—peace and blessings be upon him— clarified these time limits for the Muslims through both his words and his deeds, and he said: “Pray as you have seen me pray.” Allah, Glorified and Exalted, also says: “Indeed, the prayer is an obligation prescribed for the believers at fixed times” (al-Nisaʾ 4:103). In other words, it is a duty tied to specific periods in which it must be performed. Wherever a person may be, he is required to perform the prayer within these clear time frames that Allah and His Messenger ﷺ have set for the Muslims.

Therefore you must adhere strictly to these times: do not offer the prayer before its period begins, nor delay it beyond its end. Strive to determine the times in the country where you live by watching the sun—recognizing the break of true dawn, the sun’s passing the meridian, the time of ʿAsr, the setting of the sun, and the disappearance of twilight. Give this matter due care, keep it under observation, and consult those who have expertise in astronomical calculation in that land. Exert yourselves, and Allah, Glorified and Exalted, aids the Muslim who is concerned about his religion.

Question: The timetable you have kindly detailed relies on the sun, but in some places the sun is not visible for most of the time. Is there another way to determine the prayer times?

Answer: They should do their best, estimating the times according to what their effort leads them to, while also consulting people of expertise and the scholars in their own country or in nearby areas.