"A man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and asked him about the times of prayer. He said: 'Stay with us for these two days.' Then he told Bilal to say the Iqamah at dawn and he prayed Fajr. Then he told him to do that when the sun had passed its zenith and he prayed Zuhr. Then he told him to do that when the sun was still bright, and he said the Iqamah for 'Asr. Then he told him to do that when the last part of the sun had dissapeared, and he said the Iqamah for Maghrib. Then he told him to do that when the twilight had disappeared and he said the Iqamah for 'Isha'. The following day, he prayed Fajr when there was light, then he delayed Zuhr until it was cooler, and waited until it was much cooler before praying 'Asr but the sun was still clear, so he prayed 'Asr later than on the first day. Then he prayed Maghrib before the twilight disappeared. Then he told him to say the Iqamah for 'Isha' when one-third of the night had passed, and he prayed, then he said: 'Where is the one who was asking about the times of prayer? The times of your prayer are between the times you have seen.'"
The Book of the Times (of Prayer) - Sunan an-Nasa'i 519
A man came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and asked him about the times of prayer. He said: 'Stay with us for these two days.' Then he told Bilal to say the Iqamah at dawn and he prayed Fajr. Then he told him to do that when the sun had passed its zenith and he prayed Zuhr. Then he told him to do that when the sun was still bright, and he said the Iqamah for 'Asr. Then he told him to do that when the last part of the sun had disappeared, and he said the Iqamah for Maghrib. Then he told him to do that when the twilight had disappeared and he said the Iqamah for 'Isha'. The following day, he prayed Fajr when there was light, then he delayed Zuhr until it was cooler, and waited until it was much cooler before praying 'Asr but the sun was still clear, so he prayed 'Asr later than on the first day. Then he prayed Maghrib before the twilight disappeared. Then he told him to say the Iqamah for 'Isha' when one-third of the night had passed, and he prayed, then he said: 'Where is the one who was asking about the times of prayer? The times of your prayer are between the times you have seen.'
Scholarly Commentary
This hadith from Sunan an-Nasa'i demonstrates the Prophet's (ﷺ) practical teaching methodology. Rather than giving theoretical answers, he showed the earliest and latest permissible times for each prayer through demonstration.
The first day showed the earliest times: Fajr at true dawn, Zuhr immediately after zenith, Asr while sun remains bright, Maghrib immediately after sunset, and Isha after twilight disappears.
The second day showed the latest permissible times: Fajr delayed until light appears, Zuhr delayed for cooler weather, Asr delayed until yellowing of sun (while still daylight), Maghrib before twilight ends, and Isha delayed until first third of night.
The concluding statement establishes the principle of flexibility - each prayer has a time range between the earliest and latest demonstrated times. This accommodates various circumstances while maintaining the prescribed boundaries.
Legal Rulings Derived
Fajr time begins at true dawn (vertical whiteness) and ends at sunrise. Zuhr begins after sun passes zenith and lasts until shadow equals object length. Asr begins when shadow equals object length and lasts until sunset. Maghrib begins at sunset and lasts until twilight disappears. Isha begins after twilight disappears and lasts until true dawn.
The flexibility shown demonstrates the mercy in Islamic law, allowing prayers within these timeframes according to one's circumstances while emphasizing performing prayers in their preferred times when possible.