Why prayer times differ between apps and mosques
Prayer apps differ because of four settings: the calculation method (the sun angles for Fajr and Isha), the Asr rule (Hanafi or standard), the high-latitude rule used in northern summers, and whether your mosque follows a local timetable. In NearMasjid you can set all four, and adjust each prayer by up to ±30 minutes.
1. Calculation method (Fajr and Isha angles)
Fajr and Isha are set by how far the sun is below the horizon. Methods use different angles. For example, the Muslim World League uses 18° for Fajr and 17° for Isha, while ISNA uses 15° for both, and Umm al-Qura sets Isha 90 minutes after Maghrib (PrayTimes.org). A few degrees can move Fajr by 20 minutes or more.
NearMasjid offers 12 methods: Muslim World League, ISNA, Egyptian General Authority, Umm al-Qura, Dubai, University of Karachi, Kuwait, Qatar, Singapore (MUIS), Turkey (Diyanet), Moonsighting Committee and Tehran.
2. The Asr rule
The Hanafi school starts Asr when an object’s shadow is twice its length; the other schools at once its length. Hanafi Asr is later: in London by about 30 minutes in winter and about 75 minutes in midsummer. See Hanafi vs standard Asr.
3. High-latitude rules
In northern summers the sun may not reach the Fajr or Isha angle at all. Apps then use a rule such as Middle of the night, Seventh of the night or Twilight angle. See prayer times in UK summer.
4. Local timetables
Some cities share a printed timetable that isn’t a pure calculation, like the London Unified timetable.
Make NearMasjid match your mosque
- Open the Prayer tab and tap the gear.
- Choose your Calculation method, Madhab (Asr) and High latitude rule.
- Use Per-prayer offsets to shift any prayer by up to ±30 minutes.
Match your mosque, not a default
Pick from 12 calculation methods, Hanafi or standard Asr, three high-latitude rules, custom angles and per-prayer offsets.
Download on the App StoreFree for iPhone and iPad. No ads, no account, no in-app purchases.
Frequently asked questions
Which calculation method should I use?
The one your local mosque uses. If you don’t know, ask the mosque or compare a few days of its timetable with each method.
Why is my Fajr so early in summer?
Far from the equator, a Fajr angle of 18° or more can give very early or no Fajr in midsummer. A high-latitude rule or the method your mosque follows fixes this.