Sources & Methodology
The scientific models, calculation standards, and astronomical resources behind our timetable data.
Calculating Islamic prayer times relies on a combination of spherical trigonometry, solar physics, and classical Islamic jurisprudence. This document lists the primary astronomical references, standard calculation methods, and data APIs utilized to maintain the accuracy of our global timings.
1. Standard Calculation Methods
Depending on the geographical region, different twilight angles (sun altitude relative to the horizon) are utilized to determine the onset of Fajr and Isha. Our system supports the following standard conventions:
| Calculation Method | Fajr Angle | Isha Angle | Primary Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Islamic Sciences, Karachi | 18.0° | 18.0° | Pakistan, India, Bangladesh |
| Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) | 15.0° | 15.0° | USA, Canada |
| Muslim World League (MWL) | 18.0° | 17.0° | Europe, Far East |
| Umm al-Qura University, Makkah | 18.5° | 90 min after Maghrib * | Saudi Arabia, Arabian Peninsula |
| Egyptian General Authority of Survey | 19.5° | 17.5° | Egypt, parts of Africa & Middle East |
| London Unified Prayer Times | 18.0° | 18.0° | United Kingdom |
* Note: Umm al-Qura University applies a 120-minute offset for Isha during the holy month of Ramadan.
2. Data APIs & Technical Standards
Our calculations utilize coordinates retrieved from coordinate indexes compiled from GeoNames and OpenStreetMap databases.
Astronomical solar data and equation of time conversions are cross-referenced using:
- AlAdhan API Core: We reference AlAdhan calculations to maintain localized timezone-aware database compliance (see AlAdhan Islamic API Reference).
- Adhan JS/TS Algorithms: The mathematical core for calculating solar declination, time equation corrections, and altitude degrees (see Adhan Library Github Repository).
- IANA Time Zone Database: To handle daylight saving time changes and offsets across all indexed locations automatically.
3. Scholarly & Mathematical References
For users wishing to dive deeper into the mathematics of solar coordinates and jurisprudential reasoning:
- Jean Meeus, "Astronomical Algorithms" (2nd Edition, 1998): The standard text used globally for calculating solar positions, declination, and equation of time.
- Ibn Abidin, "Radd al-Muhtar ala al-Durr al-Mukhtar": Classical Hanafi jurisprudence reference confirming the definition of twilight (Fajr and Isha) and shadow calculations for Asr.
- Dr. Mohammad Ilyas, "Astronomy of Islamic Times for the Twenty-First Century" (1984): A foundational research work connecting astronomical twilight science with religious Salah criteria.
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