How Are Prayer Times Determined? From Fajr to Isha

Prayer times are determined by the position of the sun throughout the day. This is why the times vary slightly each day and in each city. In this article we look at how the times from fajr to isha are established.

How are the times set by the sun?

Fajr begins with the true dawn (fajr sadiq), when the light spreads along the horizon, and the morning prayer lasts until sunrise. Dhuhr enters when the sun passes its zenith and begins to decline, while Asr begins when an object's shadow reaches a certain length. Maghrib starts at sunset, and Isha begins when the red twilight (shafaq) disappears.

A short definition of each time

The morning prayer is offered from true dawn until sunrise, dhuhr from the sun's decline until asr, and asr until sunset. The time of maghrib lasts from sunset until isha. Isha then continues from the disappearance of the twilight until dawn.

Why do the times differ by city?

The times of sunrise and sunset depend on the longitude and latitude of a place. In cities to the east the times enter earlier, and in those to the west later. At high latitudes, situations such as the twilight not fully disappearing in summer call for special calculation methods.

The Diyanet method and precaution (temkin)

The Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) calculates the times astronomically based on specific solar angles. A short margin added at the beginning or end to ensure the time has truly entered is called temkin. Our site shows up-to-date and accurate prayer times for your chosen city, so you can follow them easily.