What is the actual meaning of Zawwal? VS Istiwa?

Question ID: 
1757
ziy***@gmail.com asks:

Question

What is the actual meaning of Zawwal? VS Istiwa?

which method of calculation method do you use for prayers calculation?

Answer

Istiwaa means Zenith, i.e. the middle point between sunrise and sunset. For example if sunrise is 6 a.m and sunset is 6 p.m then noon is zenith.

Zawwaal is the starting point when the sun decline from zenith to move towards sunset.

To calculate it one may pitch an object on a flat surface. Normally the shadow of that object will then cast in the west direction and it will gradually diminish. The point where the shadow stop to diminish will be zenith / istiwaa, and the time when it starts to increase that is the time of Zawwaal.