Bukhari

Explanation:
«عوالي» refers to the villages that were situated on elevated ground around Madinah. Some of these were at a distance of four miles, some six miles, and some even eight miles away. This hadith also clearly shows that the time for the ‘Asr prayer begins when the shadow reaches one length. After the shadow becomes two lengths, it is not possible for a person to travel four or six miles and for the sunlight to still remain intense. Therefore, the beginning time for ‘Asr starts from when the shadow reaches one length. Those who deny the one-length shadow, if they consider all these ahadith with fairness, will certainly be compelled to admit the error of their view. However, a fair perspective is required.

Regarding this hadith, Allamah Shawkani states:
«وهودليل لمذهب مالك والشافعي واحمد والجمهور من العترة وغيرهم القائلين بان اول وقت العصر اذا صار ظل كل شيئي مثله وفيه رد لمذهب ابي حنيفة فانه قال ان اول وقت العصر لا يدخل حتي يصير ظل الشئي مثليه۔» [نيل]
That is, in this hadith there is evidence that the beginning time for ‘Asr is when the shadow reaches one length, and this is the madhhab (school of thought) of Imam Malik rahimahullah, Ahmad rahimahullah, Shafi‘i rahimahullah, and the majority of the Ahl al-Bayt. And in this hadith, there is a refutation of the view of Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah, who does not consider the time for ‘Asr to begin before the shadow reaches two lengths.

Hadith Commentary:
The term ‘A‘wali’ refers to the villages situated on elevated ground around Madinah.
Some of these were at a distance of four miles, some six miles, and some even eight miles away.
It is also clearly evident from this hadith that the time for the ‘Asr prayer begins when the shadow of an object becomes equal to its length (one mithl).
After the shadow reaches twice its length (two mithl), it is not possible for a person to travel four or six miles and still find the sunlight to be intense and strong.
Therefore, the beginning time for ‘Asr starts when the shadow becomes equal to the object (one mithl).
Those who deny the one mithl position—if they consider all these ahadith with fairness—will surely be compelled to acknowledge the error of their view.
However, what is required is a fair and just perspective.
In the context of this hadith, Allamah Shawkani rahimahullah states:
“*And this is evidence for the madhhab of Malik, Shafi‘i, Ahmad, and the majority of the Ahl al-Bayt and others, who say that the beginning time of ‘Asr is when the shadow of everything becomes equal to it. In it is a refutation of the madhhab of Abu Hanifah, for he said that the beginning time of ‘Asr does not enter until the shadow of an object becomes twice its length.*” (Nayl)
That is, in this hadith there is evidence that the initial time for ‘Asr is when the shadow becomes equal to the object (one mithl), and this is the madhhab of Imam Malik rahimahullah, Ahmad rahimahullah, Shafi‘i rahimahullah, and the majority of the Ahl al-Bayt. And in this hadith is a refutation of the madhhab of Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah, who does not consider the time for ‘Asr to begin before the shadow reaches twice the length of the object.

Hadith Commentary:
The area of Quba was located three miles from Madinah, and was among the districts of ‘Awali.
Previously, in narration (548), it was mentioned that one of us would go to the tribe of Banu ‘Amr ibn ‘Awf.
This tribe resided in the region of Quba.
Allamah Kirmani rahimahullah writes regarding these ahadith:
From these ahadith, it is understood that the ‘Asr prayer should be performed as early as possible, because after performing the ‘Asr prayer, to travel several miles and still find the sun shining brightly would only be possible if this prayer is offered at the time when the shadow is equal to the object (i.e., at the earliest permissible time).
This can only occur during the longer days.
(Sharh al-Kirmani: 4/196)
In one hadith, it is mentioned that after performing the ‘Asr prayer, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself would go to ‘Awali, and the sun would still be high, while some areas of ‘Awali were three or four miles away.
(Sahih al-Bukhari, al-I‘tisam, Hadith: 7329)
In this narration, the word "Quba" is mentioned on the authority of Imam Malik rahimahullah.
Regarding this, some hadith scholars have said that this is an error (wahm) on the part of Imam Malik, because no narrator besides Imam Malik from Imam Zuhri rahimahullah reports this word.
However, the correct view is that Imam Malik is not alone in narrating this word, and since in other narrations the word ‘Awali is mentioned, and Quba is also a part of the regions of ‘Awali, it is more appropriate to consider the mention of Quba as a clarification of the general term ‘Awali, rather than labeling it as an error.
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah, by mentioning the narration with the word Quba after the other narrations, has indicated that the narration of Imam Malik is an explanation of the other narrations.
(Fath al-Bari: 2/40)

Hadith Authentication (Takhrij al-Hadith):
[الموطأ رواية يحييٰ بن يحييٰ 9/1، ح 10، ك 1، ب 1، ح 11، التمهيد 177/6، الاستذكار : 9، أخرجه البخاري 551، ومسلم 621، من حديث مالك به]
Jurisprudential Understanding (Tafaqquh):
➊ Quba is located at a distance of two (Arabic) miles from Madinah Munawwarah during the Prophetic era. See: [معجم البلدان 302/4]
An Arabic Hashimi mile was equivalent to four thousand cubits (dhira‘), that is, 1609 meters. See: [القاموس الوحيد ص:1597]
According to this calculation, this distance is three kilometers and two hundred and eighteen (218) meters. It is thus understood that the ‘Asr prayer should be performed early (after the shadow reaches one length).
➋ The Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “Jibril (alayhis salam) led me in the ‘Asr prayer when the shadow of everything became equal to its length (mithl).” [سنن الترمذي: 149، وسنده حسن و قال الترمذي: ”حديث حسن“ وصححه ابن خزيمه: 352، وابن حبان: 279، وابن جارود: 149، والحاكم 193/1 والنيموي فى آثار السنن: 194، وغيرهم]
➌ There is no evidence for performing the ‘Asr prayer after two lengths (mithlayn) without a valid Shar‘i excuse.
Nimawi, the follower of taqlid, writes:
«وإني لم أجد حديثاً صريحاً صحيحاً أو ضعيفاً يدل عليٰ أن وقت الظهر إلٰي أن يصير الظل مثليه»
“And I have not found any explicit, authentic, or weak hadith that the time for Zuhr lasts until two lengths (mithlayn).” [آثار السنن : 199]
➍ Those who, without a valid Shar‘i excuse, delay the ‘Asr prayer have been declared hypocrites (munafiq) by the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam). See: [صحيح مسلم 622 وترقيم دارالسلام : 1412]