Subchapter

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Amr (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The time of the Zuhr (noon) prayer is when the sun passes the meridian and a man's shadow is of the same length as his height. It lasts until the time of the 'Asr (afternoon) prayer. The time of the 'Asr prayer is as long as the sun has not become yellow (during its setting). The time of the Maghrib (sunset) prayer is as long as the twilight has not disappeared. The time of the 'Isha' (night) prayer is up to midnight. And the time of the Fajr (morning) prayer is from the appearance of dawn as long as the sun has not risen; (but when the sun rises abstain from prayer; for it rises between the two horns of Satan)." [Reported by Muslim]. Narrated Buraidah (RA) in another version of the above Hadith regarding 'Asr (afternoon prayer): "When the sun is white and clear." [Reported by Muslim]. And Abu Musa (RA) narrated regarding the time of 'Asr prayer: "While the sun is high." [Reported by Muslim in another narration of the former Hadith].

Narrated Abu Barza al-Aslami (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to offer the 'Asr prayer (and after the prayer) one of us would return to his house at the furthest end of al-Madinah and arrive while the sun was still hot and bright. And he (ﷺ) loved to delay the 'Isha' prayer, and he disliked sleeping before it and conversation after it. After the Fajr prayer he used to leave when a man could recognize the one sitting beside him and he used to recite between 60 to 100 Verse of Qur'an in the Fajr prayer. [Agreed upon]. Narrated Jabir (RA), in the version of al-BUkhari and Muslim: [The Prophet (ﷺ)] used to advance the 'Isha' prayer sometimes and delay it at other times. Whenever he saw the people assembled (for the 'Isha' prayer) he would pray early and if the people delayed, he would delay the prayer. And the Prophet (ﷺ) used to offer the Fajr prayer when it was still dark. Narrated Abu Musa (RA) in another version of Muslim: He (ﷺ) offered the Fajr prayer at daybreak when the people could hardly recognize one another.

Narrated Rafi' bin Khadij (RA): We used to offer the Maghrib prayer with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and then one of us would go (out of the mosque) and be able to see the spot his would fall at. [Agreed upon].

Narrated 'Aishah (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) delayed (the 'Isha' prayer) one night till a great part of the night passed, then he went out and offered the prayer, and said, "This is the proper time for it; were it not that I would impose a burden on my followers." [Reported by Muslim].

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "When it is hot, delay the (Zuhr) prayer till it cools down, for the intensity of heat is from the exhalation of Hell." [Agreed upon].

Narrated Rafi' bin Khadij (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "Offer the morning prayer at dawn, for it is greater for your rewards." [Reported by al-Khamsah. at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Hibban graded it Sahih (authentic)].

Narrated Abu Hurairah (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "He who prays a Rak'a of the Fajr prayer before the sun rises, has offered the dawn prayer in its time, and he who prays a Rak'a of the 'Asr prayer before the sun sets has offered the afternoon prayer." [Agreed upon]. Muslim reported the same above Hadith in another version narrated by 'Aishah (RA), who narrated 'Sajdah (prostration)' instead of 'Rak'a (prayer unit)' and then he (Muslim) said: "A Sajdah implies a Rak'a."

Narrated Abu Sa'id al-Khudri (RA): I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying: "No Salat (prayer) is to be offered after the morning prayer until the sun rises, or after the afternoon prayer until the sun sets." [Agreed upon]. And in the narration of Muslim: "There is no Salat (prayer) after the Fajr (morning) prayer." 'Uqbah bin 'Aamir (RA) narrated: "There are three times at which Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) used to forbid us to pray or bury our dead: (a) when the sun begins to rise till it is fully up, (b) when the sun is at its height at midday till it passes the meridian, and (c) when the sun draws near to setting till it sets." [Reported by Muslim].ash-Shafi'i views the second ruling from A Hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) through a weak Sanad with the addition: "Except on Friday". Abu Dawud reported something similar from Abu Qatadah (RA).

Narrated Jubair bin Mut'im (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "O descendants of 'Abd Manaf! You must not prevent anyone who goes round this House (Ka'bah) and prays (here) at any hour of the night or day that he wishes." [Reported by al-Khamsah, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Hibban graded it Sahih (authentic)].

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The twilight is the redness." [Reported by ad-Daraqutni. Ibn Khuzaimah graded it Sahih (authentic) and others graded it Mawquf (a saying of a Companion)].

Narrated Ibn 'Abbas (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said that, "Dawn is of two types; the dawn in which eating is forbidden (for the fasting person) and prayer is permitted and the dawn in which prayer is forbidden i.e. the morning prayer and eating is permitted." [Reported by Ibn Khuzaimah and al-Hakim who (both) graded it Sahih]. al-Hakim reported something similar to the above Hadith from Jabir and added to the type of dawn in which eating is forbidden: "it is spread widely in the horizon," and to the other type: "it has the shape of wolf's tail."

Narrated Ibn Mas'ud (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "One of the best deeds is to offer Salat (prayer) in its early time." [Reported by at-Tirmidhi and al-Hakim who (both) graded it Sahih]. Its basic meaning is in the Sahihain of al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Narrated Abu Mahdhurah (RA): The Prophet (ﷺ) said: "The earliest time of prayer is what pleases Allah, the midtime is for the mercy of Allah and the latest time is what Allah pardons." [Reported by ad-Daraqutni with a very weak Sanad (chain)]. at-Tirmidhi has reported something similar, narrated by Ibn 'Umar, without mentioning the midtime. [It is Da'if (weak) too].

Narrated Ibn 'Umar (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said: "There is no Salat (i.e. voluntary prayer) after the break of dawn except Sajdatain (Sunnah of Fajr)." [Reported by al-Khamsah except an-Nasa'i]. In another narration : 'Abdur-Razzaq also narrated: "There is no Salat (voluntary prayer) after the break of dawn ecept the two (Sunnah) Rak'a of Fajr." A narration of ad-Daraqutni narrated by Amr bin al-'Aas is similar to the one above.

Narrated Umm Salamah (RA): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) came to my house after offering 'Asr prayer and offered two Rak'a, then I asked him about that and he replied, "I was kept busy (and failed to pray) the two (Sunnah) Rak'a after Zuhr prayer, so I offered them now." I asked him, "Should we offer them if we miss them?" He (ﷺ) replied, "No." [Reported by Ahmad]. The narration of Abu Dawud from 'Aishah (RA) has the same meaning.