Prayer Time Calculation

Prayer Time Calculator

Enter your location and date to get accurate prayer times.

Calculation Results

Prayer	Time
Fajr	–:–
Sunrise	–:–
Dhuhr	–:–
Asr	–:–
Sunset	–:–
Maghrib	–:–
Isha	–:–

Prayer times for the selected date and location.

Visualization of prayer times throughout the day.

Formula Explanation: Prayer times are determined by the position of the sun relative to the horizon at a given location and date. We calculate the sun’s declination and the equation of time, then use spherical trigonometry with the specified angles for Fajr and Isha, and shadow lengths for Asr, to find the hour angles corresponding to each prayer time. Dhuhr is at solar noon.

What is Prayer Time Calculation?

Prayer Time Calculation is the process of determining the prescribed times for the five daily Islamic prayers (Salat): Fajr (dawn), Dhuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (sunset), and Isha (night). These times are not fixed but vary daily and depend on the geographical location (latitude and longitude) of the observer and the position of the sun in the sky. The Prayer Time Calculation is based on astronomical phenomena like sunrise, sunset, and twilight, as defined by specific solar angles below the horizon or shadow lengths.

Muslims around the world rely on accurate Prayer Time Calculation to perform their prayers at the correct times. Various organizations and scholars have established different conventions for the angles used, especially for Fajr and Isha twilight, leading to slight variations in calculated times. This Prayer Time Calculation tool allows you to choose from several well-known methods.

Who should use Prayer Time Calculation?

Every practicing Muslim who observes the five daily prayers needs to know the correct times, making Prayer Time Calculation essential for their daily routine. It’s particularly important for individuals traveling or living in areas where local mosque prayer schedules are not readily available. Mosque administrators also use Prayer Time Calculation to create monthly or yearly prayer timetables.

Common Misconceptions

A common misconception is that prayer times are the same every day or only vary slightly. In reality, they change daily due to the Earth’s tilt and orbit around the sun. Another is that there’s only one “correct” set of prayer times; however, differences in fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and astronomical angle conventions lead to legitimate variations, which is why our Prayer Time Calculation tool offers multiple methods.

Prayer Time Calculation Formula and Mathematical Explanation

The Prayer Time Calculation involves several astronomical steps:

1. Julian Date: The date is converted to a Julian Date (JD), which is the continuous count of days since noon Universal Time on January 1, 4713 BC.
2. Sun’s Position: We calculate the sun’s ecliptic longitude, right ascension, and declination (δ) for the given Julian Date. The declination is the angle between the sun’s rays and the plane of the Earth’s equator.
3. Equation of Time (EoT): This is the difference between apparent solar time (as shown by a sundial) and mean solar time (as shown by a clock). It arises because of the Earth’s elliptical orbit and axial tilt.
4. Midday (Dhuhr): Dhuhr time is calculated as the local solar noon, adjusted by the Equation of Time and the longitude difference from the timezone’s standard meridian: Dhuhr = 12 - (Longitude / 15) - EoT / 60 + Timezone hours.
5. Hour Angle (H): For other prayer times (Fajr, Sunrise, Asr, Maghrib, Isha), we calculate the hour angle ‘H’ of the sun using the spherical trigonometric formula:
   cos(H) = (sin(α) - sin(latitude) * sin(δ)) / (cos(latitude) * cos(δ))
   where ‘α’ is the solar altitude angle (e.g., -0.833° for sunrise/sunset accounting for refraction, -18° for Fajr in MWL method, etc.), and δ is the sun’s declination.
6. Asr Time: The hour angle for Asr is found when the length of an object’s shadow is a certain multiple (1x or 2x) of its height, plus the shadow length at noon. This translates to an angle ‘A’ where tan(A) = 1 / (m + tan|latitude - δ|) (where m=1 for Standard, m=2 for Hanafi), and the solar altitude for Asr is arccot(m + tan|latitude - δ|).
7. Time Conversion: The hour angles (in degrees) are converted to hours (H/15), and then added or subtracted from the Dhuhr time to get the other prayer times in local time.

Variables Table

Variable	Meaning	Unit	Typical Range
φ (latitude)	Observer’s latitude	Degrees	-90 to +90
λ (longitude)	Observer’s longitude	Degrees	-180 to +180
δ (declination)	Sun’s declination	Degrees	-23.45 to +23.45
EoT	Equation of Time	Minutes	-16.4 to +14.2
α	Solar altitude angle	Degrees	-18 to 0 (for Fajr/Isha/Sunrise)
H	Hour Angle	Degrees	-180 to 180
TZ	Timezone offset	Hours	-12 to +14

Key variables used in Prayer Time Calculation.

Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)

Example 1: Cairo, Egypt

Let’s calculate prayer times for Cairo, Egypt on July 15, 2024.

• Latitude: 30.0444° N
• Longitude: 31.2357° E
• Date: 2024-07-15
• Timezone: UTC+3 (Daylight Saving likely)
• Method: Egyptian General Authority
• Asr Method: Standard

Using these inputs, the Prayer Time Calculation would yield approximate times like: Fajr 3:18 AM, Sunrise 5:02 AM, Dhuhr 12:01 PM, Asr 3:39 PM, Maghrib 7:00 PM, Isha 8:30 PM (times are illustrative and depend on precise EoT and declination for the day, and exact TZ). The Prayer Time Calculation tool above will give more precise times.

