How is the last third of the night calculated?
According to most scholars the night runs from maghrib to fajr. The calculator measures that period and divides it into three; the last third begins when a third of the night remains before fajr.
Example: if maghrib is at 6:00 PM and fajr at 4:30 AM, the night is 10½ hours and a third is 3½ hours, so the last third begins at 1:00 AM and midnight (half the night) is 11:15 PM.
The virtue of the last third
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Our Lord, Blessed and Exalted, descends every night to the lowest heaven when the last third of the night remains, saying: Who is calling upon Me, that I may answer him? Who is asking of Me, that I may give him? Who is seeking My forgiveness, that I may forgive him?” (Bukhari 1145, Muslim 758)
Why does midnight matter?
Half the night marks the end of the preferred time for Isha according to many scholars, based on the hadith “The time of Isha is until the middle of the night” (Muslim 612). After it is a time of necessity according to the majority.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the night end at fajr or sunrise?
Most scholars hold that the night runs from maghrib to fajr, which is what the calculator uses. Some held that it runs until sunrise, which puts the last third slightly later. Either way, praying well before fajr falls within the last third on both views.
Where do the maghrib and fajr times come from?
They are calculated astronomically from the city’s location and the date, using the official method of each country: the Egyptian General Authority of Survey (fajr at 19.5°), the Umm al-Qura calendar in Saudi Arabia (18.5°), the UAE General Authority of Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat (18.2°), and 18° in Kuwait and Qatar. We checked them against published official timetables and they usually match to the minute.
Can I calculate a future night?
Yes, pick the date in the second field. This is useful in Ramadan to find the last third of the last ten nights in advance.
What is the best time for night prayer?
The last third is the best, because of the hadith of the descent. The prayer most beloved to Allah is that of Dawud (peace be upon him): “He would sleep half the night, pray a third of it and sleep a sixth” (Bukhari 1131, Muslim 1159).