Frequently Asked Questions

What is Prayer Countdown and how does it work?

Prayer Countdown is designed around a simple concept: "One click to know what matters to you now."

Instead of showing you all five prayer times and making you calculate what's next, Prayer Countdown instantly tells you:

What you should focus on right now - the current prayer or spiritual period
Exactly how much time you have - with a real-time countdown
What comes next - seamless transitions between prayer periods

Whether it's "You have 2 hours 15 minutes to complete Dhuhr prayer" or "You have 45 minutes to the last third of the night," you get immediate, actionable information without any mental calculation or confusion.

This approach helps you stay connected to your Islamic daily rhythm naturally and effortlessly.

What does "Not a prayer time" mean?

This message appears during specific times when prayer without reason is discouraged in Islamic tradition. There are two important 15-minute windows:

1. After Sunrise (15 minutes): When the sun is rising and becoming established in the sky
2. Before Dhuhr (15 minutes): When the sun reaches its zenith (highest point)

During these times, Islamic tradition recommends waiting rather than beginning a prayer. The countdown will resume once these periods end.

How do the night prayer periods work?

The Islamic night is defined as the time between Maghrib (sunset) and Fajr (dawn). This period is divided into segments:

Example Timeline (Maghrib 6:00 PM → Fajr 3:00 AM):
Middle of Night: 10.30 PM
🌟 Last Third of Night: 12:00 AM
🌄 Fajr Prayer: 3:00 AM onwards

Why this matters: The last third of the night is considered the most blessed time for voluntary prayers (Tahajjud), du'a (supplication), and spiritual reflection. We include the middle of the night because some mathhabs prefer that Isha be completed before that time.

What do the different countdown messages mean?

The website shows different messages depending on the current Islamic time period:

Prayer Time Messages:
• "You have X time to complete Fajr prayer"
• "You have X time to complete Dhuhr prayer"
• Similar for Asr, Maghrib, and Isha prayers

Night Period Messages:
• "You have X time to the middle of the night"
• "You have X time to the last third of the night"
• "You have X time to complete Witr prayer"

Wait Period Messages:
• "Not a prayer time" - during the 15-minute discouraged periods for voluntary prayers without reason

How accurate are the prayer times?

We use multiple layers of accuracy to ensure precise prayer times:

Location Precision:
• GPS coordinates from your device
• IP-based location as fallback
• Cached location for offline use

Calculation Methods:
• 10 different internationally recognized methods
• Aladhan API for real-time calculations
• Local fallback calculations

The times are calculated using the same astronomical methods used by major Islamic organizations and mosques worldwide.

Can I customize the calculation method?

Yes! Click the settings button (⚙️) to choose from 10 different calculation methods:

Available Methods:
• Muslim World League (default)
• Islamic Society of North America (ISNA)
• Egyptian General Authority of Survey
• Umm al-Qura University, Makkah
• University of Islamic Sciences, Karachi
• Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran
• Turkish Diyanet
• Muslims of France
• Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Russia
• Islamic Religious Council of Singapore

Different methods may show slightly different times (usually 1-10 minutes) based on regional astronomical calculations and scholarly preferences.

How does the bilingual support work?

The website fully supports both English and Arabic:

Language Features:
• Complete interface translation
• Right-to-left (RTL) layout for Arabic
• Proper Arabic typography and fonts
• Settings and messages in both languages

Click the language toggle button (🌐) to switch between English and العربية. Your language preference is saved automatically.

What are the sharing features?

You can easily share your current prayer time status:

Sharing Options:
WhatsApp: Share with contacts and groups
Twitter/X: Post to your social media
Native Sharing: Use your device's built-in sharing options

The shared message includes your current countdown status and a link to the website, making it easy for others to check their prayer times too.

Why do I need to allow location access?

Prayer times are calculated based on the sun's position relative to your location. We need your location to:

Location Requirements:
• Calculate accurate prayer times for your specific coordinates
• Account for your time zone and daylight saving
• Adjust for seasonal changes throughout the year
• Provide precise sunrise/sunset calculations

Privacy Protection:
• Your location is never stored on our servers
• Only used for real-time calculations
• Cached locally on your device for offline use
• No tracking or data collection

Can I use this as a mobile app?

Yes! This is a Progressive Web App (PWA) that works like a native mobile app:

Mobile App Features:
• Add to home screen on iOS/Android
• Works offline after first visit
• Full-screen mobile experience
• Fast loading and real-time updates

How to Install:
📱 iPhone/iPad: Safari → Share → Add to Home Screen
🤖 Android: Chrome → Menu → Add to Home Screen
💻 Desktop: Chrome → Install App (address bar icon)

What if the times seem incorrect for my area?

If prayer times don't match your local mosque or Islamic center:

Troubleshooting Steps:
1. Check your location: Ensure location services are enabled
2. Try different calculation methods: Use the settings to switch methods
3. Compare with local sources: Different methods can vary by 5-15 minutes
4. Consider local adjustments: Some communities add safety margins

Remember that local mosques sometimes adjust times for community convenience, weather conditions, or add safety margins. Our calculations follow pure astronomical methods.

← Back