At Which Angle Do Fajr and Isha Start Respectively?

Answered by Ustadh Farid Dingle

Question

At which angle do Fajr and Isha start respectively?

Answer

Thank you for your important question.

Personally I go with Fajr starting at astronomical twilight, which is 18 degrees. You can see this fiqh discussion from UK for other opinions.

Regarding Isha, you should try your best to go out into the countryside one or twice and try to observe the red of the horizon disappearing. This redness does not always disappear at a fixed angle throughout the world, or throughout the seasons.

If praying Maghrib and Isha on time pose a great hardship, one may combine the prayers either before Fajr time comes in, or at the beginning of Maghrib. (Bughyat al Mustarshidin, Abd al Rahman Mashhur; Rawdat al Talibin, Nawawi; Kifayat al Akhyar, Hisni; al Awsat, Ibn al Mundhir) The latter is better. 

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years, he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.