How researching the circadian rhythm led me (a non-practicing guy) to never miss Fajr again.
A few months ago, I was doing some research on the circadian rhythm. I discovered that Islamic prayers (even though I am non-practicing myself) synchronize perfectly with specific moments of the day: a sort of 'zeitgeber' (literally a 'time giver'). 5 prayers, 5 crucial anchoring points for the circadian rhythm.
The first prayer of the day starts between 1h and 1h30 before sunrise. It’s a pretty magical moment having experienced it myself over the last few months a peaceful, crisp time, suspended outside of the usual rush and commotion. This specific moment allowed me to get back into writing. Then comes the sunrise, marking the end of Fajr, which begins a wide arc stretching all the way to the second prayer (Dohr). This prayer perfectly pinpoints the middle of the day, the solar noon, where the sun reaches its highest point in the sky and begins its descent toward the west. Next is the third prayer (Asr), where the sun's descent becomes very pronounced: casting long shadows in a softer, golden light. This moment concludes when the shadows completely vanish while the air remains bright, leading up to the sunset, where the sky is still clear but gradually darkens. This brings us to the fourth prayer (Maghrib), a fairly short window as well, lasting a little over an hour just like the first dawn prayer. It’s the exact moment when the body begins secreting melatonin to prepare itself for sleep. And finally, it ends with the fifth prayer which heralds the total night, the time of Isha, the last prayer of the day a moment to disconnect one last time from the hustle and bustle of life, and go to sleep.
This discovery motivated me to build a tool a memo and notepad for these moments of light. Since then, I haven't missed a single Fajr (and I used to be a complete night owl...) and I can truly feel my circadian rhythm syncing up with the natural light.
