"When you pray Fajr, its time is until the first part of the sun appears. When you pray Zuhr, its time is until 'Asr comes. When you pray 'Asr, its time is until the sun turns yellow. When you pray Maghrib, its time is until the twilight has disappeared. When you pray 'Isha, its time is until half of the night has passed."
Hadith Text & Reference
"When you pray Fajr, its time is until the first part of the sun appears. When you pray Zuhr, its time is until 'Asr comes. When you pray 'Asr, its time is until the sun turns yellow. When you pray Maghrib, its time is until the twilight has disappeared. When you pray 'Isha, its time is until half of the night has passed."
Source: The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer, Sahih Muslim, Hadith: Sahih Muslim 612 a
Commentary on Prayer Times
This noble hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) establishes the permissible time frames for the five daily prayers, known as the "awaqat al-salawat." It is crucial to understand that these descriptions refer to the preferred or permissible times, not necessarily the entire duration.
Fajr (Dawn Prayer): Its time begins at true dawn (al-fajr al-sadiq) and extends until sunrise. Praying at the very beginning of its time is highly meritorious. The "first part of the sun appears" signifies the end of Fajr's time; it becomes impermissible to pray Fajr once the sun's disc starts to become visible.
Zuhr (Noon Prayer): Its time begins when the sun passes its zenith (zawal) and lasts until the shadow of an object becomes equal to its length, plus the length of its shadow at noon, which marks the beginning of 'Asr. The phrase "until 'Asr comes" means the start of 'Asr's time, not its completion.
'Asr (Afternoon Prayer): Its time begins at the end of Zuhr's time. The description "until the sun turns yellow" refers to the preferred time (waqt al-ikhtiyar). It is strongly recommended to pray 'Asr before the sun loses its brightness and begins to pale. However, its time of necessity (waqt al-darurah) extends until sunset.
Maghrib (Sunset Prayer): Its time is the shortest, beginning immediately after sunset and lasting "until the twilight has disappeared." This refers to the red twilight (al-shafaq al-ahmar) vanishing from the horizon. It is a collective obligation to hasten to pray Maghrib and not to delay it.
'Isha (Night Prayer): Its time begins when the Maghrib time ends (disappearance of red twilight) and lasts "until half of the night has passed." This is the primary and preferred time. The scholars have calculated "half the night" from sunset until the beginning of true dawn. However, its time of necessity extends all the way until the advent of Fajr.
Legal & Spiritual Significance
This hadith provides the foundational evidence for defining the prayer times in Islamic jurisprudence (fiqh). It emphasizes the importance of praying each salat within its designated timeframe, a duty incumbent upon every sane, adult Muslim.
The wisdom behind specifying these times connects the believer's daily routine to the cosmic signs of Allah, fostering constant remembrance (dhikr) of the Creator. Observing the prayer times diligently is a manifestation of taqwa (God-consciousness) and is a key distinction between faith and disbelief.
While the hadith mentions the end of the preferred times, the majority of scholars hold that it is impermissible to delay a prayer beyond its final, necessary time without a valid Islamic excuse. Doing so is a major sin that requires sincere repentance.