Surah An-Nisaa (4) — Ayah 103

103. And when you have finished the prayer, remember Allah while standing, sitting, and lying on your sides. And when you feel secure, then perform the prayer in full. Indeed, prayer has been prescribed for the believers at fixed times [141].

[141] The times of prayers: During war, prayer can only be performed whenever the opportunity arises; even during this period, Allah should be remembered at all times. Then, when conditions return to normal, prayers should also be performed as usual, and the times of prayers should be observed. According to the hadiths, the times of prayers are as follows:
1. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The time for Zuhr is from when the sun passes its zenith until a man's shadow is equal to his height. The time for Asr is (from when the shadow is equal to the height) until the sun becomes yellow. The time for Maghrib is (from sunset) until the twilight disappears. The time for Isha is (from the disappearance of twilight) until the middle of the night. And the time for Fajr is from the appearance of dawn until sunrise." [مسلم، کتاب المساجد و مواضع الصلٰوۃ باب اوقات الصلٰوۃ الخمس]
2. Abdullah bin Umar ؓ and Abu Hurairah ؓ both say that the Prophet ﷺ said: "In the summer, perform the Zuhr prayer when it is cooler, for the severity of heat is from the steam of Hell." [بخاری، کتاب، مواقیت الصلٰوۃ، باب الابراد بالظھر فی شدۃ الحر۔۔ مسلم، کتاب المساجد و مواضع الصلوۃ باب استحباب الابراد بالظھر فی شدۃ الحرم]
3. Sayyidah Aisha ؓ says that we women, wrapped in our sheets, when we finished the Fajr prayer and left the mosque, due to the darkness, no one could recognize us. [بخاری، کتاب مواقیت الصلٰوۃ، باب وقت الفجر]
4. Sayyidah Aisha ؓ says that once the Prophet ﷺ led the Isha prayer when a considerable part of the night had passed. Then he said: "If it were not difficult for my ummah, the actual time for Isha would be this time." [بخاری، کتاب مواقیت الصلٰوۃ، باب النوم قبل العشاء لمن غلب]
5. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says: "The Prophet ﷺ would lead the Fajr prayer at a time when any of us, after finishing, could recognize the person next to him, and he would recite sixty to a hundred verses in this prayer. He would perform Zuhr when the sun had declined. Asr would be performed at a time when a person could pray Asr and reach the farthest part of the city (about four miles) to his home, and the sun would still be bright. Maghrib would be at sunset, and for Isha, he did not mind delaying it until a third of the night had passed." [بخاری، کتاب مواقیت الصلٰوۃ، باب وقت الظہر عند الزوال]
6. Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever catches one rak'ah of Asr before sunset should complete his prayer (his prayer is considered performed on time), and whoever catches one rak'ah of Fajr before sunrise should also complete his prayer." [بخاری، کتاب مواقیت الصلٰوۃ، باب من ادرک رکعۃ من العصر قبل الغروب]
7. Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ forbade praying after the Fajr prayer until the sun rises, and after the Asr prayer until the sun sets. [بخاری، کتاب مواقیت الصلٰوۃ باب الصلٰوۃ بعد الفجر حتی ترتفع الشمس]
8. Abdullah bin Abi Qatadah ؓ narrates from his father that (on the return from Khaybar) we were traveling at night with the Prophet ﷺ. Some people said, "O Messenger of Allah ﷺ! Would it not be good if we stopped here?" The Prophet ﷺ said: "I fear you will fall asleep and not wake up for the Fajr prayer." Sayyiduna Bilal ؓ said, "I will wake you up." So everyone slept, and Bilal ؓ leaned against his camel and also fell asleep. Then the Prophet ﷺ woke up when the edge of the sun had risen. The Prophet ﷺ asked Bilal ؓ: "What happened to your promise?" Bilal ؓ replied, "I experienced such sleep as I had never experienced before." The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah took your souls when He willed and returned them when He willed. O Bilal, get up and give the call to prayer." So Bilal ؓ gave the adhan. The Prophet ﷺ performed ablution, and when the sun had risen and become white, he stood and performed the prayer. [بخاری، کتاب مواقیت الصلٰوۃ۔ باب الاذان بعد ذھاب الوقت]
9. Sayyiduna Anas ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever forgets to perform a prayer or sleeps through its time, its expiation is to perform it as soon as he remembers." [بخاری، کتاب مواقیت الصلٰوۃ، باب من نسی صلٰوۃ فلیصل اذا ذکرھا۔۔ مسلم، کتاب المساجد و مواضع الصلٰوۃ، باب قضاء الصلٰوۃ الفائتۃ۔۔ الخ]
10. The Prophet ﷺ said: "The prayer of the hypocrite is that he keeps watching the sun until it is between the two horns of Satan, then he stands and pecks out four (quick) units, and remembers Allah only a little." [مسلم، کتاب الصلٰوۃ، باب استحباب التبکیر بالعصر]
11. Sayyidah Umm Farwah ؓ says that someone asked the Prophet ﷺ: "Which deed is best?" The Prophet ﷺ said: "To perform the prayer at its earliest time." [ترمذی، ابواب الصلٰوۃ، باب ماجاء فی الوقت الاول من الفضل]
12. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said: "The pleasure of Allah is in performing the prayer at its earliest time, and performing it at the last time is a concession from Allah." [ترمذي، حواله ايضاً]
13. Sayyidah Aisha ؓ says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ never performed any prayer at its last time except twice, until he passed away. [ترمذي، حواله ايضاً]
14. Sayyiduna Ali ؓ bin Abi Talib says that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to me: "Ali! Do not delay three things: (1) Prayer when its time arrives, (2) Burial of the deceased when you are present, (3) And the marriage of an unmarried man or woman when a suitable match is found." [ترمذي، حواله ايضاً]