Question
Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you
Prohibited times for Salah
Answer with the help of the Giver, provided the question is correct
And upon you be peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah!
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
❀ Nafl Salah has already been discussed on previous pages. Now it is clarified that there are certain times during which performing Nafl Salah is prohibited, except for those prayers which the Shariah has exempted.
✔ There are five prohibited times:
① First time
From the true dawn (Fajr Sadiq) until sunrise.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
“إذا طلعَ الفجرُ، فلا صلاة إلا ركعتي الفجر”
Translation
When the true dawn appears, then no prayer should be offered except the two Rak’ahs of Fajr.
✔ From this Hadith it is understood that after the true dawn appears, no Nafl prayer should be performed except the two Sunnah Rak’ahs of Fajr.
② Second time
From sunrise until the sun has risen to the height of a spear.
◈ When the sun is rising and part of it is inside and part is outside, no prayer should be performed at that time, until the sun rises to the height of a spear.
③ Third Time
When the sun is directly overhead, that is, at zenith.
◈ When the sun is overhead and at zenith, it is forbidden to perform prayer at that time until the zenith is complete.
◈ This time is known when the shadow of everything becomes still and does not increase or decrease.
◈ When the sun inclines towards the west, then it is permissible to perform prayer.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Uqbah bin Amir, may Allah be pleased with him:
“ثَلَاثُ سَاعَاتٍ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَنْهَانَا أَنْ نُصَلِّيَ فِيهِنَّ، أَوْ أَنْ نَقْبُرَ فِيهِنَّ مَوْتَانَا: (حِينَ تَطْلُعُ الشَّمْسُ بَازِغَةً حَتَّى تَرْتَفِعَ، وَحِينَ يَقُومُ قَائِمُ الظَّهِيرَةِ حَتَّى تَمِيلَ الشَّمْسُ، وَحِينَ تَضَيَّفُ الشَّمْسُ لِلْغُرُوبِ حَتَّى تَغْرُبَ)”
Translation
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, prohibited us from performing prayer and burying men at three times:
(1) When the sun is rising until it becomes high.
(2) When the sun is at its zenith until it begins to decline.
(3) When the sun begins to set until it has completely set.
④ Fourth Time
From Asr prayer until sunset.
The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
“لاَصَلاَةَ بَعْدَ الصُّبْحِ حَتَّى تَرْتَفِعَ الشَّمْسُ ، وَلاَ صَلاَةَ بَعْدَ العَصْرِ حَتَّى تَغِيبَ الشَّمْسُ”
Translation
There is no prayer after Fajr until the sun rises high, and no prayer after Asr until the sun sets.
⑤ Fifth Time
When the sun begins to set until it has completely set.
Making up missed obligatory prayers during prohibited times
✔ Know this: Missed obligatory prayers during these times can be performed, because the command of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, is general:
“مَنْ نَسِىَ صَلاَةً أَوْ نَامَ عَنْهَا فَكَفَّارَتُهَا أَنْ يُصَلِّيَهَا إِذَا ذَكَرَهَا”
Translation
Whoever forgets the prayer or sleeps through it, the expiation is that he should pray it when he remembers.
Two Rak’ahs of Tawaf
✔ Performing two rak’ahs of prayer after Tawaf is also permissible during the aforementioned prohibited times, because the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“لَا تَمْنَعُوا أَحَدًا طَافَ بِهَذَا البَيْتِ، وَصَلَّى أَيَّةَ سَاعَةٍ شَاءَ مِنْ لَيْلٍ أَوْ نَهَارٍ”
Translation
Whoever wants to perform Tawaf of the House (Ka’bah) at any time and wants to pray, do not prevent him.
✔ Just as Tawaf is permissible at all times, similarly the two rak’ahs of Tawaf are also permissible at all times.
Prayers with specific causes
① According to the correct opinion of the scholars, it is permissible to perform prayers with causes during the prohibited times, for example: funeral prayer, Tahiyyatul Masjid, and eclipse prayer.
◈ Many evidences indicate this.
◈ Also, the general prohibition of prayer during prohibited times is specifically for these evidences.
◈ Therefore, the prohibition applies to those voluntary prayers which have no cause.
✔ In short, any prayer that has no cause should not be started during these disliked times.
Ruling on Making Up Sunnah Prayers
✔ Making up the Sunnah prayers of Fajr after the Fajr prayer is permissible.
✔ Similarly, making up the Sunnah prayers of Zuhr after Asr prayer is permissible, especially when Zuhr and Asr are combined.
✔ It is established from the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ that he made up the Sunnah prayers of Zuhr after Asr.
