Guide
How are prayer times calculated?
When two apps, or an app and your local mosque, show different times, it is usually not a mistake. This guide explains how prayer times are found and where the differences come from.
What determines prayer times?
Each of the five prayers depends on where the sun is in the sky. Dhuhr begins just after the sun passes its highest point. Maghrib is sunset. Fajr and Isha are based on the twilight before sunrise and after sunset. Twilight is measured by how many degrees the sun is below the horizon. Which angle to use is a scholarly choice, so there is no single 'correct' number.
Where does Vaktinde get its times?
In Turkey we use the times published by the Diyanet (Presidency of Religious Affairs). Outside Turkey we use the Aladhan calculation service, and you can choose the method under Settings > Calculation Method. Without an internet connection, times are calculated on your device.
Calculation methods
Each method uses different angles for Fajr and Isha. The larger the angle, the earlier Fajr and the later Isha.
| Method | Fajr | Isha | Commonly used in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diyanet | 18° | 17° | Turkey |
| Muslim World League (MWL) | 18° | 17° | Europe, the Far East, parts of America |
| ISNA | 15° | 15° | North America |
| Egyptian General Authority | 19.5° | 17.5° | Africa, Syria, Lebanon |
| Karachi | 18° | 18° | Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan |
| Umm al-Qura | 18.5° | 90 min after Maghrib | Arabian Peninsula |
Angles follow the method definitions of the Aladhan service.
Asr: standard or Hanafi?
Asr is determined by the length of an object's shadow. According to the Shafi'i, Maliki and Hanbali schools, Asr begins when the shadow equals the object's height (plus the shadow at noon). We call this the standard calculation. According to the Hanafi school it begins when the shadow reaches twice the object's height, so the time is later. Most mosques in the UK and South Asia use the Hanafi calculation. Depending on season and latitude the difference can reach 30–60 minutes.
Standard
Shadow = object's height. Asr starts earlier.
Hanafi
Shadow = twice the object's height. Asr starts later.
Currently, outside Turkey, Vaktinde shows Asr using the standard calculation.
Why do Isha and Fajr vary?
Fajr and Isha depend on how far the sun is below the horizon. An organisation using 18° instead of 17° will have an Isha a few minutes later. In northern countries the twilight may never end in summer, so special rules apply. A few minutes' difference between two apps or two calendars is therefore normal.
Why does my mosque show something different?
Mosques publish two separate times: the adhan time, when the prayer time begins, and the congregation (jamat) time, when the prayer is actually held. The jamat is usually 10–30 minutes after the adhan. Some mosques give a fixed time for Fajr and 'soon after the adhan' for Maghrib. Mosques also choose their own method and school, may round times, and use their own tables when clocks change. So the time in an app and the paper at the mosque can differ by minutes, and for Asr by close to an hour.
How do I change the calculation in the app?
- Open Settings.
- Tap Calculation Method.
- Choose the method used by your mosque or region.
- Times update immediately.
For cities in Turkey, the Diyanet's own times are used.