---
name: al-naqawa-prayer
description: Calculate prayer starts and Qibla, compare methods, convert Hijri or Gregorian dates and time zones, and export prayer timetables using AL-Naqawa tools. Use for calculations and planning rather than religious rulings or mosque Iqamah schedules.
---

# AL-Naqawa prayer tools

Use the connected AL-Naqawa MCP tools at `https://alnaqawa.com/mcp`. If MCP is unavailable, use the bundled Python standard-library helper. See [capabilities](references/capabilities.json) for tool names, purposes and sample requests; ask the server for its current schemas with `python scripts/client.py list`.

## Prayer calculations

Search `search_cities` by name and country before choosing a city ID. Check its country and IANA time zone; ask for clarification when multiple results fit. Search covers the published catalog, not every city in the source dataset. Do not replace a missing city with another location silently.

Use an explicit date in the city's local calendar. If the user asks for today or tomorrow, resolve it in that city’s time zone, not the computer's time zone. Use `list_calculation_methods` for actual supported keys. Preserve the user's method, Asr rule, high-latitude rule, Ramadan setting and minute adjustments across calculations, comparisons and exports. If the method is unspecified, show the selected city preset or engine fallback rather than concealing the choice.

Return the city, date, time zone, method and relevant warnings with times. Sunrise is distinct from Fajr. Report unavailable high-latitude events explicitly. Results are calculated starts, not Iqamah, Jumuah schedules or a ruling that one calculation method is preferable.

## Dates and time zones

Calendar conversions use `islamic-umalqura` or `islamic-civil` and an explicit −2 to +2 day adjustment. Preserve the chosen method when converting back. Calendar results are calculated civil-date labels for planning; local moon-sighting announcements can differ, and Hijri days begin at sunset. Do not present a calculated religious date as an official local announcement or one night as guaranteed Laylat al-Qadr.

For time-zone conversion provide an ISO timestamp with `Z` or a numeric UTC offset and an IANA destination zone. An unqualified local time can be ambiguous at daylight-saving transitions; clarify it instead of guessing.

## Files

`generate_timetable` supports CSV or ICS, with 1–32 days from an explicit start date. Split longer ranges into bounded calls. CSV includes settings; ICS uses UTC instants and calculated start markers, omits unavailable events and contains no alarms. Importing a file does not itself schedule reminders. These tools do not send emails, create accounts, or control hardware.

To save a requested file with the helper, write JSON arguments to an input file, then run:

```text
python scripts/client.py call generate_timetable --input request.json --save timetable.csv
```

The helper refuses to overwrite an existing file. Other calls return JSON:

```text
python scripts/client.py call search_cities --input city-query.json
```

Example `city-query.json`: `{"query":"London","country":"GB","limit":5}`. Use a confirmed returned ID in subsequent calls. The service is a public read-only beta with no API key; if unavailable or rate limited, report the error rather than inventing results.