How Fajr time is calculated

Dawn is a process, not an instant. Calculations model it as the moment the sun reaches a set depression below the horizon, which is an approximation of something observed with the eye.

Different methods use different dawn angles. A small change in angle moves Fajr by minutes near the equator and much more at high latitudes.

If your Fajr time feels wrong, check your coordinates first, your method second, and your timezone third. Light pollution and terrain also make personal observation unreliable in most cities.

Above roughly the mid-fifties in latitude, true dawn may not occur at all in high summer. Rulings exist for this situation and should be sought locally.

This is an educational summary drafted editorially and awaiting scholarly review. It is not a personal religious ruling; your marja's guidance and your local religious authority take precedence.