❖ 2 Important Rulings Regarding Prayer During Prohibited Times
By: فضیلۃ الشیخ عبد الوکیل ناصر حفظہ اللہ
❖ Question:
If someone begins their prayer close to a prohibited time—such as just before sunrise or sunset—and only two minutes remain, should the person discontinue the prayer once the prohibited time begins, or should they complete it?
✅ Answer from Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakīl Nāṣir ḥafiẓahullāh
➊ Sharʿī Basis for Ruling:
The matter has been clearly addressed in an authentic Hadith:
Hadith:
سیدنا ابو ہریرہ رضی اللہ عنہ سے روایت ہے کہ رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم نے فرمایا:
“مَنْ أَدْرَكَ مِنَ الصُّبْحِ رَكْعَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ الصُّبْحَ، وَمَنْ أَدْرَكَ رَكْعَةً مِنَ الْعَصْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ الْعَصْرَ”
📘 [Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 579]
Translation:
“Whoever catches one rakʿah of Fajr before the sun rises has caught the Fajr prayer, and whoever catches one rakʿah of ʿAsr before sunset has caught the ʿAsr prayer.”
➋ Detailed Explanation of the Ruling:
From this Hadith, it is clearly understood:
◈ If a person begins the prayer before the prohibited time begins and is able to complete at least one rakʿah,
➤ Then the entire prayer will be considered valid, even if the remaining part continues into the prohibited time.
❖ Conclusion:
✔ If one rakʿah is completed before the prohibited time begins, then:
➤ The prayer will not be broken.
➤ The prayer must be completed, even if some part overlaps with the prohibited time.
📚 Reference:
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 579
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَابِ
And Allah knows best what is correct.
