I was with Buraida on a cloudy day and he said, "Offer the `Asr prayer earlier as the Prophet (ﷺ) said, 'Whoever leaves the `Asr prayer will have all his (good) deeds annulled." (See Hadith No. 527 and 528)
Times of the Prayers - Sahih al-Bukhari 594
This narration from Buraida (may Allah be pleased with him) contains profound wisdom regarding the timing of the Asr prayer and its spiritual consequences. The cloudy day mentioned indicates a situation where determining the exact time becomes challenging, thus the companion's emphasis on performing it earlier to avoid any risk of delay.
Scholarly Commentary on Prayer Timing
The instruction to offer Asr prayer earlier on cloudy days reflects the principle of precaution (ihtiyat) in Islamic jurisprudence. When there is doubt about the entry or exit of prayer times due to weather conditions, it is recommended to advance the prayer to ensure it is performed within its proper time.
Cloudy conditions can obscure the sun's position, making it difficult to ascertain when the shadow of an object becomes twice its length - the sign that Asr time has begun according to the preferred opinion. Thus, early performance eliminates any uncertainty.
Consequences of Neglecting Asr Prayer
The severe warning about annulment of good deeds for whoever "leaves" the Asr prayer has been interpreted by scholars in two primary ways: either complete abandonment of the prayer (tark) or delaying it beyond its permissible time until the sun turns yellow, which indicates the disliked time (karahat).
Imam Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani explains in Fath al-Bari that this annulment applies to voluntary deeds, not obligatory ones, and serves as a severe warning to emphasize the prayer's importance. Some scholars hold that this applies specifically to intentional delay without valid excuse.
Legal Rulings and Applications
The preferred time for Asr prayer begins when the shadow of an object equals its length (excluding the shadow at noon) and continues until the sun turns yellow. The time of necessity extends until sunset.
Scholars differ regarding what constitutes "leaving" the prayer - whether it means complete abandonment or delayed performance. The stronger opinion is that it refers to missing the prayer entirely, though delaying without excuse is still severely discouraged. This hadith establishes the gravity of safeguarding this particular prayer among the five daily obligations.