The Practical Guidance of the Prophet ﷺ on the Times of Prayer
Sayyiduna Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that a man asked the Prophet ﷺ about the times of the prayers. He ﷺ said:
“Pray with us these two days.”
On the first day, when the sun declined, he ﷺ commanded Sayyiduna Bilal (may Allah be pleased with him) to call the adhan for Zuhr.
He prayed Asr when the sun was high, bright and clear.
Maghrib was prayed as soon as the sun set.
Isha was prayed when the redness of the sun had disappeared.
Fajr was prayed at the time of the rising of dawn.
That is, all the prayers were offered at their earliest time.
On the second day:
He ﷺ commanded that Zuhr be prayed after it had cooled down.
He prayed Asr later than the earliest time.
Maghrib was prayed before the twilight had disappeared, and Isha was prayed when one third of the night had passed.
Fajr was prayed when the morning had become bright.
At the end he said:
“The times of your prayers are between these two times that you have seen.”
Clear Statements on the Times of the Prayers
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The time of Zuhr begins when the sun declines and lasts until a person’s shadow becomes equal to his height.
The time of Asr lasts until the sun turns yellow.
The time of Maghrib lasts until the twilight disappears.
The time of Isha lasts until midnight.
The time of Fajr is from the break of dawn until sunrise.”
Explanation:
‘Shafaq’ refers to the redness that appears in the sky towards the west after the sun has set.
The Practice of Offering Fajr in Darkness
Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates:
“When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ prayed Fajr, the women would return wrapped in their sheets, and they could not be recognised because of the darkness.”
This is evidence that the Prophet ﷺ used to pray Fajr in the darkness and at its earliest time, although the time of Fajr is from true dawn until sunrise.
Observing the Times of Zuhr in Heat and Cold
During a journey in the heat, when the muezzin wished to call the adhan, the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Let it cool down, for the intensity of the heat is from the blast of Hell, so pray after it has cooled.”
Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
“We kept waiting until the shadows of the dunes became visible.”
Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
“When the heat is intense, pray Zuhr in the cool time, for the heat is from the intensity of Hell.”
Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
“The Prophet ﷺ would pray early in winter and later in summer.”
The Time of the Friday Prayer
Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
“The Prophet ﷺ would offer the Friday prayer after the sun had declined.”
Sayyiduna Sahl ibn Sa’d (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
“We would eat our meal and take a midday rest after the Friday prayer.”
Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) further narrates:
“The Prophet ﷺ would lead the Friday prayer early in winter and later in summer.”
The Time of Asr and Its Importance
Sayyiduna Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would pray Asr while the sun was still high. If someone went from Madinah to Awali (four kos away), the sun would still be high.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The hypocrite keeps waiting for the time of Asr, until the sun turns yellow; then he prays it with four pecks and remembers Allah only a little.”
The Last Time for Fajr and Asr
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Whoever attains one rak’ah of Fajr before sunrise has attained Fajr,
and whoever attains one rak’ah of Asr before sunset has attained Asr.”
Explanation:
This concession applies only to those who are delayed due to a valid legal excuse. Delaying the prayer out of laziness is hypocrisy.
The Time of Maghrib
Sayyiduna Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
“We used to offer the Maghrib prayer with the Prophet ﷺ as soon as the sun set.”
The Time of Isha
Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates:
“One night we kept waiting for the Prophet ﷺ for Isha. When one third of the night had passed, he came and said:
‘Had it not been burdensome for my ummah, I would have led the prayer at this time.'”
The Prophet ﷺ:
“He disliked sleeping before Isha and conversing after it.”
Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
“The Prophet ﷺ would sometimes lead Isha at its earliest time and sometimes later; it depended on people gathering.”
The Virtue of Offering the Prayer at Its Earliest Time
Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not pray any prayer at its last time until he passed away.”
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Praying at the earliest time is the most excellent deed.”
Sayyidina Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) says:
“The Prophet ﷺ said:
‘When there are imams over you who delay the prayer, pray the prayer at its (proper) time, and if you catch up with them, pray again as a voluntary prayer.'”
Sayyidina Ubadah ibn al-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
‘After me there will come imams who will refrain from praying on time. You should pray on time, even if you have to pray alone.’
A man asked: ‘Should I pray with them too?’
He ﷺ said: ‘Yes, if you wish.'”
