Open three prayer apps and you may see three different Fajr times. None of them is broken: they use different calculation methods. This guide explains what the methods are, why Fajr and Isha differ the most, why Asr can be an hour apart, and which method to choose.
Which prayer times are calculated, and how
- Dhuhr starts just after the sun passes its highest point (solar noon). All methods agree, apart from a minute or two of precaution.
- Maghrib is at sunset. All methods agree here too.
- Asr depends on the length of shadows, and there are two opinions (see below).
- Fajr and Isha depend on twilight: how far below the horizon the sun must be for the first light of dawn to appear, or for the last light of dusk to disappear. This angle is where the methods differ.
The main calculation methods
| Method | Fajr angle | Isha | Default in our tool for |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Islamic Sciences, Karachi | 18° | 18° | Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan |
| Umm al-Qura, Makkah | 18.5° | 90 min after Maghrib | Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain |
| Muslim World League | 18° | 17° | Nigeria, Morocco, Australia |
| Egyptian General Authority | 19.5° | 17.5° | Egypt |
| Dubai (UAE) | 18.2° | 18.2° | UAE |
| Kuwait | 18° | 17.5° | Kuwait |
| Qatar | 18° | 90 min after Maghrib | Qatar |
| Diyanet (Turkey) | 18° | 17° | Turkey |
| Singapore / Malaysia / Indonesia | 20° | 18° | Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore |
| ISNA (North America) | 15° | 15° | USA, Canada |
| Moonsighting Committee | 18° | 18° | UK |
The difference matters most for Fajr. Between a 15° method (ISNA) and an 18° method (Karachi or MWL), Fajr can differ by 20 minutes or more, which is also the difference in when Sehri ends during Ramadan. The Umm al-Qura method used in Saudi Arabia sets Isha at a fixed 90 minutes after Maghrib; during Ramadan, Saudi mosques usually call Isha 120 minutes after Maghrib.
Asr: Hanafi or Shafi (standard)?
Asr begins when the shadow of an object reaches a certain length:
- Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali schools (often labelled "standard"): when the shadow equals the object's length, plus its shadow at noon.
- Hanafi school: when the shadow is twice the object's length, plus its noon shadow. This gives a later Asr.
Here is the real difference in Karachi on two days of the year:
| Date | Asr (Shafi) | Asr (Hanafi) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 January 2027 | 3:44 PM | 4:28 PM | 44 min |
| 15 June 2027 | 3:54 PM | 5:15 PM | 81 min |
Most mosques in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Turkey follow the Hanafi time; most mosques in the Gulf, Egypt, Malaysia and Indonesia follow the earlier time. If you are a Hanafi living in the Gulf, your Asr starts later than the azan from the local mosque.
Which method should you use?
- Your local mosque's timetable comes first. Praying with the congregation matters more than a few minutes of difference.
- Otherwise, use your country's usual method: Karachi for Pakistan, India and Bangladesh; Umm al-Qura for Saudi Arabia; the Dubai, Kuwait or Qatar methods in those countries; Diyanet in Turkey; the Egyptian method in Egypt.
- In the UK, Europe and North America, check with your local mosque. The Moonsighting Committee and MWL methods are common, and high-latitude rules are needed in summer when the sky never gets fully dark.
During Ramadan, the same methods decide when Sehri ends. Read Sehri and Iftar times explained for more.