The Obligation and Virtue of Congregational Prayer
Importance of Congregational Prayer
❀ In Islam, performing congregational prayer in the mosque holds great importance.
✔ All Muslims agree that performing the five daily prayers in congregation in mosques is the greatest and most emphasized act of worship and closeness to Allah Almighty, and indeed it holds the highest and most prominent status among the symbols of Islam.
Islamic Gatherings and Their Wisdom
❀ Allah Almighty has appointed different times and days for this Ummah to gather in one place:
◈ Daily gatherings: Muslims gather five times a day and night in mosques to perform prayers in congregation.
◈ Weekly gathering: The Friday congregation, which is greater than the gathering for the five daily prayers.
◈ Annual gatherings: The Eid gatherings, which are much larger than the Friday gathering, and these gatherings are held at one place in every city.
◈ The great annual gathering: The gathering of Arafah, which is much larger in number than the Eid gatherings, and is in fact the great Islamic and global gathering of Muslims.
✔ Many benefits are hidden in the organization of these great Islamic gatherings:
◈ A bond of kindness, love, and mutual sympathy is maintained among Muslims.
◈ Love and unity are created in hearts.
◈ There is awareness of each other’s conditions.
◈ Visiting the sick becomes possible.
◈ News of the deceased is received.
◈ The cries of the afflicted are answered.
◈ The collective strength of Muslims is expressed.
◈ Mutual acquaintance and deep relationships are established.
❀ Moreover, these great gatherings instill awe of Muslims in disbelievers and hypocritical enemies.
❀ The enmity, hostility, and hatred that Satanic people among jinn and humans create against Muslims can be removed through collective strength.
❀ Agreement and unity are created on the basis of righteousness and piety.
That is why the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said:
“لَا تَخْتَلِفُوا فَتَخْتَلِفَ قُلُوبُكُمْ”
Translation
Do not stand apart from each other (or ahead or behind) in prayer, otherwise differences will arise in your hearts.
Benefits of Congregational Prayer
✔ One of the benefits of congregational prayer is that the inexperienced receive education and the reward increases.
✔ When a Muslim sees his fellow Muslim brothers performing righteous deeds in the mosque, a spirit of competition is awakened, leading to increased zeal in righteous deeds, or by following them, one overcomes their own shortcomings.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“صلاة الجماعة أفضل من صلاة الفذ بسبع وعشرين درجة ” وفي رواية… بخمس وعشرين درجة”
Translation
Congregational prayer holds twenty-seven degrees more virtue than praying alone, and in one narration, it is mentioned as twenty-five degrees.
Ruling on Congregation During Travel and Residence
✔ Whether traveling or staying, in a state of peace or fear, it is obligatory for men to perform congregational prayer.
✔ Its evidences are present in the Book and Sunnah, and Muslims have been practicing it generation after generation.
✔ For this reason, mosques are built, muezzins and imams are appointed, and in the call to prayer, it is loudly proclaimed:
◈ “حي علي الصلاة” (Come to prayer)
◈ “حي علي الفلاح” (Come to success)
Emphasis on Congregation in a State of Fear
In a state of fear, Allah Almighty’s guidance is:
﴿وَإِذا كُنتَ فيهِم فَأَقَمتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلوٰةَ فَلتَقُم طائِفَةٌ مِنهُم مَعَكَ وَليَأخُذوا أَسلِحَتَهُم فَإِذا سَجَدوا فَليَكونوا مِن وَرائِكُم وَلتَأتِ طائِفَةٌ أُخرىٰ لَم يُصَلّوا فَليُصَلّوا مَعَكَ وَليَأخُذوا حِذرَهُم وَأَسلِحَتَهُم وَدَّ الَّذينَ كَفَروا لَو تَغفُلونَ عَن أَسلِحَتِكُم وَأَمتِعَتِكُم فَيَميلونَ عَلَيكُم مَيلَةً وٰحِدَةً وَلا جُناحَ عَلَيكُم إِن كانَ بِكُم أَذًى مِن مَطَرٍ أَو كُنتُم مَرضىٰ أَن تَضَعوا أَسلِحَتَكُم وَخُذوا حِذرَكُم إِنَّ اللَّهَ أَعَدَّ لِلكـٰفِرينَ عَذابًا مُهينًا ﴿١٠٢﴾﴾
Translation
When you are among them and stand up for prayer for them, it is necessary that one group of them stands with you, armed. Then when they have prostrated, they should move back and come behind you, and the other group which has not prayed should come and pray with you, keeping their defense and weapons with them. The disbelievers wish that you become unaware of your weapons and your equipment so that they may suddenly attack you. However, there is no sin on you if you put down your weapons at that time due to hardship, rain, or illness. Keep your defense equipment with you. Indeed, Allah has prepared a humiliating punishment for the deniers.
