Method of Determining Zawal and the Time of ‘Asr Prayer
Source: Ahkam wa Masail – Kitab al-Salat, Vol.1, p.114
Question:
➊ How can the time of Zawal be determined?
➋ How can the time of Mithl-e-Awwal (first shadow length) be determined?
➌ Does the time of Salat al-‘Asr begin when the shadow reaches one mithl (equal length) or two mithls? Please provide Hadith reference.
Answer:
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba‘d!
◈ Method of Determining Zawal and Mithl-e-Awwal
- After sunrise, prepare a level surface (ground or rooftop).
- Draw a circle of 3–4 inches radius with a compass.
- Fix a straight rod (2–3 inches long, thin iron or wood) vertically in the center of the circle.
- Initially, its shadow will extend outside the circle towards the west.
- When the shadow enters the circle (Madkhal al-Zill), mark that spot.
- Wait until the shadow exits the circle on the eastern side (Makhraj al-Zill), then mark that spot.
- Divide the distance between entry and exit into two equal halves and place a dot in the middle.
- Draw a north–south line through this midpoint, cutting across the circle.
This line is called the “Khatt Nisf al-Nahar” (Meridian Line) and is used to determine Zawal.
Next day:
- Around 11:30 AM, observe the shadow of the rod.
- When the tip of the shadow aligns exactly with the meridian line, mark the end point.
- This is the exact Zawal time.
- The shadow length measured from the rod base to that mark is called “Fay’ al-Zawal”.
◈ Determining Zuhr and ‘Asr Time
- When the shadow starts increasing towards the east after Zawal, Zuhr time begins.
- When the shadow length becomes equal to the length of the rod + Fay’ al-Zawal, Zuhr ends and ‘Asr begins.
- This length is called Mithl-e-Awwal (one shadow length).
- Note: In Mithl-e-Awwal, the Fay’ al-Zawal is excluded, so the actual shadow length is rod length + Fay’ al-Zawal.
◈ Does ‘Asr Begin at One Mithl or Two?
The time of ‘Asr begins at Mithl-e-Awwal (one shadow length).
As narrated in Mishkat al-Masabih, Kitab al-Salat, Bab al-Mawaqit, al-Fasl al-Thani:
«وَصَلّٰی بِیَ الْعَصْرَ حِیْنَ صَارَ ظِلُّ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ مِثْلَهُ»
“The Prophet ﷺ led me in ‘Asr prayer when the shadow of everything became equal to its length.”
This Hadith clearly establishes that the start of ‘Asr time is when the shadow reaches one mithl, not two.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
