The prohibition of praying after Asr, and other matters

Qabisah bin Dhu'ayb narrates that Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) told the family of Sayyiduna al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had prayed two rak'ahs after Asr in the house of Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), so those people used to pray those two rak'ahs.
The narrator Qabisah said: Sayyiduna Zayd bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "May Allah Almighty forgive Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her)!
We knew better about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) than Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her). What actually happened was that some Bedouins came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) at midday. They sat asking him (peace and blessings be upon him) questions, and he kept explaining the rulings of the Shari'ah to them, until he prayed the Zuhr prayer and did not offer the sunnah prayers after it. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) sat explaining matters to those people until the time of the Asr prayer came. Then he went to his house and remembered that he (peace and blessings be upon him) had not offered the sunnah prayers after Zuhr, so he prayed those two rak'ahs after Asr. We know better about the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) than Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade praying after Asr."
Ahmad recorded it; its chain contains a narrator, Ibn Lahi'ah, about whom there is criticism. Al-Tabarani recorded the last part of this report in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir.

Sayyiduna Zayd bin Thabit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade praying when the edge of the sun rises or when its edge sets, because it (the sun) rises between the two horns of Shaytan (the narrator is in doubt about one word here).
Ahmad recorded it, and its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sayyiduna Safwan bin al-Mu'attal (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), saying: "O Messenger of Allah! I wish to ask you about something you know and of which I am ignorant: which hours of the night and day are there in which you consider praying disliked?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When you have prayed the Fajr prayer, refrain from praying until the sun rises. When it has risen, then pray, for the prayer is witnessed and accepted. You may do so until it (the sun) is level over your head like a spear (that is, until it is exactly midday). When it is directly over your head, that is the hour in which Hell is stoked and its gates are opened. This remains so until it (the sun) declines. When it has declined, you may pray, for the prayer is witnessed and accepted, and you may pray until you have prayed Asr."
Abdullah recorded it in his Zawa'id (additions) to the Musnad of Ahmad. Its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih, but I do not know whether Sa'id al-Maqburi heard from him or not; and Allah knows best.
Ibn Majah recorded this report from Sa'id al-Maqburi from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): (he said:) Sayyiduna Safwan bin al-Mu'attal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "O Messenger of Allah!"

Sayyiduna Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "There are two prayers after which no prayer is to be offered: the Fajr prayer, until the sun has risen, and the Asr prayer, until the sun has set."
Ahmad and Abu Ya'la recorded it, and its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sayyiduna Murrah bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him), or perhaps Sayyiduna Ka'b bin Murrah al-Sulami (may Allah be pleased with him), narrates. Here the narrator Shu'bah stated that Mansur reported this from Salim, from Murrah, or perhaps from Ka'b. He said: I asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "In which part of the night is (supplication) heard most?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The last half." Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Prayer is accepted until true dawn breaks. Then no prayer is to be offered (apart from the obligatory and sunnah prayers of Fajr) until the sun has risen and until it has risen to the height of one or two spears. Then prayer is accepted until the shadow stands at the place of the spear. Then no prayer is to be offered until the sun has passed its zenith. Then prayer is accepted until the Asr prayer has been prayed. Then no prayer is to be offered until the sun has set." After this the narrator mentioned the rest of the hadith.
Ahmad recorded it through two routes, one of which is this, and the other chain is reported from Salim, from a man, from Ka'b bin Murrah al-Bahzi, without any doubt. He said: "until the Fajr prayer has been prayed" in place of the words: "until (true) dawn breaks."
Al-Tabarani recorded it likewise in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, and its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih, except that the second chain contains a narrator who is not named.

Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do not pray at the time the sun rises, for it rises between the two horns of Shaytan and every disbeliever prostrates to it. And do not pray at the time it sets either, for it sets between the two horns of Shaytan and every disbeliever prostrates to it. And do not pray at midday either, for that is the time Hell is stoked."
Ahmad, and al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, recorded something similar; its chain contains a narrator, Layth bin Abi Sulaym, about whom there is much criticism.
Al-Tabarani also recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir from Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him), or from the brother of Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him), from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) similarly. He also recorded it from Abu Sabit: "Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): 'At what time is praying disliked?' The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'From when true dawn breaks until the sun has risen to the height of one or two spears, and from when the sun has turned yellow until it sets.'"
Its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy), but this report is mursal.

Sayyiduna Samurah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do not pray when the sun rises, nor when it sets, for it rises between the two horns of Shaytan and sets between the two horns of Shaytan."
Ahmad, al-Bazzar and al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir recorded it. It is reported through various routes, some of which are similar to this, and some of which have these words: "The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to instruct us that we could pray at any hour of the night or day, except that he instructed us to avoid praying at the time the sun rises and at the time it sets. He used to say: 'When it sets, Shaytan sets along with it, and when it rises, Shaytan rises along with it.'" Ahmad's narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Salamah bin al-Akwa' (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I used to travel with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and I never once saw him (peace and blessings be upon him) offer any prayer after Asr or after the Fajr prayer.
Ahmad, and al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat, recorded it, and Ahmad's narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sa'id bin Nafi' said: Sayyiduna Abu Bashir al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him), a Companion of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), saw me praying the Duha prayer at the time the sun was rising. He objected to me about it, forbade me from it, and said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do not pray until the sun has risen high, for it rises between the two horns of Shaytan."
Ahmad, Abu Ya'la and al-Tabarani in al-Mu'jam al-Awsat recorded it, except that Abu Ya'la reported the words: "Abu Hubayrah saw me." Ahmad's narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sa'id bin Nafi' said: Sayyiduna Abu al-Yusr (may Allah be pleased with him) saw me praying the Duha prayer. He forbade me and said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do not pray until the sun has risen high, for it rises between the two horns of Shaytan."
Al-Bazzar recorded it, and its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade praying only at the time the sun rises, for it rises between the two horns of Shaytan.
Ahmad recorded it, and al-Tabarani recorded a report with its meaning in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir. Ahmad's narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), while delivering a sermon leaning his back against the Ka'bah, said: "There is no prayer after Asr until the sun has set."
(Allamah al-Haythami says:) I say: A report from this Companion is in the Sahih concerning the prohibition of prayer after the sun rises.
Ahmad recorded it, and its narrators are thiqat (trustworthy).

