Nasai

571. Commentary:

➊ The fact that Umar (radi Allahu anhu) used to prevent people from performing prayer after ‘Asr was based on the explicit prohibition of the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), and he considered it impermissible to perform prayers from after ‘Asr until Maghrib. However, if the evidences are examined, there is some detail regarding performing supererogatory prayers (nawafil) after ‘Asr. That is, it is not impermissible to perform nawafil throughout the entire period from ‘Asr until Maghrib; rather, when the sun becomes yellowish, the time from then until sunset is the prohibited time. Otherwise, as long as the sun is still shining brightly, even after ‘Asr, nawafil are permissible. This was precisely the intent of ‘A’ishah (radi Allahu anha): that there was a misunderstanding on the part of our master ‘Umar (radi Allahu anhu) in understanding the meaning of the prohibition. He understood it to mean that the entire period from ‘Asr until Maghrib is a prohibited time, whereas this is not the case; rather, it is only prohibited to perform nawafil from when the sun turns yellow until sunset. The position of ‘A’ishah (radi Allahu anha) is also supported by the hadith of our master ‘Ali (radi Allahu anhu) which will appear in the next chapter [574].

➋ For the discussion regarding the sun rising between the horns of Satan, see hadith number 560.