Hadith 1
Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) narrated:"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
Whoever catches one rak’ah of the Fajr prayer before sunrise has caught the Fajr prayer.
Whoever catches one rak’ah of the Asr prayer before sunset has caught the Asr prayer."
[Agreed upon - متفق عليه]
- Authentication & References:
- Sahih al-Bukhari: 579
- Sahih Muslim: 608
- This hadith is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari under the chapter "Whoever Catches One Rak’ah of Fajr", and in Sahih Muslim under the chapter "Whoever Catches One Rak’ah of Salah Has Caught the Prayer."
Hadith 2
Another narration from Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه), reported by Abu Salamah in Sahih al-Bukhari:"If any of you catches a prostration (sajdah) of the Asr prayer before sunset, he should complete his prayer.
If any of you catches a prostration (sajdah) of the Fajr prayer before sunrise, he should complete his prayer."
- Authentication & References:
- Sahih al-Bukhari: 556
- Recorded under the chapter "Whoever Catches One Rak’ah of Asr Before Sunset" in Sahih al-Bukhari.
- A variation of this hadith states: "Whoever catches one rak’ah of the prayer has caught the entire prayer."
Hadith 3
A’ishah (رضي الله عنها) narrated in Sahih Muslim:"Whoever catches a prostration (sajdah) of the Asr prayer before sunset or of the Fajr prayer before sunrise, then he has caught the prayer."
(Note: The word "sajdah" here refers to "rak’ah" - a complete prayer unit.)
- Authentication & References:
- Sahih Muslim: 169
- Recorded under the chapter "Whoever Catches One Rak’ah of Salah Has Caught That Salah."
Key Lessons & Rulings Derived from These Hadiths
Performing Salah on Time:- Fajr should be performed in congregation and before sunrise.
- Asr should be performed early in its time; however, if delayed due to a valid excuse, it can be completed before sunset.
- Performing a prayer within its designated time is considered adā’ (timely performance).
- Performing a prayer after its time has ended is qadā’ (make-up prayer).
- Salah should not be performed during sunrise or sunset.
- However, if a person has already started their prayer and completed at least one rak’ah before these times, they should continue and complete their prayer.
- If one rak’ah of Fajr is completed before sunrise, the second rak’ah should be completed after sunrise.
- Similarly, if one rak’ah of Asr is completed before sunset, the remaining rak’ahs should be completed even after sunset.
- A rak’ah consists of a bowing (ruku') and two prostrations (sajdah). Without these, a rak’ah does not exist.
- The term "sajdah" in the hadith refers to rak’ah, as sajdah is an essential component of it.
Reference Source:This content has been extracted from the book "Diya al-Islam fi Sharh al-Imam bi Ahadith al-Ahkam" by Sheikh Taqi al-Din Abi al-Fath, translated by Maulana Mahmood Ahmad Ghaznfar.
