By: Imran Ayyub Lahori
❖ The Recommendation of Delaying Dhuhr in Hot Weather
It is recommended to delay the Dhuhr prayer in summer during intense heat. This is the position of the majority of scholars. As narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“إذا اشتد الحر فأبردوا بالصلاة فإن شدة الحر من فيح جهنم”
(When the heat is intense, delay the prayer until it cools down, for the severity of the heat is from the breath of Hell.)
— [Bukhari: 534, 533; Book of Prayer Times: Chapter on Delaying Dhuhr in Intense Heat; Muslim: 615; Abu Dawud: 402; Tirmidhi: 157; Nasa’i: 1/284; Ibn Majah: 677; Humaydi: 942; Abu Awanah: 1/346; Ibn Khuzaymah: 329; Ibn Hibban: 1497]
✿ Determining How Much to Delay Dhuhr
Sayyiduna Ibn Mas‘ud رضي الله عنه narrated:
“كان قدر صلاة رسول الله الظهر فى الصيف ثلاثة أقدام إلى خمسة أقدام وفى الشتاء خمسة أقدام إلى سبعة أقدام”
(In summer, the Prophet ﷺ would offer Dhuhr when a person’s shadow was between three to five feet long, and in winter, between five to seven feet long.)
— [Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawud: 387; Book of Salah: Chapter on the Time of Dhuhr; Abu Dawud: 400; Nasa’i: 503]
Its last time is when the shadow of everything becomes equal to itself (apart from the noon shadow), and this also marks the beginning of ‘Asr.
✿ Evidence from Sayyiduna Jabir رضي الله عنه
Sayyiduna Jabir رضي الله عنه narrated:
“وكان الفيئ قدر الشراك”
(The shade was equivalent to the strap of the sandal.)
Then the Prophet ﷺ led ‘Asr:
“حين كان الغيئ قدر الشراك وظل الرجل”
(When the shadow was equal to the strap and a man’s shadow.)
— [Sahih: Sahih Nasa’i: 510; Book of Prayer: Chapter on the Last Time for Maghrib; Nasa’i: 525]
✿ From the Hadith of Jibreel عليه السلام
“فصلى بي الظهر فى اليوم الثاني حين صار ظل كل شيئ مثله”
(Jibreel عليه السلام led me in Dhuhr on the second day when the shadow of everything became equal to itself.)
— [Sahih: Sahih Tirmidhi: 127; Sahih Abu Dawud: 416; Mishkat: 583]
This position is held by the majority.
➤ Imam Abu Hanifah رحمه الله believed the last time of Dhuhr is when the shadow is twice its length. However, this opinion has not been accepted by Hanafi scholars and lacks any direct evidence from the Prophetic narrations.
— [Al-Mughni: 1/370; Al-Umm: 1/153; Hilyat al-‘Ulama: 2/29; Al-Muhadhdhab: 1/51; Fath al-Qadeer: 1/151; Maghni al-Muhtaj: 1/121; Al-Lubab: 1/59; Al-Durr al-Mukhtar: 1/331; Al-Qawanin al-Fiqhiyyah: p. 43]
✔ Summary of the Majority Opinion
The authentic narrations support the view of the majority that delaying Dhuhr in summer heat is recommended, and that Dhuhr lasts until the shadow is equal to itself.
For more details, see:
— [Nayl al-Awtar: 1/438; Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuh: 1/66531; Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi: 1/489; Al-Sayl al-Harar: 1/183]
❖ ‘Asr Prayer Time Clarifications
➊ From the Hadith of Jibreel عليه السلام:
“وصلى العصر فى اليوم الأول حين صار ظل كل شئ مثله”
(Jibreel عليه السلام led me in ‘Asr on the first day when the shadow of everything became equal to itself.)
— [Sahih: Sahih Tirmidhi: 127]
➋ Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr رضي الله عنه narrated:
“وقت صلاة الظهر مالم يحضر العصر”
(The time of Dhuhr lasts until the beginning of ‘Asr.)
— [Muslim: 612; Book of Mosques: Chapter on the Times of the Five Prayers; also in Musnad Ahmad: 2/210]
It is well known that Dhuhr time lasts only until the shadow is equal to itself.
✿ Additional Evidence
➌ Sayyiduna Anas رضي الله عنه reported:
The Prophet ﷺ prayed ‘Asr and a man invited him to a meal. The camel was slaughtered, cooked, and the Prophet ﷺ ate it with them before sunset.
— [Muslim: 624; Dar Qutni: 1/255; Ibn Hibban: 1516]
If ‘Asr began at two times the shadow, it would have been impossible to complete all this before sunset.
➍ Sayyiduna Abu Barzah al-Aslami رضي الله عنه narrated:
“ويرجع أحدنا إلى رحله فى أقصى المدينة والشمس حية”
(One of us would return to the farthest part of Madinah and the sun would still be shining.)
— [Bukhari: 547; Muslim: 236]
➊ The Prophet ﷺ said:
“وقت صلاة العصر ما لم تصفر الشمس”
(The time of ‘Asr lasts until the sun becomes yellow.)
— [Muslim: 612; Abu ‘Awanah: 1/371; Musnad al-Tayalisi: 2249]
➋ In the Hadith of Jibreel عليه السلام:
“صلى العصر فى اليوم الثاني عند مصبر ظل الشيئ مثليه”
(On the second day, Jibreel عليه السلام led me in ‘Asr when the shadow was twice its length.)
— [Sahih: Sahih Tirmidhi: 127-128]
These narrations complement each other; when the shadow is twice its length, the sun begins to yellow.
— [Al-Rawdah al-Nadiyyah: 1/200]
❖ On Completing ‘Asr Before Sunset
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“من أدرك من العصر ركعة قبل أن تغرب الشمس فقد أدرك العصر”
(Whoever catches one rak‘ah of ‘Asr before sunset has caught the prayer.)
— [Muslim: 958; Tirmidhi: 171; Nasa’i: 511; Abu Dawud: 759; Ibn Majah: 112; Musnad Ahmad: 6918]
This refers to an emergency or exceptional situation; while not ideal, it suffices.
✔ Conclusion
➤ Majority: The last time of ‘Asr is sunset.
➤ Abu Hanifah رحمه الله: Until the sun begins to yellow.
➤ Imam Shafi‘i رحمه الله: The best time is until the shadow is twice its length or until the sun yellows, with the final time at sunset.
— [Nayl al-Awtar: 1/443; Al-Muhadhdhab: 1/52; Kashshaf al-Qina‘: 1/290; Fath al-Qadeer: 1/152; Fiqh al-Islami wa Adillatuh: 1/666]
Imam Nawawi رحمه الله identified five times for ‘Asr:
➊ Preferred time: the earliest time.
➋ Permissible time: until the shadow is twice the length.
➌ Valid time: until the sun begins to yellow.
➍ Disliked time: from yellowing until sunset.
➎ Excuse time: combining with Dhuhr for reasons like travel.
— [Sharh Muslim, Nawawi: 3/124]
Preferred and best: Until the sun yellows or the shadow is twice its length. After this, until Maghrib, it is disliked but still valid.
— [Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi: 1/493; Fiqh al-Sunnah: 1/89]
