The five daily prayer times, explained
There are five obligatory prayers each day, and each one has its own window of time. The windows follow the sun, so they shift a little every day and differ by location. Here is what each one is and how it is worked out.
The five windows
- Fajr — from true dawn (the first light on the horizon) until sunrise.
- Dhuhr — from just after the sun passes its highest point (midday) until the Asr time begins.
- Asr — from the Dhuhr window ending until sunset.
- Maghrib — from sunset until the red twilight fades.
- Isha — from the end of twilight until (at the latest) the next true dawn.
How prayer times are calculated
Fajr and Isha depend on how far the sun is below the horizon at dawn and dusk (the “twilight angle”). Different organisations use slightly different angles, which is why you will see a calculation method setting — for example ISNA (North America), the Muslim World League, Umm al-Qura and others. Choosing the method that your local community follows keeps your times aligned with your mosque.
The start of Asr is defined by the length of an object’s shadow. Most schools begin Asr when a shadow equals the object’s length plus its midday shadow; the Hanafi position begins it when the shadow is twice the object’s length. Khatawa lets you choose the standard or Hanafi Asr calculation.
Prayer times in Khatawa
Khatawa shows the five times for your current location, updates them each day, and lets you pick your calculation method and Asr preference. From the times you can start the guided prayer straight away, and a live Qibla compass points you in the right direction.
Frequently asked questions
What are the five daily prayer times?
Fajr (dawn until sunrise), Dhuhr (after midday), Asr (afternoon until sunset), Maghrib (just after sunset) and Isha (night). Each has its own window during which the prayer should be performed.
Why do prayer times change every day?
The times are tied to the position of the sun — dawn, midday, sunset and twilight — which shift slightly each day and vary by your location and the season.
Which calculation method should I choose?
Use the method followed by your local community or mosque (for example ISNA in much of North America, or the Muslim World League). The methods differ mainly in the twilight angle used for Fajr and Isha.
What is the difference in the Asr time?
Most schools start Asr when an object’s shadow equals its own length (plus the midday shadow); the Hanafi school starts it when the shadow is twice the object’s length, which makes Asr a little later. Khatawa supports both.