Understanding Islamic Prayer Times
Longyearbyen is home to a vibrant Muslim community that relies on precise prayer schedules throughout the year. The daily salah cycle in Longyearbyen begins with Fajr — the pre-dawn prayer — and concludes with Isha after nightfall. Because Longyearbyen sits at latitude 78.2° north, the gap between sunrise and sunset shifts noticeably across seasons, which in turn affects every prayer window.
The morning prayer holds a cherished place in the daily routine of Muslims in Svalbard and Jan Mayen. Fajr timing is determined by the first light appearing on the eastern horizon, well before the sun itself rises. This calculation uses the Muslim World League convention, which defines the Fajr angle recognised by scholars in the region. Waking for this early salah is considered one of the most rewarding acts of devotion.
As the day progresses, Dhuhr prayer is observed once the sun passes its highest point. The afternoon prayer, Asr, follows when an object's shadow reaches a specified length — a definition that varies slightly between juristic schools. Residents of Longyearbyen can select the Hanafi or standard option on this page to ensure the salat al-Asr time matches their practice.
Maghrib prayer coincides with the moment the sun dips below the horizon. In Longyearbyen, this time can shift by several hours between summer and winter. The evening salah, Isha, begins once the twilight glow disappears entirely. Both times are calculated automatically on this page and update daily.
Because Longyearbyen lies at a high latitude, the duration between Fajr and Isha can fluctuate dramatically. In summer, the interval between the pre-dawn prayer and nightfall may stretch significantly, while winter brings a much shorter window between Maghrib and Fajr. Scholars have provided special guidance for regions where twilight never fully disappears, and many calculation methods incorporate these rulings.
All prayer times on this page are computed using the Muslim World League (method 3), widely adopted in Svalbard and Jan Mayen. The calculation factors in Longyearbyen's exact coordinates and altitude to produce results consistent with local mosque schedules. You can also switch to a different method in the settings panel above if you follow a different convention.
At muslimprayer.live, our mission is to help every Muslim pray on time, wherever they are in the world. Salah is one of the most important obligations in Islam — as Allah says: "Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times" (Qur'an 4:103). We believe in the power of reminding one another, as the Qur'an teaches: "Command your family to pray and be steadfast in it" (Qur'an 20:132). You can share prayer time cards from any city page to help your friends and family stay connected to their daily prayers, no matter where they live. Together, we can support each other in fulfilling this blessed obligation.