Two prayer apps on the same phone can show Fajr 10 minutes apart. Neither is "broken" — they are using different calculation methods. This guide explains what those settings mean so you can pick the one your local masjid follows.
Prayer times come from the sun's position
Each salah is tied to a point in the sun's daily path:
| Prayer | Begins when |
|---|---|
| Fajr | First light of true dawn appears (sun a set angle below the horizon) |
| Sunrise | Fajr time ends |
| Dhuhr | Just after the sun passes its highest point (zawal) |
| Asr | An object's shadow reaches a set length (see Hanafi vs Shafi'i below) |
| Maghrib | Just after sunset |
| Isha | Evening twilight disappears (sun a set angle below the horizon) |
Your latitude, longitude, date and time zone decide when these moments happen. That is why a good app needs your location — and why times can be calculated on the phone, without internet.
Why methods differ: the Fajr and Isha angles
Scholars and organisations have chosen slightly different sun angles for dawn and dusk. Common methods:
| Method | Fajr angle | Isha | Commonly used in |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Islamic Sciences, Karachi | 18° | 18° | India, Pakistan, Bangladesh |
| Muslim World League (MWL) | 18° | 17° | Europe, parts of Asia |
| Umm al-Qura, Makkah | 18.5° | 90 min after Maghrib | Saudi Arabia |
| ISNA (North America) | 15° | 15° | USA, Canada |
| Egyptian General Authority | 19.5° | 17.5° | Egypt, parts of Africa |
A bigger angle means an earlier Fajr and a later Isha. In India most masjids follow the Karachi method — but always check your local timetable.
Hanafi vs Shafi'i Asr
This is the difference people notice most.
- Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali (standard): Asr begins when an object's shadow equals its own length (plus the shadow at noon).
- Hanafi: Asr begins when the shadow is twice the object's length.
So the Hanafi Asr time is usually 40–60 minutes later than the standard time. If you follow the Hanafi madhab, as most Muslims in India and Pakistan do, choose Hanafi Asr in your app.
Why your masjid's time may still differ
Masjid timetables often add a few minutes of caution (ihtiyat), or fix jamaat times for convenience. The Azan time an app shows is when the prayer window starts; the Iqamah (jamaat) time is set by your masjid. That is why it helps if your app lets you:
- adjust each prayer by a few minutes to match your masjid, and
- set a separate Iqamah reminder.
Quick checklist for correct times
1. Turn on location (or pick your city).
2. Choose the calculation method your masjid uses (Karachi for most of South Asia).
3. Choose Hanafi or Shafi'i Asr.
4. Compare with your masjid timetable for a day and adjust by ±minutes if needed.
5. For jamaat, follow the masjid's Iqamah time.
When in doubt about which opinion to follow, ask a scholar or the imam of your local masjid.
Miftah supports all of the methods above, Hanafi or Shafi'i Asr, per-prayer adjustments and an Iqamah reminder — and calculates times on your phone, so they work offline.
