Prayer Times 2026 — Accurate Times for Your Location

Learn how prayer times are calculated astronomically, compare different calculation methods, and understand prohibited prayer times.

What Are Prayer Times?

In Islam, the five daily prayers are performed during specific time windows determined by the position of the sun. These times are calculated astronomically and vary based on your geographic location.

Five Daily Prayers

Fajr (Dawn): Begins at true dawn (fajr al-sadiq) when a horizontal white light appears on the horizon. Ends at sunrise.
Dhuhr (Noon): Begins when the sun passes its zenith. Continues until Asr.
Asr (Afternoon): Begins when an object's shadow equals its length (Hanafi: twice its length). Ends at sunset.
Maghrib (Sunset): Begins at sunset. Ends when twilight disappears.
Isha (Night): Begins when twilight disappears. Continues until Fajr.

Calculation Methods

Various Islamic organizations calculate prayer times with different parameters. The main difference is the sun angle used for Fajr and Isha:

Diyanet (Turkey): Fajr 18°, Isha 17°

MWL (Muslim World League): Fajr 18°, Isha 17°

ISNA (North America): Fajr 15°, Isha 15°

Egypt: Fajr 19.5°, Isha 17.5°

Umm al-Qura (Makkah): Fajr 18.5°, Isha fixed 90 min

Diyanet Method

Turkey's Directorate of Religious Affairs uses 18° below the horizon as the Fajr angle. This method is standard in Turkey and surrounding countries. It also adds a precautionary margin called “temkin.”

Method Comparison

Differences between methods are typically 10-30 minutes for Fajr and Isha. Dhuhr, Asr, and Maghrib times are nearly identical across all methods since the sun's position is directly observable.

Prohibited Times

Three times when prayer is discouraged:

Sunrise: ~45 minutes after sunrise
Solar noon (Istiwaa): When the sun is at its peak (~10-15 minutes)
Sunset: ~45 minutes before sunset

App Integration

Kaza Defteri shows prayer times based on your location. With prayer-time-aware planning enabled, the app schedules your makeup prayers while avoiding prohibited times.

Check our Prayer Times page for your local times.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can I pray makeup prayers?

Makeup prayers can be prayed at any time outside the three prohibited windows.

Why do times vary between cities?

Prayer times depend on the sun's position. Latitude, longitude, and altitude all affect the calculation.

Which method should I use?

Use the method recommended by the religious authority in your region. In Turkey, the Diyanet method is standard.