The methods of prayer times calculations and their consideration

ABSTRACT The reason why people were created and the purpose of their existance are to worship. One of those worships ways is to perform the prayer times (called Salaat or Namaz or Prayer ritual) which has to be performed five times in a day and it is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Prayer times, which are not mentioned in the Quran in detailed, are determined according to Mohammed's sayings and his acts. Many Islamic lawyers expressed their opinions about prayer times and interpreted many hadits ( the traditions or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad) and verses from Quran. Except for the Shias, all Muslim denominations are in agreement about prayer times have to be performed five times in a day. There has been agreement about end time of dawn and afternoon prayers but there have been some disagreement about start time of dawn, afternoon and isha prayers and also end time of afternoon, evening and isha prayers Prayer times have nowadays been estimated in different ways by Religious Affairs Administration, Suleymaniye Foundation, and Ehli Beyt Foundation. Religious Affairs Administration and some experts have clarified prayer times by using modern methods in different places and times. However; Suleymaniye Foundation has asserted different views about prayer times by interpreting verses from the Quran. Fazilet Neşriyat has added allowences time to Religious Affairs Administration's timing of prayer times. Ehli Beyt Foundation reduced prayers times,3 times in a day, by combining noon and afternoon prayers also evening and isha prayers.However, prayer times for Ehli Beyt Foundation are the same with Religious Affairs Administration's timing. Key Words: Islamic law, Worship, Prayer times, Time, disputes