Hayyi bin Ya'la bin Umayyah said: I saw Sayyiduna Ya'la (may Allah be pleased with him) praying before the sun rose. The narrator said: A man said to him (the narrator is in doubt; perhaps the words are:) it was said to him: "You are one of the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and you are praying before sunrise?" Sayyiduna Ya'la (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Indeed, the sun rises between the two horns of Shaytan." Sayyiduna Ya'la (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "That it rises while you are engaged in the command of Allah Almighty (that is, while you are praying) is better than that it rises while you are heedless."
Ahmad recorded it; its chain contains a narrator, Hayyi bin Ya'la, who is not known.

Abdullah bin Rabah reports from one of the Companions that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed the Asr prayer, and then a man stood up and began to pray. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw him and said to him: "Sit down! For the People of the Book were destroyed only because there was no separation in their prayer."
Ahmad and Abu Ya'la recorded it, and the narrators of both are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, the sun rises between the two horns of Shaytan." The narrator said: We were forbidden from praying at the time the sun rises, at the time it sets, and at midday.
Abu Ya'la and al-Bazzar recorded it, and the narrators of both are thiqat (trustworthy).

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Do not pray at the time the sun rises or at the time it sets, for it rises and sets upon the horn of Shaytan. Between those times, pray whenever you wish."
Abu Ya'la recorded it, and its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih.

Al-Bazzar recorded it, and its wording is: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade praying after the Asr prayer until the sun sets, and after the Fajr prayer until the sun rises.

Sayyidah Aishah al-Siddiqah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to forbid praying at the time the sun rises until it has risen high, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) used to say: "It rises with the horn of Shaytan." And he (peace and blessings be upon him) also used to forbid praying when the sun is close to setting.
Abu Ya'la recorded it; its chain contains a narrator, Ibn Lahi'ah, about whom there is criticism, and the remaining narrators of this report are the narrators of the Sahih.

Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked: "In which part of the night is one heard most (that is, supplication or worship is accepted soonest)?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The last half of the night. Then prayer is accepted until true dawn breaks. Then no prayer is to be offered until the sun has risen to the height of one or two spears. Then prayer is accepted until the shadow becomes the length of the spear. Then no prayer is to be offered until the sun has passed its zenith. Then prayer is accepted until the sun is one or two spears' height (that is, that close to setting). Then no prayer is to be offered until the sun has set." After this the narrator mentioned the rest of the hadith; this hadith will come later in the chapter on freeing slaves, if Allah wills.
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir; the narrator Abu Salamah did not hear from his father.

Sayyiduna Safwan bin al-Mu'attal al-Sulami (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the sun rises, the horn of Shaytan joins it; when it has risen, that horn separates from it. Then when it nears its zenith, that horn joins it again; when it has passed its zenith, that horn separates from it. When it nears setting, that horn joins it; and when it has set, that horn separates from it."
(The narrator said:) So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade praying at these times.
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, and its narrators have been declared trustworthy. Before this, the hadith reported from Sayyiduna Safwan (may Allah be pleased with him) that Ahmad narrated has already passed.

Sayyiduna Abu Usayd (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that he heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "No prayer is to be offered after Asr."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir; its chain contains a narrator, Farwah bin Abi Farwah, and I have not found anyone who mentions him. The remaining narrators of this report are thiqat (trustworthy).

Kurayb narrates that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna al-Miswar bin Makhramah (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Azhar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade praying after the Asr prayer.
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir, and its narrators are the narrators of the Sahih, except al-Tabarani's teacher Yahya bin Mansur Abu Sa'd al-Harawi, for I have not found anyone who gives his biography.

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) reports from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "We have been forbidden from praying at the time the sun rises and at the time it sets."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir; its chain contains a narrator, Dirar bin Surad Abu Nu'aym, who is extremely da'if (weak).

Qabisah Abu al-Muhallab reports from his father that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked: "Is there any time that keeps us from praying?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "No, except at the time the sun rises and at the time it sets (prayer is not to be offered), for it rises between the two horns of Shaytan and sets between the two horns of Shaytan."
Al-Tabarani recorded it in al-Mu'jam al-Kabir; its chain contains a narrator, Muhammad bin Jabir al-Suhaymi, about whom there is much criticism. He is saduq (truthful) in himself and his writings are sound, but his memory was poor, and he used to accept prompting (talqin).