Prayer times are not arbitrary. They are rooted in the movement of the sun across the sky — a system designed by Allah (SWT) that has guided the Muslim ummah for over 1,400 years.
The Solar Foundation
Each of the five daily prayers corresponds to a specific solar position:
- Fajr begins when the first light appears on the horizon (astronomical twilight), typically when the sun is 15-19 degrees below the horizon depending on the calculation method.
- Dhuhr starts just after the sun passes its zenith — the highest point in the sky.
- Asr begins when the shadow of an object equals its length (Shafi'i) or twice its length (Hanafi).
- Maghrib starts at sunset, when the upper edge of the sun dips below the horizon.
- Isha begins when the red twilight disappears, typically when the sun reaches 15-18 degrees below the horizon.
Why Location Matters
Because the Earth is tilted on its axis, the sun's path varies dramatically depending on where you are. Prayer times in Toronto differ from those in Dubai by hours — not minutes. Even within the same city, a few kilometers can shift times by a minute or two.
Quba uses your Wi-Fi connection to determine your precise GPS coordinates, then applies spherical trigonometry to calculate the exact solar angles for your location.
Calculation Methods
Different Islamic authorities have established slightly different conventions, particularly for Fajr and Isha, where the sun is below the horizon and the angle is debated:
| Method | Fajr Angle | Isha Angle |
|---|---|---|
| ISNA (North America) | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| MWL (Muslim World League) | 18.0 | 17.0 |
| Egyptian General Authority | 19.5 | 17.5 |
| Umm al-Qura (Saudi Arabia) | 18.5 | 90 min after Maghrib |
Quba supports all major methods and lets you choose the one followed by your local mosque or scholarly tradition.
High Latitude Adjustments
In cities like Stockholm, Oslo, or Reykjavik, the sun barely sets in summer and barely rises in winter. This creates edge cases where Fajr and Isha times can overlap or disappear entirely.
Quba handles this gracefully using angle-based estimation methods, ensuring you always receive accurate prayer times regardless of your latitude.
Automatic Adjustments
Your Quba device automatically handles:
- Daylight Saving Time transitions
- Seasonal variations throughout the year
- Altitude corrections for elevated locations
- Equation of Time — the natural variation in solar noon throughout the year
The Result
Every adhan that plays from your Quba is backed by centuries of Islamic astronomical tradition, implemented with modern precision. No internet required after initial setup — the calculations run locally on the device.
"Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers at specified times." — Surah An-Nisa 4:103