Kerala Prayer Times Astronomical & Juristic Methodology

1. Subhi / Fajr (ഫജ്ർ - Dawn)

Fajr begins when the first white horizontal light appears across the eastern horizon (Subh Sadiq). In astronomical terms, this corresponds to the sun being 18.0° below the horizon.

2. Luhar / Dhuhr (ളുഹ്ർ - Midday)

Dhuhr begins when the sun passes the meridian line (Zawal / solar transit), moving from the eastern sky to the western sky. A brief safety buffer is added to ensure the sun has visibly inclined.

3. Asr (അസ്വർ - Afternoon)

Two recognized classical schools are supported in AL-BADER:

• Shafi Method (Default in Kerala): Begins when the length of an object’s shadow equals its height plus the shadow at noon (Shadow Factor = 1).
• Hanafi Method: Begins when the length of an object’s shadow equals twice its height plus the shadow at noon (Shadow Factor = 2).

4. Maghrib (മഗ്‌രിബ് - Sunset)

Maghrib begins the moment the upper limb of the sun completely dips below the true horizon (approx. 0.833° depression to account for solar radius and atmospheric refraction).

5. Isha (ഇശാഅ് - Nightfall)

Isha begins when red twilight disappears completely from the western sky. Under standard astronomical calculation, this occurs when the sun reaches 18.0° below the horizon.