Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 12 (1): 101-107, 2012 ISSN 1990-9233 © IDOSI Publications, 2012 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2012.12.1.1673 Corresponding Author: Mohammaddin Abdul Niri, Department of Fiqh and Usul, Academy of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Tel: +603-70676011, Fax: +603-70676141. 101 Astronomical Determinations for the Beginning Prayer Time of Isha’ Mohammaddin Abdul Niri, Mohd Zambri Zainuddin, Saadan Man, 1 2 1 Mohd Saiful Anwar Mohd Nawawi, Raihana Abdul Wahab, Khadijah Ismail, 1 1 1 Nurul Huda Ahmad Zaki, Anisah Ab Ghani and Mohd Azzat Ahsanie Lokman 1 1 1 Department of Fiqh and Usul, Academy of Islamic Studies, 1 University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2 Abstract: According to fiqh, muslim prayer time of Isha’ begins when shafaq phenomenon disappears at dusk. This research implements astronomical determinations to study the phenomenon and result the empirical descriptions. The observation was conducted at Tanjung Aru, Sabah, East Malaysia. Based on suitability, the disappearance of shafaq al-abyad is applied for Malaysia locality condition. The research has employed SQM- LE meter to collect sky brightness data. According to the results, the sky brightness magnitude for the disappearance of shafaq al-abyad is obtained averagely at 20.79 ± 0.36 mag/arcsec with mean solar depression 2 angle at 107.99° ± 0.16°. The results are considered to be still consistent with the theoretical value of 108° which marks the beginning of night time and the disappearance of daylight. Key words: Muslim prayer time Sky brightness Sky quality meter Isha’ fiqh al-salat INTRODUCTION comprehended from the verses of Quran and the text of The determination of Muslim prayer times are The dusk phenomenon can be observed after the sun discussed in Islamic jurisprudence studies namely fiqh. It has set at western horizon. The observer on the earth covers the injunctions from the Quran and the Hadith (the receives light at the time of sunset. It is scattered and prophetic tradition) with views from Islamic jurists namely reflected by earth’s atmosphere. The intensity of light fuqaha’ related to the obligation of Muslim prayer and its diminishes as the sun sinks further below the horizon. The prescribed times. The studies provide only qualitative intensity spectrum ranges from 100 nm to 22.5 ìm. It is descriptions. On that reason, this research attempts to category in three conditions as civil, nautical and explain quantitatively when is the beginning time of Isha’ astronomical dusk correspondingly based on sky by using astronomical methods. brightness condition and solar depression angle [11-14]. Methodology been defined by fuqaha’ i.e. shafaq al-ahmar and shafaq Theory: In fiqh perspective, shafaq literally means al-abyad. The descriptions distinct in terms of sky reddening and contextually is remarked as the sky brightness level at western horizon after sunset. Maghrib condition at western horizon related to the determination is started after sunset. It will ends following Isha’ begins of the ending time of Maghrib and the beginning time of either at the end of shafaq al-ahmar or at the end of Isha’. The sky changes slowly from reddening, followed shafaq al-abyad. The period of Isha’ ends at the yellowing and lastly whitening before it appears beginning of dawn [1-10]. completely dark. Islamic jurists agree salat of Maghrib According to fiqh explanations, the condition of sky ends and Isha’ begins when the phenomenon of shafaq reddening at dusk can be noted as shafaq al-ahmar and is set in but they have different views in explaining the it occurs before shafaq al-abyad. The disappearance of sky condition of shafaq. The phenomenon is sky whitening when the sky is almost dark marked as Hadtith in which must occur during dusk [1-10]. There are two types of sky condition of shafaq have