✔ This verse clarifies that congregational prayer is highly emphasized, to the extent that even in a state of fear, abandoning the congregation is not permitted.
✔ If congregational prayer were not obligatory, then it would be waived in times of fear as a stronger excuse; however, many obligations are abandoned in the prayer of fear, and many rulings have been forgiven for the sake of congregational prayer.
Strictness regarding Fajr and Isha prayers for hypocrites
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله تعالى عنه that the Messenger of Allah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said:
“وعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَال قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِنَّ أَثْقَلَ صَلَاةٍ عَلَى الْمُنَافِقِينَ صَلَاةُ الْعِشَاءِ وَصَلَاةُ الْفَجْرِ وَلَوْ يَعْلَمُونَ مَا فِيهِمَا لَأَتَوْهُمَا وَلَوْ حَبْوًا – زحفًا – وَلَقَدْ هَمَمْتُ أَنْ آمُرَ بِالصَّلَاةِ فَتُقَامَ ثُمَّ آمُرَ رَجُلًا فَيُصَلِّيَ بِالنَّاسِ ثُمَّ أَنْطَلِقَ مَعِي بِرِجَالٍ مَعَهُمْ حُزَمٌ مِنْ حَطَبٍ إِلَى قَوْمٍ لَا يَشْهَدُونَ الصَّلَاةَ فَأُحَرِّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ بُيُوتَهُمْ بِالنَّارِ “
Translation
Indeed, the prayers of Isha and Fajr are very burdensome for the hypocrites; if they knew their reward, even if they had to crawl on their knees, they would surely come. I intended to order the call to prayer, then tell someone to lead the people in prayer, then take men who have bundles of firewood and set fire to the houses of those who do not attend the congregation.
✔ From this hadith, the obligation of congregational prayer is proven in two ways:
① Those who lag behind in congregational prayer are counted among the hypocrites; one who lags behind the Sunnah is not considered a hypocrite, therefore it is understood that abandoning the congregation is abandoning an obligatory act.
② The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) intended to punish those who lag behind the congregation; punishment is for abandoning an obligatory act.
✔ However, this punishment was not enforced because there are women and children in the houses who are not obligated to attend the congregation.
Blind Person and Responding to the Adhan
It is in Sahih Muslim:
“عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ قَالَ : أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَجُلٌ أَعْمَى فَقَالَ : يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ لِي قَائِدٌ يَقُودُنِي إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ فَسَأَلَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يُرَخِّصَ لَهُ فَيُصَلِّيَ فِي بَيْتِهِ فَرَخَّصَ لَهُ فَلَمَّا وَلَّى دَعَاهُ فَقَالَ ( هَلْ تَسْمَعُ النِّدَاءَ بِالصَّلَاةِ ؟ ) قَالَ : نَعَمْ ، قَالَ : ( فَأَجِبْ ) “
Translation
A blind man came to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and said: O Messenger of Allah! There is no one to bring me to the mosque, so please grant me permission to pray at home. The Prophet (peace be upon him) granted him permission. When he turned back, the Prophet called him again and said: Do you hear the call to prayer? He said: Yes. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Then respond with “Labbaik” (come to the mosque).
✔ In this narration, even the blind person was commanded to respond to the call to prayer and join the congregation, despite the difficulty for him. This is also evidence for the obligation of congregational prayer.
Standard of Congregation in the Time of the Companions
✔ The obligation of praying in congregation has been established among the believers from the time of the noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) until today.
Sayyiduna Ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“We observed that the one who lagged behind the congregation was the one whose hypocrisy was clear and evident, while a believer was supported by two men and brought into the mosque and made to stand in the row.”
✔ From this, it is understood that the obligation of praying in congregation was firmly established in the hearts and minds of the Companions, and they learned this from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.
✔ And it is clear that if it is said about an act that “only a hypocrite stays behind from it,” then that act is obligatory upon every person.
Severe Warning for Not Responding to the Adhan
Imam Ahmad, may Allah have mercy on him, narrated mursal:
“الْجَفَاءُ كُلُّ الْجَفَاءِ ، وَالْكُفْرُ وَالنِّفَاقُ : مَنْ سَمِعَ مُنَادِيَ اللَّهِ يُنَادِي بِالصَّلاةِ وَيَدْعُو إِلَى الْفَلاحِ فَلا يُجِيبُهُ “
Translation
It is an extreme injustice, disbelief, and hypocrisy that a person hears the Mu’adhin’s call to prayer, which invites to prayer and success, and does not respond with “Labbaik” (Here I am).
