وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ لَا يَقُولُ: لَا صَلَاةَ بَعْدَ الصُّبْحِ حَتَّى تَرْتَفِعَ الشَّمْسُ وَلَا صَلَاةَ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ حَتَّى تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “There is no prayer after Subh until the sun rises high, and there is no prayer after ‘Asr until the sun sets.”
Tahqiq wa Takhrij:
Al-Bukhari: 586, Muslim: 827. This hadith is mentioned in Sahih Muslim in باب الاوقات الى نهى عن الصلاة فيها.
وَعَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ أَنَّهُ سَأَلَ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا عَنِ السَّحُدَتَيْنِ اللَّتَيْنِ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ مَن يُصَلِّيهِمَا بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ؟ فَقَالَتْ: كَانَ يُصَلِّيهِمَا قَبْلَ الْعَصْرِ ثُمَّ إِنَّهُ شُغِلَ عَنْهُمَا أَوْ نَسِيَهُمَا، فَصَلَّاهُمَا بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ ثُمَّ أَثْبَتَهُمَا وَكَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى صَلَاةً أَثْبَتَهَا أَخْرَجَهُ مُسْلِمٌ
Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he asked Hadrat ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) about the two rak’ahs that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray after the ‘Asr prayer. She said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to pray two rak’ahs before ‘Asr. Then once he was occupied or forgot them, so he prayed them after ‘Asr. Then he kept them up regularly, and it was his habit that when he began a prayer, he would persist in it.” [Muslim]
Tahqiq wa Takhrij:
Muslim: 835. This hadith is mentioned in Sahih Muslim under the chapter “Bab Ma’rifat al-Rak’atayn allati kana yusalliyhima alladhi ba’d al-‘Asr” (Chapter on knowing the two rak’ahs that he used to pray after ‘Asr).
Fawaid:
➊ There are three times in the whole day during which prayer is prohibited. During these, performing the funeral prayer and burying the dead are also prohibited unless there is a valid excuse. Similarly, when the sun is at its zenith, shining directly overhead and not yet inclined toward the west, or when the sun is about to set, then praying and burying the dead are not permissible.
➋ Deeds performed within their proper times are worthy of being presented and witnessed.
➌ Imitating disbelievers is prohibited. Sun-worshippers worship the sun at the time of its rising, and the sun also rises from the head of Satan.
➍ The making up of the Subh prayer may be done when the sun has risen one spear’s length high and its rays have begun to spread on all sides, meaning no doubt remains about the sun having risen.
➎ Nafl prayers may be offered at the time of zawal on Friday, and the Friday prayer may likewise be performed; this is a distinction of Friday alone. It is also established that a prayer may be made up after the Subh prayer and after the ‘Asr prayer, as the Prophet ﷺ prayed two rak’ahs after ‘Asr. Similarly, the funeral prayer and offering thanksgiving nafl prayers are permissible. From this issue it is also learnt that whatever work is begun should be done consistently; likewise, a regular prayer, even if it is a nafl, may be made up in order to maintain the routine. Otherwise, making up nafl and sunnah prayers is not obligatory or fard.
➏ It is established from the Prophet ﷺ that he made up a prayer; forgetting something is not a defect for a Prophet, nor is it contrary to his dignity.
