Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Hazrat Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Hazrat Jibreel led me in prayer twice at the House of Allah. He led me in the Zuhr prayer when the sun had declined just the width of a sandal strap. Then he led me in the Asr prayer when the shadow of everything became equal to its length. Then he led me in the Maghrib prayer at the time when the fasting person breaks his fast. Then he led me in the Isha prayer when the twilight disappeared. Then he led me in the Fajr prayer at the time when eating and drinking becomes forbidden for the fasting person. Then, on the next day, he led me in the Zuhr prayer when the shadow of everything became equal to its length. Then he led me in the Asr prayer when the shadow of everything became twice its length. Then he led me in the Maghrib prayer at the time when the fasting person breaks his fast. Then he led me in the Isha prayer after one third of the night had passed. Then he led me in the Fajr prayer when it had become bright. Then he turned to me and said, "O Muhammad! This was the time of prayer for the Prophets before you; the time for your prayer is also between these two times."

Hazrat Abu Musa narrates that a man asked the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) about the timings of prayers. The Prophet did not give him any answer but ordered Bilal, so he gave the iqamah at the time when dawn had appeared. The Prophet led the prayer at that time. Then Bilal gave the iqamah at the time when the announcer said that the sun had just declined or was about to decline, although that announcer knew the timings best. Then for the Asr prayer, the iqamah was given when the sun was still high. Then for the Maghrib prayer, the iqamah was given when the sun had set. Then for the Isha prayer, the iqamah was given when the twilight had disappeared. Then on the next day, the Prophet led the Fajr prayer at the time when the announcer said that the sun had risen or had not risen, and that announcer knew the timings best. Then the Prophet led the Zuhr prayer close to the time of the previous day's Asr prayer. And he led the Asr prayer at the time when the announcer said that the sun had turned red. Then he led the Maghrib prayer before the twilight had disappeared, and the Isha prayer after the first third of the night had passed. Then he said, "Where is the one who asked about the timings of the prayers? The time between these two times is the time for the prayer."

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Every prayer has a beginning time and an ending time. The beginning time of Zuhr is when the sun declines (from its zenith). The ending time of Zuhr is when the time of Asr begins. The beginning time of Asr is when its time begins, and its ending time is when the sun becomes yellow. The beginning time of Maghrib is when the sun sets, and its ending time is when the twilight disappears. The beginning time of Isha is when the twilight disappears, and its ending time is when half the night passes. The beginning time of Fajr is when the dawn appears, and its ending time is when the sun rises.

Hazrat Abu Barzah says that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to perform the Zuhr prayer when the sun would decline from the middle of the sky towards the west. He would perform the Asr prayer at such a time that after offering the prayer, any one of us could circle around the outskirts of Madinah on his mount and return, and the sun would still be shining. The narrator says that he forgot the time that was mentioned for Maghrib, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) considered it preferable to delay the Isha prayer a little. He (peace and blessings be upon him) would finish the Fajr prayer at such a time when there was enough light that a person could recognize the one sitting next to him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite between sixty and a hundred verses in Fajr.

Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer the Zuhr prayer at midday after the sun had passed its zenith, the Asr prayer when the sun was still bright, and the Maghrib prayer after the sun had set. He would sometimes offer the Isha prayer late and sometimes early. When he saw that people had gathered, he would offer it early, and if people delayed in coming, he would offer it late. And he used to offer the Fajr prayer in darkness.

It is narrated from Hazrat Anas that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was asked about the time of the Fajr prayer. So he instructed Hazrat Bilal to give the call to prayer (adhan) when the dawn appeared, and then on the next day to give the adhan when it became light. Then he said, "Where is the one who asked the question? The time for Fajr is between these two times."

Hazrat Basheer bin Salman says that I and Muhammad bin Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) went to Hazrat Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) and requested, "Please teach us the way the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed prayer." He said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) performed the Zuhr prayer when the shadow of everything became equal to its strap. Then he led us in the Asr prayer when the shadow of everything became equal to its length. Then he led us in the Maghrib prayer when the sun had set. Then he led us in the Isha prayer when the twilight had disappeared. Then he led us in the Fajr prayer when the dawn had appeared. The next day, he led us in the Zuhr prayer when the shadow of everything became equal to its length. Then he led us in the Asr prayer when the shadow of everything became twice its length. He performed this prayer so early that a rider, traveling at a fast pace, could reach the place of Dhu’l-Hulaifah before the Maghrib prayer. Then he led us in the Maghrib prayer when the sun had set. Then he led us in the Isha prayer when one third of the night had passed. Then he led us in the Fajr prayer in brightness. We asked him, "How should we pray with Hajjaj bin Yusuf, as he delays the prayer?" He said, "Pray with him the prayer that he performs on time, and the prayer that he delays, you perform it at its proper time, and join him with the intention of nafl (voluntary prayer). And my statement is a trust with you; even if I die and Hajjaj has the power to exhume my grave, he will surely do so."

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Masood that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Jibreel came to me and led me in prayer. Then he mentioned the five prayers.

Hazrat Abdullah bin Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) says that the time for Zuhr remains until the time for Asr begins. The time for Asr remains until the sun becomes yellow. The time for Maghrib remains until the twilight disappears, and the time for Isha is until midnight. And the time for Fajr remains until the sun rises.

It is narrated similarly through another chain of transmission.

Hazrat Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) bin Amr says that a letter from Hazrat Umar came to us in which it was written: Offer the Fajr prayer at a time when the stars are bright and visible. Offer the Zuhr prayer when the sun has declined from the middle of the sky. Offer the Asr prayer when the sun is white and shining. Offer the Maghrib prayer when the sun sets, and he granted concession in the Isha prayer.

Hazrat Nafi’ bin Jubair narrates that Hazrat Umar wrote a letter to Hazrat Abu Musa in which it was written: Perform the Zuhr prayer when the sun declines; perform the Asr prayer when the sun is white and bright; perform the Maghrib prayer when night and day merge with each other; perform the Isha prayer at night whenever you wish; and perform the Fajr prayer when the light spreads.

Hazrat Jabir says that Zuhr is as its name suggests. Asr should be offered when the sun is bright and shining. Maghrib is also as its name suggests. We used to offer Maghrib prayer with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), then we would reach our homes at a distance of one mile, and even then we could see things at the distance of an arrow's throw. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would sometimes offer the Isha prayer early and sometimes delay it. Fajr is as its name suggests, and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer it in darkness.