❖ Performing Two Rak‘ahs After Asr Prayer
Written by: Imran Ayub Lahori
✦ Hadith of Aisha (رضي الله عنها)
The narration which states that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to offer two Rak‘ahs after Asr is reported from Hazrat Aisha (رضي الله عنها):
"ما ترك النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم السجدتين بعد العصر عندي قط"
"The Prophet (ﷺ) never abandoned the two Rak‘ahs after Asr while he was with me."
[Bukhari 591, 592 – Kitab Mawaqit al-Salat: Bab Ma Yusalli Ba‘d al-Asr min al-Fawā’it]
✦ Hadiths from Umm Salamah (رضي الله عنها)
In contrast, a narration from Umm Salamah (رضي الله عنها) mentions:
◈ That the Prophet (ﷺ) offered two Rak‘ahs after Asr only once at her home.
◈ Another narration adds:
"لم أرَ يُصَلِّيهِمَا قَبْلُ وَلَا بَعْدُ"
"I never saw him (ﷺ) praying them before or after that occasion."
[Sahih: Sahih al-Nasa’i 566, Kitab al-Mawaqit: Bab al-Rukhsah fi al-Salat Qabla Ghurub al-Shams; Nasa’i 582]
✦ Reconciling the Narrations
The scholars reconciled these narrations by preferring the affirming (اثبات) narration over the denying (نفي) one, based on the principle that:
✔ One who affirms knowledge is given precedence over one who denies it.
[Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 1/569]
Hence, it is established that the Prophet (ﷺ) did perform two Rak‘ahs after Asr.
✦ Objection: General Prohibition of Prayer After Asr
A separate authentic narration prohibits performing any prayer after Asr. How is this reconciled?
❖ View of Ibn Hazm (رحمه الله):
He opined that prohibiting Hadiths are abrogated (منسوخ).
[Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 1/568]
❖ Correct View (راجح):
The prohibitive Hadiths are not abrogated, rather they remain in effect.
The Prophet (ﷺ) missed the two Sunnahs of Dhuhr due to being occupied with the delegation of ‘Abd al-Qays, and so he made them up after Asr, as he said:
"شَغَلَنِي نَاسٌ مِنْ عَبْدِ القَيْسِ عَنِ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ، فَهُمَا هَاتَانِ"
"Some people from ‘Abd al-Qays occupied me from the two Rak‘ahs after Dhuhr, so these are those two."
[Bukhari 1233 – Kitab al-Sahw: Bab Idhā Kullima wa Huwa Yusalli Fa-Ashāra Bi-Yadih]
✦ Consistency of the Prophet (ﷺ) in Worship
It was the habit of the Prophet (ﷺ) that whenever he performed any prayer, he would continue to perform it regularly afterward.
As narrated by Aisha (رضي الله عنها):
"وَكَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى صَلَاةً أَثْبَتَهَا"
"Whenever he offered any prayer, he made it a regular practice."
[Muslim 835 – Kitab Salat al-Musafirin wa Qasriha; Nasa’i 1/281; Ibn Khuzaymah 1278; Ibn Hibban 1577]
So the Prophet (ﷺ) continued offering these two Rak‘ahs even after Asr.
✦ Was This Act Exclusive to the Prophet (ﷺ)?
Some believed that this act was exclusive to the Prophet (ﷺ).
When someone asked:
"أفنقضيهما إذا فاتنا؟"
"Should we make up these two Rak‘ahs if we miss them?"
He (ﷺ) replied:
"لا"
"No."
[Weak: Al-Ta‘liqat al-Radiyyah ‘ala al-Rawdah al-Nadiyyah 1/242; Musnad Ahmad 6/315; Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar 1/306]
Another weak narration from Aisha (رضي الله عنها) mentions:
"كان يُصَلِّي بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ وَيَنْهَى عَنْهُمَا، وَيُوَاصِل وَيَنْهَى عَنِ الْوِصَال"
"He used to pray after Asr and forbade it; he would also observe continuous fasting (wisāl) and prohibit it for others."
[Weak: Da‘if Abu Dawood 278; Da‘if al-Jami‘ 4564; Irwa’ al-Ghalil 441; Abu Dawood 1280]
From such narrations, the view is formed that others should not perform optional prayers after Asr.
[Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi 1/568; Subul al-Salam 1/246; Nayl al-Awtar 1/319]
❖ The Preferred Opinion (راجح)
According to strong and supported views:
✔ It is permissible to offer any prayer after Asr, as long as the sun is still high and bright, meaning before it begins to yellow.
Whether:
◈ Missed obligatory prayer
◈ Missed Sunnah
◈ Nafl
◈ Janazah prayer
— all are allowed.
[‘Awn al-Ma‘bood 2/109]
✦ Supporting Evidences
➊ Hadith of Ali (رضي الله عنه):
"إِنَّ النَّبِيَّ نَهَى عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ إِلَّا وَالشَّمْسُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ"
"The Prophet (ﷺ) prohibited prayer after Asr, except when the sun is still elevated."
[Sahih: Sahih Abu Dawood 1135; Abu Dawood 1274]
➋ Practice of Umar (رضي الله عنه):
He permitted Nafl prayer after Asr until the sun turned yellow.
[Majma‘ al-Zawa’id 2/223]
➌ Remark of Ibn Hajar (رحمه الله):
He hinted at the same allowance.
[Talkhis al-Habir 1/185; Fath al-Bari 2/257]
➍ Practice of Many Sahabah and Tabi‘in:
Offering prayer after Asr has been established from multiple companions and successors.
[Al-Muhalla by Ibn Hazm 2/42–47; Ibn Abi Shaybah 2/351; Sharh Ma‘ani al-Athar 1/210]
✔ Conclusion:
◈ The Prophet (ﷺ) did perform two Rak‘ahs after Asr, initially as qada of missed Sunnah of Dhuhr.
◈ Due to his consistent habit, he continued to perform them afterward.
◈ General prohibition on prayer after Asr remains valid, but exceptions apply—especially when the sun is still high.
◈ Others should not take these two Rak‘ahs as a routine unless they are making up missed prayers.
◈ The prohibition is not absolute—there is room for necessary and valid exceptions.
والله أعلم
