وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنْ رَسُولَ اللهِ عَل قَالَ: مَنْ أَدْرَكَ رَكْعَةً مِنَ الصُّبْحِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ الصُّبْحَ، وَمَنْ أَدْرَكَ رَكْعَةً مِنَ الْعَصْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ الْعَصْرَ مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever catches one rak’ah of the Subh (Fajr) prayer before the sun rises, has caught the Subh prayer; and whoever catches one rak’ah of the ‘Asr prayer before the sun sets, has caught the ‘Asr prayer.”
Takhrij and Verification:
Al-Bukhari: 579, Muslim: 608. This hadith is mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari under باب من ادرك من الفجر ركعة and in Sahih Muslim under باب من ادرك ركعة من الصلاة.
وَفِي رِوَايَةِ أَبِي سَلَمَةً عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ عِنْدَ الْبُخَارِيِّ: إِذَا أَدْرَكَ أَحَدُكُمْ سَجْدَةً مِنْ صَلَاةِ الْعَصْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَغُرُبَ الشَّمْسُ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَلَاتَهُ، وَإِذَا أَدْرَكَ سَجدَةً مِنْ صَلَاةِ الصُّبْحِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَلَاتَهُ
In Sahih al-Bukhari there is a narration from Abu Salamah, from Hazrat Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him): “If one of you catches one rak’ah of the ‘Asr prayer before the sun sets, then he should complete his prayer; and if he catches one rak’ah of the Subh prayer before the sun rises, then he should complete his prayer.”
Takhrij and Verification:
Al-Bukhari: 556. Imam al-Bukhari has mentioned this hadith under باب من ادرك ركعة من العصر قبل الغروب and elsewhere under باب من ادرك من الصلاة ركعة, but in it the words of the hadith are: من ادرك ركعة من الصفوة فقد ادرك الصلوة . “Whoever caught one rak’ah of the prayer has caught the whole prayer.”
وَلِمُسْلِمٍ فِي حَدِيثٍ عَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا مَنْ أَدْرَكَ سَحْدَةً مِنَ الْعَصْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ أَو مِنَ الصُّبْحِ قَبْلَ أَن تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَهَا وَالسَّحْدَةُ إِنَّمَا هِيَ الركعة
In Sahih Muslim, from Hazrat ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) it is narrated: “Whoever catches a sajdah of the ‘Asr prayer before the sun sets, or a sajdah of the Subh prayer before the sun rises, has caught it (the prayer).” It should be noted that sajdah here means rak’ah.
Takhrij and Verification:
Muslim: 169. Imam Muslim has mentioned this hadith under باب من ادرك ركعة من الصلوة فقد ادرك تلك الصلوة.
Benefits:
➊ The Subh prayer should be performed in congregation; if one misses it due to oversleeping or a legitimate Shar’i excuse, it should be offered before the sun rises. Likewise, the ‘Asr prayer should be offered at its earliest time; it may be offered before sunset only in case of a valid excuse.
➋ Performing the prayer at its appointed time is adaa’ (performance on time), and performing it after the time has passed is qada’ (making up).
➌ When the sun is rising or setting, one should not pray. If one catches one rak’ah of the Fajr prayer within its time, before sunrise, then one should complete the second rak’ah; likewise, if one prayed one rak’ah of ‘Asr within its time and the sun begins to set, then in that case one should pray the remaining rak’ahs and the prayer will be complete. Beginning a prayer at the exact moment of sunrise or sunset is prohibited. After sunrise or sunset, the prayer becomes qada.
➍ The sajdah or ruku’ has such importance that no rak’ah exists without them; it is correct to refer to a rak’ah by sajdah or ruku’, or to call sajdah and ruku’ a rak’ah.
