Ibn Hibban

Abdullah bin Fadalah narrates from his father: The Messenger of Allah taught us, and among what he taught us was also the explanation of what is meant by the two Asr prayers. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: The prayer before the rising of the sun and the prayer before its setting. (Imam Ibn Hibban, may Allah have mercy on him, says:) Dawood bin Abi Hind heard this narration from Abu Harb bin Abu Aswad and Abdullah bin Fadalah; he has transmitted the wording of both narrations, and both of its chains are preserved. The Arabs, in their language, mention things based on their quantity or abundance; they use the word "before" for a small thing, a long period, or a great duration. For example, regarding the signs of the Hour, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that before the Hour, such and such tribulations will occur, even though these tribulations will be many years before (the Hour). This indicates that the word "before" is used for the meaning we have mentioned; it is not that the word "before" in the language is used to mean something being immediately adjacent. To the extent that (it would be ruled) that the morning prayer can only be performed just before the sun rises, and the Asr prayer just before the sun sets, while in this matter, the meaning of "before" in its entirety is intended.