PROJECT PRESENTATION FOR

DETERMINATION OF PRAYER TIMES

IN THE POLAR ZONES

1st PART : OBSERVATIONS MADE WHEN THE SUN

DOES NOT RISE (STAYS BELOW THE HORIZON)

Dates Of First Observation : 12-14.JANUARY.2011

Location: TROMSO / NORWAY
Position: 70° Latitude Northern Polar Zone
 PROJECT PRODUCER

SÜLEYMANİYE FOUNDATION
Religion and Creation’s Dispositions Centre
 Participants of the research program

“Determination Of Prayer Times In The Polar Zones”

that was conducted at the latitude of 70° in Tromso, Norway:

SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE
Prof. Dr. Abdulaziz BAYINDIR / I.Ü. Faculty of Divinity
Prof. Dr. Adnan ÖKTEN / I.Ü. Physics Faculty Department of Astronomy Sciences
Doc. Dr. Servet BAYINDIR / I.Ü. Faculty of Divinity

TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE

Halit MOLLAOĞLU / Süleymaniye Foundation Executive Board Member
Hasan Mustafa ARSLAN / Süleymaniye Foundation Executive Board Member - Photos
Mustafa EVLİ / Süleymaniye Foundation Executive Board Member - External Affairs and Organization
Miktad ŞEN / Camera
 Why is
“Determination of Prayer (Salat) Times in The Polar Zones”
Important?
Salat is a kind of prayer ordered to the mankind to be “Süleymaniye Foundation Religion and Creation‟s
done at specific times. The conditions of polar zones Dispositions Centre” has focused on this subject, just
had not attracted the attention of religion men in the as many others, and started an extensive work on
past centuries, since no Muslim communities used to related concepts in the light of Qur’an and Sunnah,
reside in there. On the other hand, people from other while also comprising its opinion based on related
religions have already forgotten that prayer (salat) was science branch knowledge and experience. This
ordered to them, but they started to use this as a opinion had to be clarified by a set of observations.
material to lie against the last prophet of Allah, that is
Hz. Mohammad. The observations made at the city of Tromso, Norway,
which is of 70° latitude in the northern polar zone, have
Some religion men recommend to comply with the really been clarifying and definitive.
prayer times of Meccah or the prayer times of the
closest location where the sun rises and sets for the These definitive criteria must be known by everybody
polar zones. These fatwas, however cannot be proven to be able to complete prayer and fasting (salat and
and they do not rely on any concrete evidence. Some sawm).
of these ideas even suppose that some of prayers are “Prayer Times” will be introduced for global
not due since related conditions are not met. discussion by our foundation, after a series of onsite
We know that the prayer times are one of the most observations that will be completed this year.
argued subjects eversince, especially over the internet.
If Allah orders to pray five times a day to all the people
on earth, related criteria must have already been set
and clarified. The specific criteria for a person to
discover or observe the prayer times, even when no
devices to communicate or measure the time exist,
must have been shown. Since the only excuse of salat
is insanity, the Glorified Alllah must have set the times
of this prayer clearly and no other way is possible...
 AURORA
(Polar Lights / Northern Lights)

First Night‟s Surprise...

Aurora occured while searching for the

appropriate observation place at the night
our team reached Tromso. This northern
light is the consequence of explosions on
the Sun and a rare event to observe, which
excites the astronomy proffessor of our
team, Prof. Dr. Adnan Ökten.
The red rays of light intersecting the green
rays are also part of aurora.
Mentioned sky event has been subject to
local news the next day.
Information on Aurora and related photos
can be found on the following link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurora_%28astronom
y%29
Video of Aurora :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcfWsj9OnsI

12 January 2011 Night Tromso/Norway Latitude 70°

 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
Morning Observation
13 January 2011 Tromso

First observation was made in the morning of the arrival night in Tromso.
Although the piece of land lying in the direction to observe sunrays added some
more difficulty to local conditions, the sky was clear throughout the day. This
clear sight was unexpected checking the last thirty year statistics of the area.
The clear sky and positive weather conditions let all five prayer times to be
observed with the naked eye.
 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
Morning Observation – 13 January 2011 Tromso

