Times of the Prayers - Sahih al-Bukhari 586

I heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) saying, "There is no prayer after the morning prayer till the sun rises, and there is no prayer after the `Asr prayer till the sun sets."

Commentary on the Prohibited Times

This noble hadith establishes three distinct periods during which voluntary prayers are prohibited: after Fajr until sunrise, after Asr until sunset, and during the zenith (when the sun is at its peak). These restrictions apply only to supererogatory prayers, while missed obligatory prayers and funeral prayers remain permissible during these times.

The wisdom behind these prohibitions includes avoiding resemblance to sun-worshippers who pray at sunrise and sunset, preventing neglect of obligatory prayers by excessive voluntary worship, and respecting the sanctity of these transitional periods between night and day.

Scholarly Exceptions

The prohibition does not apply to: making up missed obligatory prayers, the two rak'ahs after tawaf (circumambulation), praying in the Haram of Makkah, the eclipse prayer, or the prayer for seeking guidance (istikhara). These exceptions demonstrate the flexibility within Islamic jurisprudence while maintaining the general rule.

Practical Application

Muslims should be mindful to complete their sunnah prayers before the prohibited times begin. For Fajr, the two rak'ahs sunnah should be prayed before the fard. For Asr, one should pray the sunnah beforehand or delay it until after sunset if necessary. This teaching cultivates discipline in worship and respect for divinely ordained timings.