's life. It is obligatory on every adult Muslim, performed at five specific times each day determined by the position of the sun. Allah says in the Quran: "Indeed, Salah has been decreed upon the believers at specific times." (4:103). The five prayers are Fajr (pre-dawn), Dhuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (just after sunset), and Isha (night). Each combines physical postures (standing, bowing, prostrating) with recitation of Quranic verses, creating a complete act of remembrance and submission that anchors the Muslim's day.

The Significance of Each Prayer

Fajr — The dawn prayer, performed between the first light of dawn and sunrise. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever prays the dawn prayer is under the protection of Allah." (Muslim). Dhuhr — The midday prayer, performed after the sun passes its zenith. It was the first prayer the Angel Jibreel taught the Prophet. Asr — The afternoon prayer, which the Quran specifically warns against missing: "Guard strictly the prayers, especially the middle prayer (Asr)." (2:238). The Prophet described missing Asr as if one had lost one's family and wealth. Maghrib — Performed just after sunset, it is the shortest prayer (3 rak'ahs) and the most time-constrained. Isha — The night prayer closes the day's worship. The Prophet said the Isha and Fajr prayers are the hardest for hypocrites to attend in congregation — making their regular performance a sign of sincere faith.

How Prayer Times Are Calculated

Prayer times are derived from the sun's position relative to your location. Fajr begins when the sun is a specific number of degrees below the horizon at dawn (typically 15°–18° depending on the calculation method); Dhuhr is at solar noon plus a minute; Asr is when an object's shadow equals its own length (Shafi'i/Hanbali) or twice its length (Hanafi); Maghrib is at sunset; and Isha begins when the evening twilight disappears (typically 15°–17° below the horizon). Different organisations — such as the Muslim World League, ISNA, the Egyptian General Authority, and Umm al-Qura — use slightly different degree values, which is why prayer times from different apps may differ by a few minutes for the same city.

Choosing the Right Calculation Method

The choice of calculation method is a matter of scholarly opinion, not personal preference. Muslims should follow the method endorsed by reliable scholars in their region or the national religious authority of their country. In Saudi Arabia, Umm al-Qura is the standard; Egypt uses the Egyptian General Authority method; North American Muslims often follow ISNA or the Muslim World League. When travelling, it is valid to use the local method. This tool uses the Aladhan API, which supports all major calculation methods — select the one applicable to your region for the most accurate results.