Accurate Prayer Times: Why Apps Disagree & Which Calculation Method to Choose
Prayer times differ between apps because Fajr and Isha are defined by the sun's angle below the horizon — and different Islamic authorities use different angles. Pick the method your local mosque follows, set your madhab for Asr, and fine-tune the rest. Here's how each method works.
How prayer times are calculated
Five daily prayers are anchored to the sun's position at your exact location:
- Fajr — begins at true dawn, when the sun is a set angle below the eastern horizon.
- Dhuhr — just after the sun passes its highest point (solar noon).
- Asr — when an object's shadow reaches one length (majority) or two lengths (Hanafi).
- Maghrib — at sunset.
- Isha — when twilight ends, again defined by a solar angle below the western horizon.
Dhuhr, Asr and Maghrib are nearly identical across methods. The disagreement is almost entirely about the Fajr and Isha angles.
The five major calculation methods compared
| Method | Fajr angle | Isha angle | Commonly used in |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) | 15° | 15° | USA, Canada |
| Muslim World League (MWL) | 18° | 17° | Europe, Far East, parts of US |
| Egyptian General Authority | 19.5° | 17.5° | Egypt, Africa, Syria, Lebanon |
| University of Karachi | 18° | 18° | Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan |
| Umm al-Qura (Makkah) | 18.5° | 90 min after Maghrib (120 in Ramadan) | Saudi Arabia, Gulf |
A larger angle means the sun is further below the horizon — so Fajr starts earlier and Isha later. That's how two apps can legitimately disagree by 20–40 minutes.
Shafi'i vs Hanafi Asr
The Hanafi school times Asr from when a shadow is twice the object's length; the Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali schools use one length. Practically, the Hanafi Asr falls roughly 45–70 minutes later depending on season and latitude. If your app doesn't offer a madhab setting, your Asr time may simply be wrong for you.
Why your app still differs from your mosque
Even with the right method, mosques often round times, add safety margins, or follow a local timetable set by a regional body. That's why per-prayer adjustment matters more than any "perfect" method.
Getting accurate prayer times in Hayya
- Choose your method: ISNA, Muslim World League, Egyptian, Karachi or Umm al-Qura — one tap in Settings.
- Set your madhab: Shafi'i or Hanafi Asr.
- Fine-tune: nudge any prayer ±5 minutes to match your local mosque exactly.
- Go offline: Hayya caches 12 months of times computed on your device — your location is never sent to a server.
Prayer times you can trust — computed on your iPhone
Five methods, Hanafi & Shafi'i Asr, ±5 min fine-tuning, 12-month offline cache. Free.
Download Hayya FreeFAQ
Why are prayer times different in every app?
Different Fajr/Isha angle conventions and different Asr madhab defaults. Two correct apps can disagree; what matters is matching the convention your community follows.
Which method should I use?
The one your local mosque or national authority uses. In North America that's usually ISNA; Europe commonly MWL; Saudi Arabia Umm al-Qura; Pakistan/India Karachi; Egypt the Egyptian General Authority.
Do high latitudes need special rules?
Yes — in northern summers true dawn/twilight may barely occur, so scholars developed estimation conventions. If you live above ~48° latitude, follow your local mosque's timetable and use Hayya's fine-tuning to match it.