Prayer Times in Ramadan and While Travelling: Common Questions Answered

Prayer times are usually simple, until Ramadan arrives or you take a trip. Then questions appear: when exactly does the fast begin, why does the timetable look different from my app, and can I combine my prayers on the road? This guide collects the questions we hear most often, and explains what the main sources say and where scholars differ.

This is a general guide, not a ruling. Schools of thought differ on several of the points below, so please follow a scholar you trust, and your local mosque’s timetable for fasting.

Part 1: Ramadan

When does the fast begin and end?

The Quran says to eat and drink “until the white thread of dawn becomes distinct from the black thread” (2:187). In practice, the fast begins at Fajr, which is the beginning of true dawn, and ends at Maghrib, which is sunset. This is why Ramadan timetables are built on the same Fajr and Maghrib times as the daily prayers. To see how Fajr is worked out, and why apps differ, read our guide on how prayer times are calculated.

Why does my app’s Fajr differ from the Ramadan timetable?

Usually because the two use different Fajr angles. Many mosques publish a timetable using one chosen method for the whole month. It is best to follow your local mosque for the fast, so that your community starts and ends on the same time. If you are unsure, some people stop eating a few minutes before the listed time as a precaution, but please ask a scholar about this.

What about the call to prayer before Fajr?

Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim record that Bilal used to call the adhan during the night, and the Prophet ﷺ told the people to keep eating and drinking until Ibn Umm Maktum called, because he did not call until dawn was announced. Scholars take from it that the fast begins with the true dawn, and that a call made before dawn does not stop eating. If your mosque has an early call, check which one marks the start of the fast.

What about Isha and Taraweeh?

Isha time begins when the twilight has gone, and Taraweeh is prayed after Isha. Some timetables, such as the one used in Makkah, set Isha at a fixed interval after Maghrib, and lengthen it in Ramadan. This is a method choice, and it is the reason why Isha in a given city may differ from an app that uses an angle.

How do we know when Ramadan begins?

Scholars and communities differ on whether the start of the month should be based on sighting the new moon locally, sighting anywhere, or astronomical calculation. The report in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim tells the Muslims to fast when they see the new moon and break the fast when they see it. Different countries follow different approaches, so please follow your local authority and mosque.

Part 2: Travelling

Can a traveller shorten the prayer?

Yes. The Quran mentions that there is no blame on you for shortening the prayer when you travel (4:101), and the hadith show that the Prophet ﷺ prayed the four-unit prayers as two units while travelling. Scholars generally agree that the four-unit prayers (Dhuhr, Asr and Isha) are shortened to two, and Fajr and Maghrib stay the same.

How far is a journey?

Scholars differ. Many give a distance of about 80 kilometres (around 48 miles), and the Hanafi school gives a distance of about three days’ travel at walking pace, which is commonly converted to a similar figure, with differences in the number. Because the figures differ, ask a scholar of your school.

Can I combine two prayers?

There are reports that the Prophet ﷺ combined Dhuhr with Asr and Maghrib with Isha during travel. Scholars from the Maliki, Shafi’i and Hanbali schools generally permit combining for a traveller, under conditions, while the Hanafi school generally limits it to specific situations, such as Arafah and Muzdalifah during Hajj, and understands the reports in other ways. Because the details are different, please follow your school or a scholar.

Which prayer times should I use in a new city?

Set your app to your current location, not your home city, and check that the time zone is right. In a place where there is a mosque timetable, following it keeps you in line with the community. Our prayer time tools can help, and the guide to finding the Qibla explains how to check your direction in a hotel room.

What about flights?

The rulings on praying in the air are discussed in detail by scholars, and the guidance depends on the length of the flight, the direction, and the school. In general, a person prays on time if possible, facing the Qibla as far as they can, and may combine if their school allows it. Please ask a scholar before a long trip.

What about places with very long or very short days?

In places far from the equator, the sun may not set for much of the night in summer, or may be up for a very short time in winter. Councils of scholars have given several solutions, including following the times of a nearby city or a set interval. If you live or travel in such a place, follow the local mosque or council.

Tips for a smoother Ramadan and travel

• Download the local timetable before you travel, in case of poor signal.
• Carry a small compass or know how to use the sun for the direction.
• Check that your phone has updated the time zone.
• If you are travelling in Ramadan, ask a scholar about your fast, since the Quran gives an allowance for travellers (2:184), and the details depend on the journey and the school.

Frequently asked questions

If I miss Fajr by mistake, what should I do?

Pray it as soon as you remember. Scholars generally say that a missed prayer should be made up when remembered. If you often miss it, consider an alarm and a regular sleep time.

Do I shorten prayer when I am a guest at a relative’s house?

Scholars differ on how long a stay changes the traveller’s ruling and on what counts as a home. Please ask a scholar of your school.

Can I follow my home city’s timetable while I am away?

The prayer times depend on where you are, so use the local times, unless a scholar tells you otherwise.

Sources and further reading: The Quran, 2:184, 2:187 and 4:101; Sahih al-Bukhari; Sahih Muslim; al-Nawawi, al-Majmu‘ and Ibn Qudamah, al-Mughni (on travel rulings across the schools). Rulings differ by school, so please ask a qualified scholar.