What You Should Know About Prayer Times
Track the time remaining until all six daily periods—Fajr (Imsak), Sunrise, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha—for Istanbul. Times are calculated for your selected location and update automatically while the page is open.
What Do the Six Daily Times Mean?
Islam prescribes five obligatory prayers; in practice, Fajr (Imsak) and Sunrise times are also used for fasting and scheduling. Here is a brief guide:
| Time | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Fajr (Imsak) | Start of dawn; beginning of the fasting period in Ramadan. Suhoor should end before this time. |
| Sunrise | When the sun rises above the horizon. Fajr prayer is performed before this; voluntary prayer is avoided while the sun is rising. |
| Dhuhr | Noon prayer, beginning after the sun passes its zenith. |
| Asr | Afternoon prayer, based on shadow length. Hanafi and Shafi calculation can differ by a few minutes. |
| Maghrib | Sunset and evening prayer. In Ramadan, iftar is at Maghrib. |
| Isha | Night prayer after twilight ends. Taraweeh is prayed after Isha in Ramadan. |
How Are Prayer Times Calculated?
Prayer times depend on latitude, longitude, timezone, and the chosen calculation method. Angles used for Fajr and Isha (often 18° or 17°) and the rule for Asr explain why times shift slightly each day. In Turkey, the Diyanet method is widely used; elsewhere, other authorities may apply different angle tables.
A 1–2 minute difference between websites or mosque timetables is normal. What matters is following one consistent method for your city and verifying with official local sources when needed.
Hanafi vs Shafi Asr Time
Dhuhr and Maghrib are the same across schools, but Asr starts later in the Hanafi school (when the shadow is twice the object’s length) than in the Shafi, Hanbali, and Maliki schools (once the length). Use the school selector at the bottom of the page to switch calculation; times will refresh accordingly.
How to Use This Countdown
- Past times appear faded with a “Passed” label.
- The next prayer shows a large live countdown (hours, minutes, seconds).
- Upcoming prayers show remaining time in hours and minutes.
- After Isha until Fajr, the counter automatically targets the next day’s Fajr.
Change your city from the header menu to update all times for your location.
Ramadan, Iftar, and Imsak
During Ramadan, fasting begins at Imsak (Fajr) and ends at Maghrib (iftar). The Maghrib time on this page is your iftar reference. For a full monthly timetable, see our Imsakiye page; for fasting guidance, visit About Fasting and Ramadan Special.
Important Note
Times are provided for information only. Please confirm with your local mosque or official authority. Travel, daylight saving changes, and regional rules may affect published times.
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자주 묻는 질문 - 이프타르 시간 및 기도 시간
What does the prayer time countdown do?
This page shows the time remaining until all six daily periods—Fajr, Sunrise, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha—for your selected location. Past times are marked; the next prayer has a live countdown.
Why do prayer times in Istanbul change every day?
The sun’s position shifts slightly each day, so Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha move by a few minutes. Latitude, season, and calculation method all play a role.
Which prayer time is iftar?
During Ramadan, iftar is at Maghrib (sunset). The Maghrib row on this page is your iftar reference time.
Why is Hanafi Asr different from Shafi Asr?
Asr begins when the shadow reaches one or two times the object’s length, depending on the school. Use the school selector on this page to switch between Hanafi and Shafi/Hanbali/Maliki calculation.
Why does the counter target Fajr after Isha?
After Isha, the next prayer time is the following day’s Fajr (dawn). The countdown automatically switches to tomorrow’s Imsak/Fajr.