Prayer Times & Calendar Explained
One of the most popular features on our website is the display of our daily prayer times with Islamic date, which is why it’s on the top of every page.
We’re often asked where the prayer times come from, and why there are sometimes differences between mosques, so here we try to explain.
Islamic Calendar
The Islamic calendar has 12 lunar months; a lunar month is the period from one new moon to the next. Traditionally, each month begins with the sighting of the new crescent moon, although some countries and organisations use calculation. A lunar month is either 29 or 30 days long, so there are 354 or 355 days in a lunar year – this is shorter than a solar year, which is why Islamic dates appear earlier each year compared to the common Gregorian calendar.
Diaries or apps that give the date and time of the new moon are based on calculation. The sighting of the crescent of the new moon depends on many factors, such as how many hours old the new Moon is, where it is in the sky after sunset – and, of course, the weather.
When relying on sighting, Islamic dates are known only approximately in advance; any calendar may be off by a day, depending on when the new crescent moon is actually sighted. There are several methods for producing Islamic calendars; we currently use the Umm al-Qura Islamic calendar.
For key Islamic dates, such as the start of Ramadān (the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is the month of fasting), the end of Ramadān, and the start of Hajj, we wait for news of the sighting of the new crescent moon, then post this on the front page of our website.
Prayer Times
There are five daily prayers, explained below; all of these can be prayed in congregation (jamā‘ah) in the Cannock Islamic Centre.
Fajr
This is between daybreak and sunrise. The daybreak time is based on the work of Hizbul Ulama . The sunrise time is taken from HM Majesty’s Nautical Almanac Office , with 3 minutes taken off for safety to allow coverage of the whole M25 region.
The Adhān (call to prayer) for Fajr at Cannock Islamic Centre is given exactly at the start time (also the time to begin the fast when fasting). The jamā‘ah (congregational prayer) time for Fajr is 20 minutes after the Adhān.
Zuhr
Zuhr is after the Sun passes its highest point. The time is taken from Her Majesty’s Nautical Almanac Office, with 5 minutes added to ensure the sun has cleared its zenith.
The jamā‘ah time at Cannock Islamic Centre is 12.45pm during the months of British Winter Time (i.e. GMT), and 1.30pm during the months of British Summer Time. The Adhān is called 15 minutes before the jamā‘ah.
On Fridays, instead of the Zuhr jamā‘ah there is the special Jumu‘ah (Friday) congregational prayer, at about 1.00pm in British Winter Time, and about 1.45pm in British Summer Time. The prayer is preceded by a sermon, which starts about 30 minutes before the prayer.
‘Asr
‘Asr is calculated with either one shadow length (non-Hanafi), or two shadow lengths (Hanafi) – known as Mithl 1 and Mithl 2 respectively. The times are taken from Her Majesty’s Nautical Almanac Office.
The jamā‘ah time at Cannock Islamic Centre is about 15 to 30 minutes after Mithl 2. The Adhān is called 15 minutes before the jamā‘ah.
Maghrib
This is after the sun sets. The sunset time is taken from Her Majesty’s Nautical Almanac Office, with 3 minutes added for safety to allow coverage of the Staffordshire region.
The Adhān is called as soon as Maghrib begins (also the time to break fast when fasting). The jamā‘ah time at the East London Mosque is 7 minutes after the start time (15 minutes in Ramadān).
‘Ishā
This begins after dusk. The time is based on the work of Hizbul Ulama.
The jamā‘ah time at the Cannock Islamic Centre is about 15 to 30 minutes after the start, but never before 7.30pm throughout the winter months. The Adhān is called 15 minutes before the jamā‘ah.