Use this worksheet when an app and your mosque timetable disagree. The aim is to identify settings and compare like with like. For the astronomical background, read how Islamic prayer times are calculated.
Record the comparison before changing settings
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Date | The same local calendar date in both sources |
| Location | City, country and coordinates if available |
| Clock | Time zone and daylight-saving setting |
| Method | The actual calculation-method name or identifier |
| Asr | Standard or Hanafi setting used by your community |
| Adjustments | Manual offsets, elevation and high-latitude convention |
| Type of time | Prayer start time or congregational iqamah time |
Compare one field at a time
- Open the prayer times calculator and confirm the city and date.
- Use the method and Asr school specified by your mosque or trusted local authority.
- Record both sets of times. An iqamah time can intentionally be later than the prayer start; those are different comparisons.
- Check the provider’s documented adjustments before treating a remaining difference as an error.
AlAdhan’s calculation-method documentation lists the provider’s method choices. Its settings describe a computational convention, not a guarantee that every local published timetable uses the same adjustments.
Read the pattern in the difference
A consistent one-hour difference is a reason to check the clock and daylight-saving settings first. A difference mainly in Asr is a reason to inspect its school setting. Differences around dawn and nightfall call for a check of the method, date and local convention. These are troubleshooting clues, not proof of the cause or a religious ruling.
Keep a small comparison log
For example, write “15 September; same city; Fajr 05:10 in source A and 05:15 in source B; method names differ.” Those are fictional times for demonstrating the log. The useful evidence is the date, place and settings, not merely the five-minute gap. Repeat the comparison on another date only after the settings are understood.
If the times still differ
Ask the local mosque which published timetable and adjustments it follows. Do not repeatedly change settings just to obtain an earlier or later time. At high latitudes, read the high-latitude guide and follow appropriate local guidance. Save the method and date with any printed timetable so it can be checked later.
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