Prayer Times in New York City.

The five daily prayers

Muslims observe five obligatory prayers each day: Fajr (pre-dawn), Dhuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (just after sunset), and Isha (night). Each prayer has a specific window determined by the sun's position relative to your location. In New York City, these times shift by roughly two to three minutes each day as the sun's path changes through the year, and they also jump by an hour each time Daylight Saving Time begins or ends.

Calculation methods used in New York City

The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) method is the dominant standard used by most mosques and Islamic centers in New York City. This method places Fajr at 15 degrees below the horizon and Isha likewise at 15 degrees. The Islamic Cultural Center of New York on 96th Street, the largest mosque in Manhattan, follows this convention, as do most Brooklyn and Queens congregations.

A smaller number of communities, particularly those with ties to South Asia or the Arab world, use the Muslim World League (MWL) method, which sets Fajr at 18 degrees and Isha at 17 degrees. This results in slightly earlier Fajr and slightly later Isha times compared to ISNA. FivePrayer supports both methods, so you can match the schedule of your local mosque precisely.

New York City's Muslim community and mosques

New York's Muslim community has deep historical roots and extraordinary diversity. The largest concentrations are in Jackson Heights and Jamaica in Queens, Bay Ridge and Flatbush in Brooklyn, and Harlem in Manhattan. South Asian communities (Pakistani, Bangladeshi, and Indian Muslims) are the largest single group, followed by significant Arab, West African, East African, and African-American populations.

The most prominent mosques include the Islamic Cultural Center of New York on 96th Street and Third Avenue in Manhattan, inaugurated in 1991 and the first purpose-built mosque in Manhattan. Masjid Malcolm Shabazz on 116th Street in Harlem carries enormous historical weight as the mosque associated with Malcolm X. In Brooklyn, Masjid At-Taqwa in Bed-Stuy and the Islamic Society of Bay Ridge serve large congregations. The Islamic Society of Queens and Masjid Al-Falah are major centers in the outer boroughs. Dar Al-Hijra serves the South Asian community in the Bronx. In total, New York City has more than 250 mosques and musallas.

Qibla direction from New York City

From central Manhattan, the Qibla bearing to the Kaaba in Mecca is approximately 58 degrees from true north, which is roughly northeast. This surprises many people who expect to face southeast or east, but the great-circle route from New York to Mecca goes over the North Atlantic. FivePrayer's compass calculates this precisely from your GPS coordinates and corrects for local magnetic declination.

Practical guidance for praying in New York City

Daylight Saving Time changes prayer times significantly. When DST begins in March, prayer times shift one hour later on the clock, and when it ends in November, they shift one hour earlier. FivePrayer applies these transitions automatically. If you use a printed timetable from your mosque, check whether it accounts for DST.

Summer Fajr is early in New York. By late June, Fajr arrives before 4:00 AM on the ISNA method. Setting a FivePrayer notification is the most reliable way to catch this prayer without disrupting your sleep schedule more than necessary.

Prayer facilities across the city: JFK International Airport has a multi-faith prayer room in Terminal 4. LaGuardia has quiet areas near gates. Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station have no designated prayer rooms, but many Muslims use the quiet concourse areas. Several universities including New York University, Columbia, and City College of New York have dedicated Muslim prayer rooms on campus.

FAQ

What time is Fajr in New York City?

Fajr in New York varies through the year. In December it falls around 6:00 AM, while in June it arrives before 4:00 AM. The exact time depends on your calculation method and whether DST is in effect. FivePrayer shows you today's precise time based on your location.

Which calculation method is used for prayer times in New York?

Most mosques in New York City use the ISNA method (15 degree angle). Some communities follow the MWL method (18 degree Fajr angle). FivePrayer supports both and can match the timetable your local mosque uses.

What is the Qibla direction from New York City?

Approximately 58 degrees from true north (northeast). The great-circle route from New York to Mecca crosses the North Atlantic, so the Qibla faces northeast, not southeast. FivePrayer's compass gives you the exact bearing from wherever you are.

Does Daylight Saving Time affect prayer times in New York?

Yes. New York observes EDT (UTC-4) in summer and EST (UTC-5) in winter. The clock change shifts all prayer times by one hour. FivePrayer handles this automatically so you never need to update your settings.

Which mosques are in New York City?

New York City has over 250 mosques. Key ones include the Islamic Cultural Center of New York on 96th Street (Manhattan), Masjid Malcolm Shabazz in Harlem, Masjid At-Taqwa in Brooklyn, the Islamic Society of Bay Ridge, and the Islamic Society of Queens. The city has thriving Muslim communities in every borough.