Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
The glad tidings given by the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) were proven absolutely true: for a long period, Madinah remained the capital of Iran, Arabia, Egypt, and Syria-Turan, and the Rightly Guided Caliphs (khulafa’ al-rashidun) governed distant regions of the world while residing in Madinah al-Munawwarah. Later, the Umayyads (Banu Umayyah) designated Syria (Sham) as their capital, and during the Abbasid era, Baghdad was established as the capital of Islam. The last caliph was al-Mu‘tasim Billah, and with his downfall, the Islamic caliphate was erased. Muslims became divided into factions and were subdued everywhere. Even now, this is the situation: there is a large population of Arabs, they have their governments, but as a result of lacking mutual unity, the Jews have occupied the First Qiblah, Masjid al-Aqsa.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji‘un.
O Allah, grant victory to Islam and the Muslims, and humiliate the disbelievers, the wicked, the Jews, and the atheists. (Amin)

Hadith Commentary:
1.
In one narration, the reason for this hadith is mentioned: The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) dispatched the narrator of the hadith, Sufyan bin Abu Zuhayr (radi Allahu anhu), for a certain expedition. When he reached the valley of ‘Aqiq, his horse fell ill. He returned and mentioned his horse to the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), so the Prophet went out with the intention of arranging a horse for him. Abu Juham bin Hudhayfah (radi Allahu anhu) had a horse. The Prophet asked him its price, to which he replied: “I have no particular need for the price; you may take it and give it to whomever you wish.” When the Prophet returned from there and reached Bi’r Ahbab, he said to Sufyan bin Abu Zuhayr (radi Allahu anhu): “The population of Madinah Tayyibah will reach up to this place.” Then he said: “Greater Syria (Sham) will be conquered, and when the people of Madinah Tayyibah go there, its prosperity and fertility will dazzle them. If only they knew the value and status of Madinah Tayyibah! In any case, it will be better for them to remain in Madinah Tayyibah.” (Musnad Ahmad: 220/5)

(2)
The prophecy of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was fulfilled word for word; thus, in the order mentioned in the hadith, these regions were conquered. During the blessed era of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) and the caliphate of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu), the regions of Yemen were conquered; after that, Sham (Greater Syria), then Iraq was conquered. However, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) did not prefer migrating from Madinah to those places, because Madinah Tayyibah is a sanctuary (haram), the place where revelation descended and blessings were sent down. There, the mercies and blessings of Allah, the Exalted, descend. In any case, a person who leaves Madinah Tayyibah and settles in another city out of aversion and dislike is blameworthy; however, one who leaves for the sake of jihad, seeking knowledge, propagation of religion, or any other necessity is excluded from this warning. (Fath al-Bari: 120/4)

Understanding Jurisprudence (Tafaqquh)
It is explicitly established from this hadith that the time for the Zuhr prayer remains until the shadow becomes equal (to the object), and after the shadow surpasses this length, the time for the Asr prayer begins. There is no hadith that proves the time for Zuhr remains until the shadow becomes twice the length (of the object).

As for the hadith from Sahih Bukhari that is often presented, in which it is mentioned that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was on a journey and the mu’adhdhin intended to give the call to prayer, but the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, “Let it cool down.” The mu’adhdhin again wished to give the call to prayer after a short while, but the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, “Let it cool down,” until we saw the shadow of the hills had declined... etc. [صحیح بخاری ح 539] This cannot be used as evidence against us, because firstly, this is an incident that took place during travel. Indeed, this is explicitly mentioned in the very hadith itself, and in the noble hadith, permission for «جمع بين الصلوتين» during travel and similar circumstances has been reported. Thus, it is possible that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam delayed (the prayer) with the intention of «جمع بين الظهر والعصر».

Furthermore, this hadith is also found in another place in Sahih Bukhari «باب الابراد بالظهر فى شدة الحر», and there too, the wording is «حتي راينا فى التلول». Now, by combining these two wordings, it becomes clear that what is meant by the shadow being equal is that the shadow reaches from the top of the hills to their base, because the shadow of the hills is usually observed in this manner—when it becomes level with their summit. And it is an established principle that the ahadith explain one another. Thus, it is understood that the time for Zuhr is until the shadow becomes equal (to the object), and after that, the time for Asr begins.

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: When the sun rises or sets, Satan brings his horns close to the sun so that those who prostrate to the sun at these times appear as if they are prostrating to this accursed one. The real purpose is to prevent resemblance to the disbelievers, as they worship the sun at these times; therefore, Muslims should not perform prayer during these periods. However, the reality of Satan’s two horns and the rising and setting of the sun between them is just as beyond the scope of our knowledge as is knowing the complete reality of Satan himself.

Benefit:
In this hadith, several prophecies of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) are mentioned.
➊ Firstly, he (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) foretold the conquest of Sham (Greater Syria), Iraq, and Yemen, and it happened exactly as he said: these lands were conquered at the hands of the Rightly Guided Caliphs (khulafa’ rashidun), and the true embodiment of the rightly guided caliphate was these very individuals, and the divine promises were fulfilled through them.
➋ Secondly, that people would settle in these lands and take their families with them, and this too came to pass.
➌ Thirdly, that the conquest of these lands would occur in this sequence: first Yemen, then Sham, then Iraq, and the cities were indeed conquered in this order. And the greatest virtue was established for residing in Madinah al-Tayyibah.