Emphasis on Staying with the Congregation
In one narration:
“وَيَدُ اللَّهِ مَعَ الْجَمَاعَةِ وَمَنْ شَذَّ شَذَّ إِلَى النَّارِ”
Translation
The hand of Allah is with the congregation, and whoever separates from it, separates towards Hell.
A question was asked to Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, about a person who prays Qiyam at night and fasts during the day but does not join the congregation for prayer. He said: “He is a person of Hell.”
✔ We ask Allah for well-being, the ability to recognize the truth, and to follow the truth. Indeed, He is the Hearer and the Accepter.
Disagreement Regarding Praying After Asr
Among the pious predecessors, there has been a difference of opinion regarding performing prayer after Asr. The cases of praying after Asr are as follows:
① Making up missed obligatory prayers (Qada).
② Making up emphasized Sunnah prayers, the regular two Rak’ah prayer, funeral prayer, and prayers performed due to a cause.
③ Performing voluntary (Nafl) prayers in general.
✔ In the first case, performing the prayer is unanimously permissible.
✔ In the second case, there are three things:
① Regarding the making up of emphasized Sunnah prayers themselves, there is a difference of opinion, because their virtue depends on performing them at their prescribed times, for example: the virtue of four rak’ahs before Dhuhr, etc. This virtue can only be attained if they are performed at their appointed times. If a person regularly observes them but misses them occasionally for some reason, then making them up later is permissible.
② Consistently performing two rak’ahs after Asr and maintaining regularity in them is a special characteristic of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
③ There is a difference of opinion regarding the funeral prayer and causative prayers, but the more preferable view is that performing these prayers is permissible.
✔ The third case is that of general Nawafil (voluntary prayers), and this is generally the case where there is a difference of opinion. Below, the ahadith that indicate its permissibility or impermissibility are mentioned.
Narrations of Prohibition
Prohibitions in the narrations where praying after Asr is absolutely forbidden, whether it is a voluntary, obligatory, or incidental prayer, as the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“لا صَلَاةَ بَعْدَ صَلاةِ الْعَصْرِ حَتَّى تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ “
Translation
No prayer is to be performed after Asr until the sun sets.
❀ If this narration alone existed on this topic, it would be decisive, but when other chains of this Hadith or other narrations on this subject are examined, the nature of the issue changes.
❀ This Hadith is general and has been qualified in many cases, such as making up missed obligatory prayers, performing funeral and incidental prayers, etc.
❀ Their evidences are lengthy and will be presented cautiously to avoid excessive detail.
❀ Similarly, the prohibition for voluntary prayers after Asr is not absolute; rather, some evidences limit it, indicating that praying near sunset after Asr is forbidden, but not absolutely prohibited.
Evidences for the limitation of the prohibition
Narrated from Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him):
“ان النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم نهى عن الصلاة بعد العصر إلا و الشمس مرتفعة “
Translation
Indeed, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to prevent prayer after Asr, except when the sun was still high.
✔ From this hadith, it is understood that the prohibition is related to praying near sunset; before that, it is permissible.
And narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
“لَا يَتَحَرَّى أَحَدُكُمْ فَيُصَلِّيَ عِنْدَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ، وَلَا عِنْدَ غُرُوبِهَا”
Translation
No one should attempt to pray at the time of sunrise and sunset.
✔ This also indicates that the prohibition is specifically related to praying near sunset.
Similarly, the words of the narration from Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) are:
“وَإِذَا غَابَ حَاجِبُ الشَّمْسِ فَأَخِّرُوا الصَّلاةَ حَتَّى تَغِيبَ”
Translation
When the edge of the sun disappears, delay the prayer until sunset.
And in the narration of Uqbah bin Amir, may Allah be pleased with him:
“وَحِينَ تَضَيَّفُ الشَّمْسُ لِلْغُرُوبِ حَتَّى تَغْرُبَ”
Translation
And when the sun begins to decline towards sunset, do not pray until it has set.
And it is narrated from Sayyiduna Bilal, may Allah be pleased with him, which Sheikh Al-Albani, may Allah have mercy on him, cited in his series of authentic hadiths number 200, referencing Ibn Hazm, may Allah have mercy on him, and declared its chain authentic. He states:
“لم ينه عن الصلاة إلا عند غروب الشمس”
Translation
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade praying near sunset.
❀ Similarly, it is established from many companions, may Allah be pleased with them all, that they performed nawafil after Asr prayer, details of which can be seen in the references given below.
For further details, see:
ھذا ما عندی والله اعلم بالصواب
