Prayer Times in Montreal.

About the ISNA calculation method

Most masjids in Montreal use the ISNA method, named for the Islamic Society of North America. It sets both Fajr and Isha at 15 degrees below the horizon. That is the standard across the United States and Canada, and it's what the larger Montreal centres have settled on, so the timetable on your phone matches the one taped to the masjid wall.

There's a practical reason ISNA took hold this far north. A steeper angle, like the 18 degrees some methods use, pushes Isha very late and Fajr very early during a Quebec summer, when twilight barely fades before dawn returns. The 15 degree angle keeps both prayers at humane times through June and July. FivePrayer defaults to ISNA for North America and detects your location on first launch, so you rarely have to think about it. If your masjid uses a slightly different setting, you can match it.

Major masjids and the Muslim community in Montreal

The community here is old by Canadian standards and growing fast. Recent census figures put Muslims at roughly one in ten residents across Greater Montreal, with most of the growth since 2011 coming from immigration and international students. North African, South Asian, Arab, and West African families all have a strong presence, which is why you'll hear Friday khutbahs in French, English, and Arabic across the island.

A few masjids anchor that community. The Islamic Centre of Quebec in Ville Saint-Laurent is the oldest, incorporated in 1965, and remains one of the most active centres in the province. Khadijah Masjid in Pointe-Saint-Charles, in the Sud-Ouest borough, runs more than 9,000 square feet and can hold over a thousand worshippers. Masjid Makkah-al-Mukarramah, established in 1988, serves the West Island from Pierrefonds, and Mosquée Noor Al-Islam looks after the Montreal-Nord community. Between them and dozens of smaller musallas, most boroughs have a jamaat within a short drive.

Qibla direction from Montreal

From Montreal, the Qibla bearing to the Kaaba in Mecca is about 59 degrees from true north, which is roughly east-northeast. The Kaaba sits around 9,998 km away. Stand facing the Qibla downtown and you're looking out over the St. Lawrence toward the North Atlantic and, far beyond it, the coast of West Africa. FivePrayer's built-in compass reads magnetic north and corrects for declination, so the arrow points true.

Practical tips for praying in Montreal

Winter days are short and cold. In late December, Fajr is around 6:10 AM and Maghrib near 4:15 PM, so Dhuhr, Asr, and Maghrib all fall inside a normal workday. Use FivePrayer's calendar export to drop short prayer breaks into your work schedule before the week fills up.

Summer Fajr comes very early. Near the solstice, Fajr can be close to 3:15 AM and Isha near 10:30 PM. The 15 degree ISNA angle keeps that gap manageable, but it's still a short night. Plan your sleep around it, and check your masjid's printed timetable if you pray Fajr in jamaat.

Prayer spaces around the city: Montréal-Trudeau airport has a quiet multi-faith room, several CEGEP and university campuses (Concordia, McGill, UQAM) keep a musalla, and a number of the larger malls and the downtown core have space you can use at a pinch. For Jumu'ah, the bigger masjids run two or even three sittings on busy Fridays; the first usually starts soon after Dhuhr, around 1:00 PM in winter and a little later in summer. Arrive early in Ramadan, when every centre fills well past capacity.

FAQ

What is the prayer calculation method in Montreal?

Most Montreal masjids use the ISNA method, with a 15 degree angle for both Fajr and Isha. It's the common standard across Canada. FivePrayer auto-detects ISNA for North America and lets you switch if your masjid differs.

What time is Fajr in Montreal?

It moves with the season. December: around 6:10 AM. Late June: near 3:15 AM because of the long summer days. Install FivePrayer for today's exact time.

What is the Qibla direction from Montreal?

About 59 degrees from true north, roughly east-northeast, with the Kaaba some 9,998 km away. See our Qibla guide to verify with a compass.

Best prayer app for Montreal?

FivePrayer: free, no ads, no account, ISNA by default for Canada, gentle adhan lock. Works offline once installed.

Are there masjids in central Montreal?

Yes. The Islamic Centre of Quebec in Ville Saint-Laurent and Khadijah Masjid in Pointe-Saint-Charles are among the most established, with daily jamaat for all five prayers. Dozens more serve the boroughs.