Why do prayer apps show different times?

Start with the inputs, not the difference

Two prayer apps can show different times without either simply having the wrong clock. A prayer timetable is the result of several choices: a location, a local date, a time zone, a calculation method and, in some cases, extra adjustments. Compare those choices before deciding what a difference means.

Keep the two timetables side by side. Record which prayer differs and by how much, rather than treating the entire day as one result. A difference affecting only Asr suggests a different place to investigate from an hour-long shift across every entry.

Check these settings in order

• Location: confirm the city and country, especially when several places share a name.
• Date: use the same calendar day in that city, rather than your device’s home time zone.
• Method: compare the named preset and its parameters, not just the app’s default label.
• Asr rule: check whether Standard or Hanafi is selected.
• Adjustments: look for added or subtracted minutes, rounding and a local mosque schedule.

Different settings affect different entries

In the engine used by AL-Naqawa, Fajr and Isha can depend on twilight angles or a preset interval. Asr has its own shadow-rule setting. Some presets also include prayer-specific minute adjustments. At high latitudes, the selected fallback rule may affect whether a twilight event is available.

The useful comparison changes one variable at a time. Keep the location, date, time zone, Asr rule and manual offsets fixed, then change only the method. Our comparison tool is designed around that approach; its result explains a setting difference rather than certifying one community’s timetable.

A worked comparison: London, 27 October 2026

Here is an example calculated with AL-Naqawa’s existing engine. The location is London, United Kingdom (51.50853° N, 0.12574° W; altitude 25 metres). The selected local date is 27 October 2026 in Europe/London, with UTC+00:00 at local noon.

Both runs use Standard Asr (shafi), the automatic high-latitude rule, no manual minute adjustments and Ramadan mode off. Only the method changes: Muslim World League (MWL) uses 18° for Fajr and 17° for Isha; Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) uses 15° for both. Both presets have zero built-in prayer offsets in this engine.

The table uses a 24-hour clock. The difference is the second result minus the first: positive means later, negative means earlier. These are calculated start times for the stated inputs, rather than a mosque’s congregation timetable.

Reproduce the result, then change one setting

Use the comparison link below to open the saved city, date and settings. The website may display a 12-hour clock; 04:53 and 05:12 are 4:53 AM and 5:12 AM. This example remains tied to 27 October 2026, even when you read it on another day.

In this run ISNA moves Fajr 19 minutes later and Isha 13 minutes earlier, while Dhuhr, Asr and Maghrib match. That pattern is specific to these inputs. It is not a permanent difference between the methods, and it does not tell you which convention your local mosque follows.

• Open the saved comparison and confirm London, Europe/London and 27 October 2026.
• Check that First method is Muslim World League and Second method is Islamic Society of North America.
• Confirm Standard Asr, automatic high latitude, zero manual adjustments and Ramadan mode off.
• Compare the five rows. For another experiment, change one input and record the new city, date and settings.

Choose consistently, then review locally

If you normally follow a local mosque or trusted timetable, find out which method and adjustments it uses. Save that choice deliberately. Switching methods until a preferred number appears makes it harder to understand your schedule.

When you ask a mosque or an app provider about a discrepancy, send the city, date, prayer name and relevant settings. Those details make a useful answer possible. Avoid sharing a screenshot with no date or location: the numbers alone are not a reproducible comparison.