☪️ Prayer Times Calculator
Calculate Fajr, Sunrise, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha times for any location and date using standard astronomical formulas.
Location & Settings
Prayer Times
| Prayer | Time |
|---|---|
| Fajr | – |
| Sunrise | – |
| Dhuhr | – |
| Asr | – |
| Maghrib | – |
| Isha | – |
These are calculated estimates based on standard astronomical formulas. Always verify with your local mosque or an authoritative local source, especially at high latitudes where twilight angles may not be well defined.
How Prayer Times Are Calculated
Islamic prayer times are determined by the position of the sun relative to the horizon at a given location. Each of the five daily prayers is tied to a specific solar event or sun angle below the horizon.
What Each Time Represents
- Fajr — Begins at true dawn, when the sun is a set angle (15°–19.5° depending on method) below the horizon before sunrise.
- Sunrise — The moment the sun's upper edge appears at the horizon (Fajr prayer time ends here).
- Dhuhr — Begins just after solar noon, when the sun starts to decline from its highest point.
- Asr — Begins when an object's shadow reaches a defined multiple (1× or 2×) of the object's length plus its noon shadow.
- Maghrib — Begins at sunset, when the sun's upper edge disappears below the horizon.
- Isha — Begins at full darkness, when the sun reaches a set angle (15°–18°) below the horizon after sunset, or a fixed interval after Maghrib (Umm al-Qura method).
Formula
Equation of time (minutes, approx.): EqT = 9.87×sin(2B) − 7.53×cos(B) − 1.5×sin(B), where B = 2π×(N − 81)/364
Hour angle: H = acos[ (sin(−angle) − sin(lat)×sin(δ)) / (cos(lat)×cos(δ)) ]
Solar noon (Dhuhr): 12 + tz − lon/15 − EqT/60
Fajr = Dhuhr − H(fajrAngle)/15 | Sunrise/Maghrib use H(0.833°) | Isha = Dhuhr + H(ishaAngle)/15
Asr angle: acot(t + tan(|lat − δ|)), Asr = Dhuhr + H(asrAngle)/15, where t = 1 (Standard) or 2 (Hanafi)
N is the day of the year, lat is latitude in degrees, and tz is the timezone offset from UTC. This is the same general approach used by widely referenced prayer time calculation engines.
Calculation Method Differences
Different Islamic organizations use slightly different Fajr and Isha sun angles based on regional convention and observational studies of twilight. The Muslim World League, ISNA, Egyptian General Authority, Umm al-Qura (Makkah), and University of Islamic Sciences Karachi methods are the most widely used worldwide and can shift Fajr/Isha by several minutes.
Disclaimer
These times are computed estimates using standard astronomical formulas. Actual prayer times published by local mosques may include small safety margins and can differ by a few minutes. At extreme latitudes (near the poles), the sun angle calculations can become unreliable or undefined during certain seasons — in those cases, consult a local Islamic authority for guidance on alternative timing methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do prayer times differ between apps and mosques?
Different calculation methods use different Fajr and Isha sun angles, and some mosques add a few minutes of safety margin. Small differences of a few minutes are normal and expected.
Which calculation method should I use?
Use the method followed by your local mosque or national Islamic authority. Umm al-Qura is common in Saudi Arabia, ISNA in North America, and the Muslim World League is widely used internationally.
What is the difference between Shafi'i and Hanafi Asr timing?
The Hanafi school uses a shadow-length factor of 2 (Asr begins later), while the Shafi'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools use a factor of 1 (Asr begins earlier). This can shift Asr time by 30-60 minutes.