prayer times

[Abdullah al-Shishani]

My computer programm, islamic finder, shows the fajr prayer about two hours before sunrise, while local mosques show it as an hour an a half before sunrise always. What should one do? Any clues?

[aburasheed]

Assalamualaikum Brother Abdullah,

Islamic finder have various methods in calculating the prayer times, maybe your local mosque does not use the same method.

Calculation Methods<form method="get" action="prayerDetail.php"><input name="athan" value="" type="hidden"><input name="aversion" value="" type="hidden"><input name="city1" value="Tracy" type="hidden"><input name="city" value="Tracy" type="hidden"><input name="state" value="CA" type="hidden"><input name="id" value="" type="hidden"><input name="country" value="usa" type="hidden"><input name="dayLight" value="1" type="hidden"><input name="value=&quot;&quot;" type="hidden"><input name="month" value="03" type="hidden"><input name="year" value="2007" type="hidden"><input name="zipcode" value="95376" type="hidden"><input name="cityFlag" value="1" type="hidden"><input name="changeTime" value="16" type="hidden"><input name="lang" value="" type="hidden"><input name="lati" value="37.7395" type="hidden"><input name="longi" value="-121.4345" type="hidden"><input name="timez" value="-8.0" type="hidden"><input name="dayl" value="1" type="hidden">Prayer Calculation Methods: (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:;)<table><tbody><tr><td class="IslamicData" valign="top">
</td><td class="IslamicData" valign="top">Muslim World League </td></tr><tr><td class="IslamicData" valign="top">
</td><td class="IslamicData" valign="top">Egyptian General Authority of Survey</td></tr><tr><td class="IslamicData" valign="top">
</td><td class="IslamicData" valign="top">University Of Islamic Sciences, Karachi</td></tr><tr><td class="IslamicData" valign="top">
</td><td class="IslamicData" valign="top">Umm Al-Qura </td></tr><tr><td class="IslamicData" valign="top">
</td><td class="IslamicData" valign="top">North America</td></tr></tbody></table><table><tbody><tr><td class="IslamicData" valign="top"><input name="customized_flag" value="1" type="hidden">
</td><td class="IslamicData" valign="top">Customized Prayer Times (http://www.islamicfinder.org/prayerCustomized.php?city=Tracy&state=CA&zipcode=95376&country=usa&lati=37.7395&longi=-121.4345&timez=-8.0&dayl=1&aversion=&athan=&lang=)</td></tr></tbody></table>Juristic Method: (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:;)
Standard
Hanafi
Observe Daylight Saving: (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:;)
Yes
No</form>Note: Usa observes daylight saving that starts on the Second Sunday of March and ends on the First Sunday of November.

[Abdullah al-Shishani]

yes I tried all the claculation methods, none come near an hout and a half, except North America, and even it is not exactly so, and i am not in north america. This really bothers me especially in ramadan, because you dont know when to stop eating.

[Ibn Muhammad]

Akhee, you should leave these computerized calculation methods as well as the timetables of the masaajid, they are not always accurate. Rather, learn the fiqh regarding the prayer times and apply it yourself within your daily life, or consult someone who is trustworthy and has knowledge of it. The entrance of the times of salaah is one of the conditions in order for ones prayer to be valid, therefore take the necessary procedures in order to ensure that this condition is being met.

[Usood ul Cihad]

Best way to tell when its Fajr is hear the Birds Praying outside they tweet loud big time.

I compared the fajr/magreb times and at the same time the Birds Pray at that specific time (Time table for your local area Islamicfinder.org)

Amazing aint it All Praise be to Allah only if mankind knew.

[aburasheed]

Did you use the one on Islamic finder or the athan software?
http://www.islamicfinder.org/athanDownload.php

Most of the software are inaccurate in situation where the longitude/latitude goes beyond the accuracy of the algorithm.