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Fajr alarm: what is reliable and what is not
A Fajr reminder has one job: be heard before sunrise. Here is how that works on modern phones, where it breaks, and what Sakina's web app does today.
What the web app does today
- In-app reminders. While Sakina is open (a tab, or the installed app on your home screen) it shows a banner, plays a chime and can send a browser notification at the time you choose, for example 10 minutes before and at the prayer time.
- Calendar export with alarms. The Month view exports an .ics file where every prayer is an event with an alarm. Import it into your phone's calendar and the system, not Sakina, rings the alarm.
- Per-prayer control. Turn Fajr on and the other prayers off, if Fajr is the only one you need help with.
Honest limit. A web page cannot schedule an exact alarm that rings while the app is closed and the screen is off. Browsers may suspend background tabs, and reliable exact-time background wake-ups are not available to web apps, especially on iPhone. That is why the web app does not promise it.
Why Fajr reminders fail in general
- Silent switch or Do Not Disturb. Notification sounds can be muted by the ring/silent switch or a Focus mode. A system alarm in the Clock app is treated differently from an app notification.
- Notification sound length. Notification sounds are short, often capped at around 30 seconds, so a light sleeper can miss them.
- Battery saving. Low-power modes and aggressive task killers can delay or drop scheduled work in third-party apps.
- Wrong time zone or travel. A reminder scheduled for the old city rings at the old time.
A reliable setup today
- In Sakina, open Settings, pick your city and method, then check Fajr against your local timetable.
- Open Month and export the calendar file. Import it into your phone's calendar app.
- Keep a second safety net: set a normal alarm in the Clock app for the first Fajr of the week and compare it with the calendar alert.
- Test on a quiet evening with the phone locked, not just with the app open.
What a native app can add
A native iOS or Android app can use system alarm features and background scheduling that browsers do not expose. This is planned. When it exists, this page will describe exactly what it does and what it cannot do, including the cases above. See also why a Fajr notification did not ring.
Frequently asked questions
Can the web app wake me for Fajr with the screen off?
Not reliably. Use the calendar export, which lets your phone's own calendar ring the alarm.
Does the in-app reminder need internet?
No. Times are calculated on your device. A browser notification is local too.