"There are three times at which the Messenger of Allah forbade us to pray or to bury our dead: When the sun has risen fully until it is higher, when it reaches its zenith until it has passed the zenith, and when the sun starts to set" (Sahib)
The Book of Funerals - Sunan an-Nasa'i
A commentary on the prohibition of prayer and burial during specific times, drawing from classical Islamic scholarship.
Explanation of the Prohibited Times
The first prohibited period begins at sunrise until the sun has risen fully, approximately a spear's length above the horizon (15-20 minutes after sunrise).
The second prohibition occurs at midday when the sun reaches its zenith until it begins to decline westward (approximately 5-10 minutes after zenith).
The third prohibition commences when the sun begins to yellow before sunset until it has completely set.
Scholarly Wisdom Behind the Prohibition
These times coincide with moments when pagans would worship the sun, thus Muslims are distinguished by avoiding acts of worship during these periods.
The prohibition extends to voluntary prayers and burial rituals, as burial involves prayer for the deceased. Funeral prayers should be scheduled outside these times.
This ruling emphasizes the importance of distinguishing Islamic worship from pagan practices and maintaining proper timing for religious observances.
Exceptions and Qualifications
The prohibition applies only to voluntary prayers; obligatory prayers missed during these times should be made up later.
If a funeral prayer or burial is delayed beyond necessity due to this prohibition, scholars permit proceeding to avoid greater harm.
The Asr prayer time begins after the second prohibited period ends, allowing for the timely performance of obligatory prayers.