06:25 A.M.
“The horizon is pitch-dark”
 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
Morning Observation – 13 January 2011 Tromso

07:05 A.M.
“The horizon is pitch-dark”

The Sun is 14o Below The Horizon

Morning Observation – 13 January 2011 Tromso
 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
Morning Observation – 13 January 2011 Tromso
07:15 A.M.
“Slight lllumination At The Horizon”

The Altair Star

The Sun is 13,5o Below The Horizon

 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
Morning Observation – 13 January 2011 Tromso
07:30 A.M.
“The horizon is illuminating, but the „white line‟ has not emerged, yet.”

The Altair Star

The Sun is 12o Below The Horizon

Morning Observation – 13 January 2011 Tromso
“Eat and drink, until the white line
of fajr appear to you distinct from
its black line. Then, complete the
fast until the evening.”
Al-Baqarah 2/187
The Horizon is the apparent
boundary between earth and sky.
The fajr time begins when the illumination
starts to expand along the horizon in the
east in the morning. The piece of earth
between the horizon and the person
observing the horizon appears as a “black
line”. The horizon line is clear to the eye
since the sky starts to illuminate. The
person who is going to fast, needs to quit
eating and drinking from this moment on.
This time is also the beginning of morning
prayer time.
“And keep up prayer in the two
parts of the day and in the hours of
the night that are nearer the day.
Surely, good works drive away evil
works. This is the correct
information for those who use their
knowledge.”
Hood 11/114
“From the westwards declension of
the sun till the darkness of the
night, and when the fajr (the first
lights of morning) condenses, keep
up the prayer. The condensation at
fajr is clear to the eye.”
Isra 17/78
 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
Morning Observation – 13 January 2011 Tromso
07:45 A.M.
“The „white line‟ above the horizon is clearing.”

BEGINNING OF MORNING PRAYER

FAJR TIME

The Sun is 11o Below The Horizon

 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
Morning Observation – 13 January 2011 Tromso
07:45 A.M.
BEGINNING OF MORNING PRAYER – DIFFERENT ANGLE
FAJR TIME

The Sun is 11o Below The Horizon

 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
08:45 A.M.
“ILLUMINATION REACHES THE WESTERN HORIZON”
SUNRISE

The Sun is 4 Degrees Below The Horizon

Illustration
of
SUN

Morning Observation – 13 January 2011 Tromso

 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES

DHUHR TIME OBSERVATION

13 January 2011 TROMSO
70° Northern Latitude
 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
Dhuhr Time Observation – 13 January 2011 Tromso
Sun is 0.5o Below The Horizon
11:55 A.M.
“The Sun has moved westwards from the meridian.”
DHUHR PRAYER TIME

“From the westwards declension of the Sun till the Illustration of Meridian
darkness of the night, and when the fajr (the first This is the moment when the
lights of morning) condenses, keep up the prayer. shadows are neither to the left
The condensation at fajr is clear to the eye.” nor to the right of the objects.
(Isra 17/78) When the shadows begin moving
towards left (as we are faced
“And keep up prayer in the two parts of the day
with the Sun), it is known that the
and in the hours of the night that are nearer the
dhuhr prayer time is due.
day. Surely, good works drive away evil works.
This is the correct information for those who use
their knowledge.”
(Hood, 11/114)

Illustration of the Horizon

11:55 A.M.
The Sun is 0.5 Degrees Below The Horizon Illustration
of Dhuhr Prayer Time
SUN
 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
Dhuhr Time Observation – 13 January 2011 Tromso

11:55 A.M.
DHUHR PRAYER TIME – DIFFERENT ANGLE

Illustration of
Meridian

Dispersion Arc Of Dhuhr-time Rays

Illustration
of SUN

The Sun is 0.5 Degrees Below The Horizon

PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES

ASR TIME OBSERVATION

13 January 2011 TROMSO
70° Northern Latitude
 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
Asr Time Observation – 13 January 2011 Tromso

