Source: Ahkam wa Masail in the Light of the Qur’an and Hadith, Volume 02
❖ Question
When does the time for Dhuhr prayer end and the time for Asr prayer begin? Please provide Hadith evidence for this.
✔ Answer
Alḥamdulillāh! The timing of the Dhuhr and Asr prayers is clearly established in the Qur’an and Sunnah. The Prophet ﷺ has explained this matter in several Hadiths.
➊ Time of Dhuhr Prayer
According to a Hadith from Sahih Muslim:
❝ وَقْتُ الظُّہْرِ إِذَا زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَکَانَ ظِلُّ الرَّجُلِ کَطُوْله ❞
(Sahih Muslim, Hadith No: 612)
Translation:
“The time for Dhuhr begins when the sun passes its zenith and lasts until a person’s shadow becomes equal to his height.”
Additionally, the Qur’an states:
❝ اَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ ❞
(Surah Al-Isra: 78)
Translation:
“Establish prayer at the decline of the sun.”
➋ Time of Asr Prayer
The time for Asr begins when the shadow of an object becomes equal to its height. According to Hadiths from Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood:
❝ صلی بی العصر حین صار ظل کل شئی مثلہ ❞
(Sunan Tirmidhi, Sunan Abu Dawood)
Translation:
“When the shadow of everything became equal to its length, Jibreel عليه السلام led me in the Asr prayer.”
➌ Summary
◄ Dhuhr Time: Begins at the decline of the sun (Zawal) and ends when the shadow of an object equals its height.
◄ Asr Time: Begins after the shadow of an object becomes equal to its height.
