There were three times at which Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) forbade us to pray, or bury our dead: When the sun begins to rise till it is fully up, when the sun is at its height at midday till it passes over the meridian, and when the sun draws near to setting till it sets.
The Book of Prayer - Travellers
Author: Sahih Muslim | Hadith Reference: Sahih Muslim 831
Prohibition Times Explained
The Prophet (ﷺ) designated three periods when prayer is forbidden: sunrise until fully risen, midday zenith until declining, and late afternoon until sunset. These times correspond to moments when pagan Arabs worshipped the sun, thus distinguishing Islamic worship from polytheistic practices.
Scholarly Interpretation
Classical scholars clarify these prohibitions apply only to voluntary prayers, not obligatory ones or funeral prayers missed earlier. The wisdom lies in avoiding resemblance to sun worshippers and because these are transition periods when angels change shifts.
The first prohibition prevents prayer when the sun emerges, the second at its peak when Hellfire intensifies, and the third as it sets - all moments associated with disbelievers' rituals.
Juridical Exceptions
Scholars unanimously exclude the Friday prayer and Asr prayer from these restrictions. Funeral prayers and prostrations of Quran recitation are also permitted during these times according to majority opinion.