The Book of the Times (of Prayer)

كتاب المواقيت

Chapter 2: The Beginning Of The Time For Zuhr

Shu'bah said

"Sayyar bin Salamah, narrated to us, he said: 'I heard my father ask Abu Barzah about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).' I said: 'Did you really hear him?' He said: 'As I can hear you now.' He said: 'I heard my father ask about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).' He said: 'He would not mind if he delayed it - meaning 'Isha' until midnight, and he did not like to sleep before it or speak after it.'" Shu'bah said: "Then I met him later on and asked him. He said: 'He used to pray Zauhr when the sun had passed its zenith, and (he would pray) 'Asr and a man could walk to the farthest point in Al-Madinah and the sun would still be clear and hot. And Maghrib, I do not know the time he mentioned.' After that I met him and asked him, and he said: 'He used to pray Fajr then after the prayer a man could regarding it, sitting next to him, look at the face of someone he knew and he could recognize it.' He said: 'And he used to recite in it between sixty and one hundred (verses).'"

It was narrated that Khabbab said

"We complained to the Messenger of Alalh (ﷺ) about how hot the sand was, but he did not respond to our complaint." It was said to Abu Ishaq (one of the narrators): "Did they complain regarding his praying it early?" He said: "Yes."

Chapter 3: Praying Zuhr Earlier When Traveling

Hamzah Al-'A'idhi said

"I heard Anas bin Malik say: 'When the Prophet (ﷺ) halted, he would not move on until he had prayed Zuhr.' A man said: 'Even if it was the middle of the day?' He said: 'Even if it was the middle of the day.'"

Chapter 8: Hastening To Pray 'Asr

It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray 'Asr when the sun was still high and bright, and a person could go to Al-'Awali [1] when the sun was still high."[1] Al-'Awali is the southern most district of Al-Madinah, and it is very big. Its nearest limit is at a distance of about two miles from the center of Al-Madinah. While its furthest limit is about eight miles.

It was narrated that Abu Salamah said

"We prayed at the time of 'Umar bin 'Abdul-'Aziz, then we went to Anas bin Malik and found him praying. when he finished he said to us: 'Have you prayed?' We said: 'We prayed Zuhr.' He said: 'I prayed 'Asr.' They said: 'You have prayed early.' He said: 'Rather I prayed as I saw my companions pray.'"

Chapter 9: Stern Warning About Delaying 'Asr

It was narrated from Salim, from his father, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

"The one who misses 'Asr prayer, it is as if he has been robbed of his family and his wealth."It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The one who misses 'Asr prayer, it is as if he has been robbed of his family and his wealth."

Chapter 11: Whoever Catches Two Rak'ahs Of 'Asr Prayer

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet (ﷺ) said

"Whoever catches up with two Rak'ahs of 'Asr prayer before the sun sets, or one Rak'ah of the Subh prayer before the sun rises, has caught it."

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

"Whoever catches up with a Rak'ah of the Subh prayer before the sun rises, then he has caught up with Subh, and whoever catches up with a Rak'ah of 'Asr prayer before the sun sets, then he has caught up with 'Asr."

It was narrated from Nasr bin 'Abdur-Rahman, from his grandfather Mu'adh, that he performed Tawaf with Mu'adh bin 'Afra' but he did not pray. "I said

'Are you not going to pray?' He said: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'There is no prayer after 'Asr until the sun has set, nor after Subh until the sun has risen.'"

Chapter 14: Delaying Maghrib

It was narrated that Abu Basrah Al-Ghifari said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in praying 'Asr in Al-Mukhammas. He said: 'This prayer was enjoined upon those who came before you, but they neglected it. Whoever prays it regularly will have a two-fold reward, and there is no prayer after it until the Shahid appears." And the Shahid is "the star." [1][1] This is a statement of one of the narrators, and Allah knows best.

Chapter 15: The End Of The Time For Maghrib

It was narrated from 'Abdullah bin 'Amr - and (one of the narrators) Shu'bah said

"Sometimes he (Qatadah, his teacher) narrated it as a Marfu' report and sometimes he did not" - "The time for Zuhr prayer is until 'Asr comes, and the time for 'Asr prayer is until the sun turns yellow. the time for Maghrib is until the twilight disappears, and the time for 'Isha' is until the night is halfway through, and the time for Subh is until the sun rises."

Chapter 20: What Is Recommended Regarding Delaying 'Isha'

It was narrated that Ibn Juraij said

"I said to 'Ata': 'What is the best time you think I should pray Al-'Atamah, either in congregation or on my own?' He said: 'I heard Ibn 'Abbas say: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) delayed Al-'Atamah one night until the people had slept and woken up, then slept and woken up again. Then 'Umar got up and said: 'The prayer, the prayer!'" 'Ata' said: 'Ibn 'Abbas said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out, and it is as if I can see him now, with water dripping from his head, putting his hand on the side of his head. [He said: "And he indicated (how)"].'" I checked with 'Ata' how the Prophet (ﷺ) put his hand on his head, and he showed me the same way as Ibn 'Abbas had done. 'Ata' spread his fingers a little, then placed them with the tips of his fingers on his forehead, then he drew his fingers together on his head until his thumb touched the edge of the ear that is next to the face, then moved it to his temple and forehead, then he said: 'Were it not that I would impose too much difficulty for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to offer this prayer only at this time.'"

It was narrated that Jabir bin Samurah said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to delay the later 'Isha'."[1][1] It is described as the later 'Isha' prayer because the Maghrib prayer is sometimes called 'Isha' prayer, but it is the first 'Isha'. Some scholars are of the opinion that it is disliked to call Maghrib 'Isha' without qualifying it as the first 'Isha'. See Fath Al-Bari.

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said

"Were it not that I would impose too much difficulty on my Ummah, I would have commanded them to delay 'Isha' and to use the Siwak for every prayer."

Chapter 21: The End Of The Time For 'Isha'

It was narrated that 'Aishah the Mother of the Believers said

"The Prophet (ﷺ) delayed the prayer one night until most of the night had passed and the people in the Masjid had gone home to sleep, then he went out and prayed, and said: 'This is indeed its (prayer) time, were it not that I would impose too much difficulty on my Ummah.'"

Chapter 26: At-Taghlis (Praying Fajr While It Is Still Dark) While Travelling

It was narrated that Anas said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed Fajr on the day of Khaibar during the time it was still dark, when he was near the enemy. Then he attacked them and said: 'Allahu Akbar! Khaibar is destroyed!' Twice. 'Then, when it descends in their courtyard, evil will be the morning for those who had been warned!'" [1][1] As-Saffat 37:177

Chapter 28: Whoever Catches Up With A Rak'ah Of The Subh Prayer

It was narrated from 'Aishah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said

"Whoever catches up with a Rak'ah of Fajr before the sun rises, then he has caught up with it; and whoever catches up with a Rak'ah of 'Asr before the sun sets, then he has caught up with it."

Chapter 29: The End Of The Time For Subh

It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to pray Zuhr when the sun passed its zenith, and he would pray 'Asr between these two prayers; and he would pray Maghrib when the sun had set, and he used to pray 'Isha' when the twilight had disappeared," then he said straight after that: "And he would pray Fajr when a man could see clearly."

Chapter 35: The Prohibition Of Praying After 'Asr

It was narrated from 'Ata' bin Yazid that he heard Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri say

"I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: 'There is no prayer after Fajr until the sun has clearly risen, and no prayer after 'Asr until the sun has fully set.'"

Chapter 36: Concession Allowing Prayer After 'Asr

It was narrated that 'Ali said

"The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)forbade praying after 'Asr unless the sun was still white, clear and high."