GUIDE 02 · PRAYER TIMES
What does Shari'i midnight mean?
On a prayer timetable, midnight can be a calculated point in the night, not the clock changing from 11:59 to 12:00.
Midnight changes with the night
In a published answer, the Office of Ayatollah al-Sistani defines midnight as halfway between sunset and true dawn. The answer gives an example: sunset at 7 p.m. and true dawn at 4 a.m. gives a midpoint of 11:30 p.m. Because those events move by location and season, this midnight changes too. Read the full answer about finding midnight.
How Namaz calculates its row
Namaz calculates Shari'i midnight as the midpoint between its computed Maghrib and the following day's Fajr. It uses the chosen Qom or Tehran settings for those times. The row is therefore connected to the selected calculation method and the app's own definitions.
This is a software definition, not a universal ruling for every marja' or circumstance. The official answer above describes its own criteria. If you need to know which time applies to a particular prayer or situation, consult your marja' or local scholar.
Why it won't always say 12:00
Clock midnight is fixed by the civil time zone. The midpoint of sunset and dawn is determined by the length of the local night. In summer and winter, or when you travel, the two can be far apart. That's why a timetable may list a Shari'i midnight earlier or later than 12:00 a.m.
Get the app Shia Namaz shows Shari'i midnight every night, beside the five prayers, and reminds you at each one. It works offline.
Next guide: why Shia Maghrib is after sunset →
Sources
- Office of Ayatollah al-Sistani, “How can we know the time of mid-night?”
- Adhan Kotlin calculation library, used for base prayer times in Namaz