Search frequently asked questions for twilight

Muslims pray five times a day. The time for each prayer changes depending on the location and the date.

It is important for each prayer to be performed within its correct time period.

The five daily prayers are:

Fajr:
Starts at dawn, when morning twilight begins.
Ends just before sunrise.

Zohar:
Starts shortly after Zawaal, when the sun has passed its highest point.
Ends when Asar time begins.

Asar:
Starts based on the length of an object's shadow. Different schools of thought use different criteria for this.
Ends just before sunset.

Maghrib:
Starts at sunset.
Ends when Isha time begins.

Isha:
Starts after dusk, when evening twilight has disappeared.
Ends before Fajr time begins.

Prayer times are determined by the position of the sun and are calculated using astronomically measurable values.

For countries above 48 degrees latitude, including Britain, Fajr and Isha times may require estimation during certain months of the year.

This is because twilight can continue between sunset and sunrise, meaning the sun may not go far enough below the horizon for true night to occur.

In these situations, Salah Times uses the 1/7 rule method by default for the UK to calculate Fajr and Isha times. You can also change this to another high latitude method if needed.

Twilight is the light seen in the sky when the sun is below the horizon.

It occurs before sunrise in the morning and after sunset in the evening.

In prayer time calculations, twilight is important because it helps determine Fajr and Isha times.

The twilight angle is used to help calculate Fajr and Isha times.

It refers to the angle of the sun below the horizon, measured in degrees, when darkness begins or ends.

For Fajr, the twilight angle is used to calculate when morning twilight begins before sunrise.

For Isha, the twilight angle is used to calculate when evening twilight has disappeared after sunset.

Some organisations use a fixed time after Maghrib instead of a twilight angle to determine the start of Isha.

Different prayer calculation methods use different twilight angles for Fajr and Isha. This is one of the main reasons prayer times can vary between different websites, apps, and mosque timetables.

Dusk is the time in the evening when daylight fades and the sky becomes dark.

In prayer time calculations, dusk usually refers to the later stage of twilight, after sunset, when the reddish light in the sky has disappeared.

Prayer times can differ because different mosques, websites, and organisations may use different calculation methods and settings.

The biggest differences are usually seen in Fajr, Isha, and Asar times. Fajr and Isha are affected by the twilight angle and high latitude method, while Asar is affected by whether the Shafi or Hanafi method is used.

Your local mosque may also use its own timetable, local observation, or fixed Jamaat times, which may not exactly match calculated prayer times.

If you want Salah Times to match another timetable more closely, try changing the prayer calculation method, high latitude method, or Asar method for your location.

High latitude methods are used in places where Fajr and Isha can be difficult to calculate accurately during certain times of the year.

This usually affects countries that are far north or far south, where twilight may last for a long time during the summer months.

For the UK, Salah Times can use the 1/7 rule method by default. However, you can change this to another high latitude method if needed.

If you are unsure which method to use, compare the results with a trusted local mosque timetable and choose the setting that gives the closest match.