Example 2: London, UK

Let’s calculate prayer times for London, UK on December 15, 2024.

• Latitude: 51.5074° N
• Longitude: 0.1278° W
• Date: 2024-12-15
• Timezone: UTC+0
• Method: Muslim World League (MWL)
• Asr Method: Standard

For London in winter, the Prayer Time Calculation would result in times such as: Fajr 6:15 AM, Sunrise 7:59 AM, Dhuhr 11:57 AM, Asr 1:39 PM, Maghrib 3:55 PM, Isha 5:30 PM (illustrative). The short daylight hours significantly impact the Prayer Time Calculation results.

How to Use This Prayer Time Calculation Calculator

1. Enter Location: Input your Latitude and Longitude in decimal degrees. Positive for North/East, negative for South/West.
2. Select Date: Choose the date for which you need the prayer times.
3. Set Timezone: Select your local timezone offset from UTC.
4. Choose Method: Select a Prayer Time Calculation method from the dropdown. If you choose “Custom,” enter the Fajr and Isha angles (or Isha interval).
5. Select Asr Method: Choose between Standard and Hanafi for the Asr prayer time calculation.
6. Calculate: Click “Calculate” (or the times update automatically as you change inputs).
7. View Results: The calculator will display the times for Fajr, Sunrise, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha, along with a table and chart. Dhuhr time is highlighted.
8. Interpret: The times are given in 24-hour format (or AM/PM depending on implementation) for your local timezone.

Use these times to schedule your prayers. Remember that the transition between prayer times is gradual, and these mark the beginning of the prayer windows (except for Sunrise, which ends Fajr, and Sunset/Maghrib, which is very close). Always try to pray within the designated time window.

Key Factors That Affect Prayer Time Calculation Results

• Latitude: Your north-south position greatly affects the length of daylight and the angles of the sun, thus influencing all prayer times, especially at higher latitudes where twilight duration is longer.
• Longitude: Your east-west position determines the local solar noon (Dhuhr) and shifts all prayer times earlier or later compared to the standard timezone meridian.
• Date of the Year: The sun’s declination changes throughout the year due to the Earth’s axial tilt, causing daily variations in sunrise/sunset times and, consequently, all prayer times.
• Altitude: Higher altitudes can affect the observed sunrise and sunset times slightly, though our basic Prayer Time Calculation here assumes sea level. For very precise calculations at high altitudes, a correction is needed.
• Calculation Method (Angles): The angles used for Fajr (start of morning twilight) and Isha (end of evening twilight) are the most significant factors leading to variations between different Prayer Time Calculation methods.
• Asr Juristic Method: The choice between Standard (shadow = 1x object + noon shadow) and Hanafi (shadow = 2x object + noon shadow) directly impacts the Asr time.
• Timezone and Daylight Saving: The local timezone and any daylight saving adjustments are applied to convert the calculated UTC-based times to local wall-clock time.
• Atmospheric Refraction: The bending of light by the atmosphere makes the sun appear higher than it is, especially near the horizon. Standard Prayer Time Calculation includes an average correction for refraction at sunrise and sunset (around 0.833 degrees).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why are there different prayer times from different sources?

Differences arise mainly from the varying angles used for Fajr and Isha twilight calculations by different organizations and scholars, and sometimes the Asr method. Our Prayer Time Calculation tool lets you choose methods to see these differences.

2. How accurate is this Prayer Time Calculation calculator?

This calculator uses standard astronomical formulas for Prayer Time Calculation. Accuracy is high, but can be affected by local conditions, altitude, and precise angle conventions not covered by the main methods.

3. What if I am at a very high latitude (near the poles)?

At very high latitudes, the sun may not set or rise for extended periods, or twilight may persist all night. Special Prayer Time Calculation rules or approximations (like “nearest latitude” or “middle of the night”) are used, which this basic calculator might not fully implement for extreme cases.

4. When does Maghrib time start?

Maghrib time starts immediately after the sun has completely set below the horizon. It’s very close to the calculated Sunset time, often considered the same for practical purposes in Prayer Time Calculation.

5. Can I use this for any location in the world?

Yes, you can input latitude and longitude for any location to perform the Prayer Time Calculation, but be mindful of extreme latitude issues.

6. What does “Asr Method: Standard vs Hanafi” mean?

It refers to the length of an object’s shadow relative to its height that marks the beginning of Asr time. Standard (Shafii, Maliki, Hanbali) is when the shadow is 1x the object’s length (+ noon shadow), while Hanafi is when it’s 2x (+ noon shadow). This makes Hanafi Asr time later.

7. What if my city uses daylight saving time?

You need to select the correct timezone offset (UTC) that includes the daylight saving adjustment if it’s in effect on the selected date for your location during the Prayer Time Calculation.

8. How is Isha time calculated in the “Makkah” method?

The Umm Al-Qura (Makkah) method often uses a fixed interval of 90 minutes after Maghrib for Isha time (120 minutes during Ramadan), though it also uses a Fajr angle of 18.5 degrees. Our Prayer Time Calculation attempts to reflect this.