From: Fatāwā ʿUlamāʾ-e-Ḥadīth, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Volume 1, Pages 156–157
"When you have prayed the Fajr prayer, refrain from prayer until the sun has risen. When the sun rises and ascends one or two spears above the horizon, then offer prayer, for that time is witnessed (by the angels) and accepted."
(Ḥadīth of ʿAmr ibn ʿAbasah)
This clearly proves that one must not offer prayer immediately after sunrise, but wait until the sun reaches a sufficient elevation.
✔ Limiting the prayer to 7 or 8 AM is incorrect, particularly in winter due to late sunrise.
✔ If the Imām leads the prayer after 7 or 8 AM, one should still pray behind him, as the time is still within the Sunnah limit.
(Fatāwā Sattāriyyah, Volume 1, Page 20)
❀ Question
What is the valid time range for offering the ʿĪd prayers? Some scholars say that the prayer must be offered by 7 or 8 AM. If the Imām leads the prayer after this time, should one still pray behind him or establish a separate congregation?❀ Answer
The time for the ʿĪd prayers begins after sunrise, once the sun has risen to the height of one or two spears above the horizon, and continues until noon (zawāl). The opinion that the prayer must be completed by 7 or 8 AM is not accurate, especially during winter, when the sun rises late. According to ḥadīth, the prayer should only be performed once the sun has reached a sufficient height.❀ Ḥadīth of ʿAmr ibn ʿAbasah
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:"When you have prayed the Fajr prayer, refrain from prayer until the sun has risen. When the sun rises and ascends one or two spears above the horizon, then offer prayer, for that time is witnessed (by the angels) and accepted."
(Ḥadīth of ʿAmr ibn ʿAbasah)
This clearly proves that one must not offer prayer immediately after sunrise, but wait until the sun reaches a sufficient elevation.
❀ Sunnah-Based Timing
According to a narration from ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (ra), the Prophet ﷺ would recite Sūrat Qāf and Iqtarabat al-Sāʿah in the ʿĪd prayer. Based on this, a properly conducted ʿĪd prayer — with its full Sunnah structure, including recitation, rukūʿ, sujūd, and additional takbīrs — cannot be completed too early in winter before the sun has reached the required height.❀ Summary
✔ The valid time for the ʿĪd prayer begins after the sun has risen one or two spear lengths above the horizon and lasts until zawāl.✔ Limiting the prayer to 7 or 8 AM is incorrect, particularly in winter due to late sunrise.
✔ If the Imām leads the prayer after 7 or 8 AM, one should still pray behind him, as the time is still within the Sunnah limit.
(Fatāwā Sattāriyyah, Volume 1, Page 20)
