The Jewish morning prayer can be said just before sunrise, and during this season sunrise occurs between 4-5 AM in the morning.
Our current Zmamim (Halachic Times) are :
Alot Hashachar (dawn) 4:07 AM
Earliest Tallit and Tefillin 4:44 AM
Netz Hachamah (sunrise) 5:48 AM
Latest Shema 9:30 AM
Zman Tefillah 10:44 AM
Chatzot (midday) 1:12 PM
Minchah Gedolah (earliest Minchah) 1:49 PM
Minchah Ketanah 5:31 PM
Plag Haminchah 7:03 PM
Shkiah (sunset) 8:36 PM
Tzeit Hakochovim (nightfall) 9:14 PM
Chatzot (midnight) 1:12 AM
Sha'ah Zemanit (proportional hour) 74:00 min.
Sachrit should be said just as the sun is dawning.... But I do not do so, and I am lucky I can say Shema before 9:30...
The following should encourage me to daven earlier in the morning (though I am tired from getting home from work at 10PM and not getting to sleep till 12)...
http://www.torah.org/learning/maharal/p2m18part2.htmlAccording to Abaye and Rebbe Chaninah [the prayer of one who doesn't pray] with the glimmer of sunrise [is considered a fixed activity], for he doesn't pray at the primary time, which is considered the best way to perform the Mitzvah. One who prays earlier than the best time indicates his desire to relieve himself of the burden of prayer ("let's get it over with") making it an even more serious form of being a "fixed activity."
(Halachically, the ideal time for the morning prayers is to recite Kriyath Shma a few minutes before sunrise, and begin the Shmoneh Esrei exactly with sunrise. This is what is known as "k'vathikin," or to "daven with hei'neitz hachamah." The latest time for saying Kriyath Shma is before one quarter of the day has passed. The latest time for saying Shmoneh Esrei is before one third of the day has passed. Praying Shmoneh Esrei earlier than sunrise is considered "b'dieved," only to be done when there is no choice. The Maharal is explaining that one who prays before sunrise when other options are available is probably doing it because praying later is inconvenient -- indicating that prayer is a burden to him.)
Because one of the intentions of Rebbe Shimon (the author of this Mishna) was to teach about prayer, he taught us the true nature of prayer, which is that it should be in the form of an appeal and beseeching G-d.
LaHavdil I am not suggesting that islamic prayer is equal to Jewish prayer... I have no idea what they pray about or for (aside from slitting some throat)..