1:10 P.M.
DHUHR PRAYER TIME IS STILL DUE
 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
Asr Time Observation – 13 January 2011 Tromso

“From the westwards declension of the Sun

till the darkness of the night, and when the
1:25 P.M.
fajr (the first lights of morning) condenses,
keep up the prayer. The condensation at fajr
ASR PRAYER TIME
is clear to the eye.”
(Isra 17/78)

“And keep up prayer in the two parts of the

day and in the hours of the night that are
nearer the day. Surely, good works drive
away evil works. This is the correct
information for those who use their
knowledge.”
(Hood, 11/114)

Dispersion Arc Of Asr Time Rays

The Sun is 1.75 Degrees Below The Horizon Illustration of

SUN
 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
COMPARISON OF DHUHR AND ASR TIME SUNRAYS DISPERSION ARCS

This is to compare the

locations of Sun below the
horizon at dhuhr and asr
prayer times.
Illustration
of Meridian

11:55 A.M.
DHUHR PRAYER TIME 1:25 P.M.
Dispersion Arc Of Dhuhr Time ASR PRAYER TIME
Rays
Dispersion Arc Of Asr Time
Rays

Illustration
of Horizon

The Sun is 0.5 Degrees Illustration

Below The Horizon of SUN

The Sun is 1.75 Degrees Illustration of

SUN
Below The Horizon
 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES

MAGHRIB TIME OBSERVATION

13 January 2011 TROMSO
70° Northern Latitude
 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
13 January 2011 Tromso

2:55 P.M.
“EASTERN HORIZON BEGINS DARKENING”
MAGHRIB PRAYER TIME

The Sun is 7 Degrees Below The Horizon

“And keep up prayer in the two parts of the day and in the hours of the
“From the westwards declension of the sun till the darkness of the
night that are nearer the day. Surely, good works drive away evil works.
night, and when the fajr (the first lights of morning) condenses, keep up
This is the correct information for those who use their knowledge.”
the prayer. The condensation at fajr is clear to the eye.” (Isra 17/78)
(Hood, 11/114)
 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
13 January 2011 Tromso

MAGHRIB PRAYER TIME IS STILL DUE

3:32 P.M. 3:32 P.M.

South-Western Sky North-Eastern Sky

The Sun is 8 Degrees Below the Horizon

 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES

ISHA‟A TIME OBSERVATION

13 January 2011 TROMSO
70° Northern Latitude
PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
13 January 2011 Tromso

4:20 P.M.
ISHA‟A PRAYER TIME

The Sun is 8,5 Degrees Below the Horizon

PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
13 January 2011 Tromso

4:30 P.M.
ISHA‟A PRAYER TIME IS STILL DUE

The Sun is 9 Degrees Below the Horizon

 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
13 January 2011 Tromso

5:28 P.M.
BEGINNING OF PITCH-DARK
END OF ISHA‟A PRAYER TIME
“From the westwards declension of the sun till the darkness of the night,
and when the fajr (the first lights of morning) condenses, keep up the prayer.
The condensation at fajr is clear to the eye.” (İsra 17/78)

The Sun is 18 Degrees Below the Horizon

“And keep up prayer in the two parts of the day and in the hours of the night that are nearer the day. Surely, good works drive away evil
works. This is the correct information for those who use their knowledge.”
(Hood, 11/114)
 PRAYER IN POLAR ZONES
14 January 2011 Tromso
4:08 P.M.
Norway, TROMSO (70° Northern Latitude) SUNSET – Local Hour: 4:08 P.M.
Direction: SOUTHWEST

This is the panoramic view of three photos that are taken at manual settings from the cable-car
location of Tromso at a higher altitude than city centre one day after previous shootings.
 PRESENTOR:

www.islamandquran.org

www.suleymaniyevakfi.org

THANKS!