Prayer Times in Afghanistan
The five daily prayers (Salah / لمونځ / نماز) are one of the most important pillars of Islam. Knowing the exact prayer times for your city in Afghanistan is essential for every Muslim. Prayer times vary depending on your geographic location, the time of year, and the calculation method used by your local scholars.
Afghanistan spans multiple latitudes and longitudes, meaning prayer times differ meaningfully between Kabul, Herat, Kandahar, and Mazar-i-Sharif. This calculator uses a well-established astronomical algorithm to compute accurate prayer times for all major Afghan cities throughout the year.
How to Use the Prayer Times Calculator
- Select your city from the dropdown — all major Afghan provinces are included.
- Choose the date (defaults to today's date automatically).
- Select your preferred calculation method. Most Afghan mosques use the Muslim World League or Karachi (Hanafi) method.
- Click Get Prayer Times to see all five prayers, Sunrise, and the Qibla direction.
- The next upcoming prayer is highlighted automatically based on your current time.
Prayer Calculation Methods Explained
- Muslim World League (MWL): Fajr at 18°, Isha at 17° below horizon. Widely used across the Muslim world including Afghanistan.
- Karachi / Hanafi: Fajr at 18°, Isha at 18°. Recommended for Hanafi followers common in Afghanistan.
- ISNA: Fajr and Isha at 15°. Used primarily in North America.
- Egyptian: Fajr at 19.5°, Isha at 17.5°. Used in Egypt and surrounding regions.
Frequently Asked Questions
This calculator uses a standard astronomical algorithm based on the sun's position relative to each city's coordinates. The results are a close approximation and typically match published times within 1-2 minutes. For official Friday prayer (Jumu'ah) and Eid times, always confirm with your local mosque.
Most mosques in Afghanistan follow the Hanafi school of thought, so the Karachi method or the Muslim World League method are most appropriate. If your local mosque uses a printed timetable, compare the results to see which method matches best.
The Qibla is the direction of the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, toward which Muslims face during prayer. The bearing shown is degrees clockwise from True North. For Kabul, the Qibla direction is approximately 247° (southwest). Use a compass or phone compass app aligned with this bearing to find the correct direction.
Afghanistan uses Afghanistan Standard Time (AFT), which is UTC+4:30. This is a unique half-hour offset timezone. The calculator automatically accounts for this offset when displaying prayer times, so results are shown in local Afghan time.