Today’s Azan Times: Find Local Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib & IshaUnderstanding today’s Azan times helps Muslims organize daily worship, manage routines, and remain connected to spiritual obligations. This guide explains how Azan (Adhan) times are determined, how to find accurate local prayer schedules, and offers tips for using apps and mosque resources.
What “Azan times” means
Azan times refer to the daily schedule for the five obligatory Islamic prayers: Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha. Each prayer time is tied to specific positions of the sun and therefore changes daily and by location.
How prayer times are calculated
Prayer times are based on solar phenomena and established rules passed down through Islamic scholarship. The main calculations are:
- Fajr — begins at the start of morning twilight, when the sky begins to lighten before sunrise. This is commonly calculated using the sun’s depression angle below the horizon (e.g., 18°, 15°, or 12° depending on method).
- Sunrise — not a prayer time, but marks the end of Fajr time and is needed to calculate other times.
- Dhuhr — begins after the sun passes its zenith (solar noon) and its shadow starts lengthening.
- Asr — begins when an object’s shadow reaches a certain length relative to its height. Two common juristic methods:
- Hanafi: Asr begins when the shadow is twice the object’s height.
- Shafi’i/Maliki/Hanbali: Asr begins when the shadow equals the object’s height plus the noon shadow.
- Maghrib — begins at sunset, when the sun disappears below the horizon.
- Isha — begins at the onset of evening twilight when the red twilight disappears; like Fajr, commonly calculated using sun depression angles (e.g., 18°, 17°, or 15°).
Different Islamic authorities use slightly different angle values and juristic choices for Asr; these produce small timing differences but all remain within accepted scholarly ranges.
Why times vary by location and date
Prayer times depend on:
- Geographic coordinates (latitude and longitude): higher latitudes experience longer or shorter twilight, affecting Fajr and Isha.
- Date / season: the sun’s path changes with Earth’s tilt, shifting times across the year.
- Method and juristic settings chosen: angle values and Asr method produce different schedules.
Finding accurate local Azan times
- Mosque schedules: Local mosques post accurate times that follow the community’s chosen calculation and juristic method.
- National Islamic authorities: Many countries publish official prayer timetables aligned with a government-recognized method.
- Mobile apps and websites: Apps use your phone’s GPS and selectable calculation methods to provide daily Azan times and notifications.
- Astronomical calculations: For technical accuracy, prayer times can be computed from solar ephemeris using the chosen angles and time zone/UTC offset.
Recommended apps and features to look for
- Accurate location detection (GPS) and manual override of city or coordinates.
- Multiple calculation methods (e.g., Muslim World League, Umm al-Qura, ISNA, Egyptian General Authority) and juristic Asr options.
- Automatic daylight saving time handling.
- Azan notifications and adjustment offsets (if you want to shift alerts a few minutes).
- Mosque locator and congregation prayer times.
- Offline mode and printable timetables.
Examples of helpful features:
- Widget for quick glance at next prayer.
- Monthly timetable export (PDF/iCal).
- Qibla compass and Ramadan calendar.
Handling extreme latitudes
In high-latitude locations (e.g., parts of Scandinavia, Alaska), twilight can be prolonged or continuous. Common approaches there include:
- Nearest reasonable city method (use times of a nearby city with normal twilight).
- Fixed interval method (e.g., set Fajr and Isha to fixed hours before/after midnight or sunrise).
- Middle of the night calculation (use midpoint between sunset and sunrise). Communities should follow trusted local scholars or national councils for consistent practice.
Practical tips for daily use
- Choose a calculation method consistent with your local mosque or school of thought to avoid confusion for congregational prayers.
- Allow a buffer before congregational prayer time to arrive early.
- Use the alarm/notification features with a few minutes’ lead time for preparation.
- For travel, verify times when crossing time zones or during daylight saving transitions.
Example of how a daily timetable might look (sample for a moderate latitude city)
- Fajr: 04:45
- Sunrise: 06:10
- Dhuhr: 12:30
- Asr: 16:00
- Maghrib: 19:20
- Isha: 20:45
(Actual times will vary by location and date.)
Conclusion
Accurate Azan times combine astronomical calculation with juristic choices. Use local mosque timetables or trusted apps with selectable calculation methods to get reliable daily schedules for Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha. When in doubt in unusual latitude conditions, follow local scholarly guidance.
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