"Jibril, peace be upon him, came to the Prophet (ﷺ) when the sun had passed its zenith and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray Zuhr when the sun has passed its zenith.' Then he waited until a man's shadow was equal to his height. Then he came to him for 'Asr and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray 'Asr.' Then he waited until the sunset, then he came to him and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray Maghrib.' So he got up and prayed it when the sun had set. Then he waited until the twilight disappeared, then he came to him and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray 'Isha'.' So he got up and prayed it. Then he came to him when dawn broke and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he got up and prayed Subh.' So he got up and prayed Subh. Then he came to him the next day when a man's shadow was equal to his height, and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he prayed Zuhr. Then Jibril came to him when a man's shadow was equal to twice his length and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he prayed 'Asr. Then he came to him for Maghrib when the sun set, at exactly the same time as the day before, and said: 'Get up, O Muhammad, and pray.' So he prayed Maghrib. Then he came to him for 'Isha' when the first third of the night had passed, and said: 'Get up and pray.' So he prayed 'Isha'. Then he came to him for Subh when it had become very bright, and said: 'Get up and pray.' So he prayed Subh. Then he said: 'The times of prayer one between those two (limits).'"
The Book of the Times (of Prayer) - Sunan an-Nasa'i 526
This narration from Sunan an-Nasa'i describes how Angel Jibril (Gabriel) personally taught the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ the precise timings of the five daily prayers over two consecutive days, establishing the beginning and optimal times for each prayer.
Commentary on the First Day's Prayer Times
The first day establishes the earliest permissible times for each prayer. Zuhr begins immediately after the sun passes its zenith (zawāl), when shadows start lengthening eastward. 'Asr time commences when an object's shadow equals its actual length (excluding the shadow at noon). Maghrib begins immediately at sunset, while 'Ishā starts when the red twilight (shafaq al-ahmar) disappears. Fajr (Subh) begins at true dawn (al-fajr al-ṣādiq) when horizontal light spreads across the horizon.
Commentary on the Second Day's Prayer Times
The second day demonstrates the latest recommended times for each prayer. Zuhr may be delayed until an object's shadow equals its length. 'Asr may be performed until an object's shadow is twice its length (according to the Shāfi'ī school). Maghrib should not be delayed beyond its fixed time. 'Ishā may be performed until the first third of the night passes. Fajr may be delayed until "when it has become very bright" (is'firār), meaning when light becomes strong but before sunrise.
Legal Rulings and Scholarly Consensus
Scholars agree this hadith establishes the time brackets for each prayer. The statement "between those two limits" means each prayer has an earliest and latest time within which it must be performed. Performing prayers at the beginning of their time is superior (afḍal) except for 'Ishā' and Fajr in certain circumstances. This narration serves as the primary textual evidence for determining prayer times in Islamic jurisprudence.
Spiritual Significance
The divine wisdom in having Jibril personally teach the prayer times demonstrates the supreme importance of Ṣalāh in Islam. That the angel of revelation himself descended to establish these timings emphasizes their celestial origin and the precision required in worship. This method of instruction ensures the Ummah receives prayer times directly from heavenly authority, eliminating any ambiguity.