The Book of the Times (of Prayer)

Abu Bakr bin Abi Musa narrated that his father said: "A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) asking him about the times of prayer, and he did not answer him. He told Bilal to say the Iqamah at dawn broke, then he told him to say the Iqamah for Zuhr when the sun had passed its zenith and a person would say: 'It is the middle of the day,' but he (the Prophet (ﷺ)) knew better. Then he told him to say the Iqamah for 'Asr when the sun was still high. Then he told him to say the Iqamah for Maghrib when the sun had set. Then he told him to say the Iqamah for 'Isha' when the twilight had dissapeared. Then the next day he told him to say the Iqamah for Fajr, at a time such that when after he had finished one would say: 'The sun has risen.' Then he delayed Zuhr until it was nearly the time of 'Asr compared to the day before. Then he delayed 'Asr, to a time such that when he finished one would say: 'The su has turned red.' Then he delayed Maghrib until the twilight was about to disappear. Then he delayed 'Isha' until one-third of the night had passed. Then he said: 'The time (for prayer) is between these times.'"

Al-Husain bin Bashir bin Sallam narrated that his father said: "Muhammad bin 'Ali and I entered upon Jabir bin 'Abdullah Al-Ansari. We said to him: 'Tell us about the prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).' That was at the time of Al-Hajjaj bin Yusuf. He said: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out and prayed Zuhr when the sun had passed its zenith and the shadow (of a thing) was the length of a sandal-strap. Then he prayed 'Asr when the shadow of a man was the length of a sandal-strap plus his height. Then he prayed Maghrib when the sun had set. Then he prayed 'Isha' when the twilight disappeared. Then he prayed Fajr when dawn broke. The next day he prayed Zuhr when a man's shadow was equal to his height. Then he prayed 'Asr when a man's shadow was twice his height, and (the time between the prayer and sunset) lasted as long as it takes a swift rider to reach Dhul-Hulaifah. Then he prayed Maghrib when the sun set, then he prayed 'Isha' when one-third or one-half of the night had passed'" - (One of the narrators) Zaid, was not sure - "then he prayed Fajr when it had become bright."

Sayyar bin Salamah said: "I entered upon Abu Barzah, and my fatehr asked him: 'How did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) pray the prescribed prayers?' He said: 'He used to pray Zuhr, which you call Al-Uula (the first) when the sun passed its zenith; he used to pray 'Asr when one of us could go back to his hoome in the farthest part of Al-Madinah while the sun was still bright.' I forgot what he said about Maghrib. 'And he used to like to delay 'Isha', which you call Al-'Atamah, and he did not like to sleep before it nor talk after it. And he used to finish the Al-Ghadah (Fajr) prayer when a man could recognize his neighbor, and he used to recite (in it) between sixty and one hundred verses.'"

Jabir bin 'Abdullah said: "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).'"

It was narrated that Muhammad bin 'Amr bin Hasan said: "Al-Hajjaj arrived, and we asked Jabir bin 'Abdullah, who said: 'The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed Zuhr at the time of intense heat, [1] and 'Asr when the sun was white and clear, and Maghrib when the sun set, and with 'Isha' it would depend - if he saw that the people had gathered, he would pray early, and if he saw that they had not come yet, he would delay it.'"[1] Meaning, at the earliest time.

It was narrated that An-Nu'man bin Bashir said: "I am the most knowledgeable of people about the time of the 'Isha' prayer. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray it when the moon set on the third night of the month."

It was narrated that An-Nu'man bin Bashir said: "By Allah, I am the most knowledgeable of people about the time of the 'Isha' prayers. The Prophet (ﷺ) used to pray it when the moon set on the third night of the month."

Sayyar bin Salamah said: "My father and I entered upon Abu Barzah, and my father said to him: 'How did the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) pray the prescribed prayers?' He said: He used to pray Zuhr, which you call Al-Uala (the first) when the sun passed its zenith; he used to pray 'Asr then one of us could go back to his home in the farthest part of Al-Madinah when the sun was still bright.'" - He said: "I forgot what he said to me about Maghrib." - "And he used to like to delay 'Isha', which you call Al-'Atamah, and he did not like to sleep before it nor speak after it. And he used to finish the Al-Ghadah (Fajr) prayer when a man could recognize his neighbor, and he used to recite between sixty and one hundred verses.'"

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 Ibn 'Abbas said: "The Prophet (ﷺ) delayed 'Isha' one night until part of the night had passed. Then 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, got up and called out: 'The prayer, O Messenger of Allah! The women and children have gone to sleep.' Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out with water dripping from his head, saying: 'This is (the best) time (for 'Isha'), were it not that this would be too difficult for my Ummah.'"

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."

It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) delayed A;-'Atamah one night, and 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, called out to him: 'The women and children have gone to sleep.' The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out and said: 'No one is waiting for it except you.' At that time no prayer was offered except in Al-Madinah. Then he said: 'Pray it between the time when the twilight disappears and when one-third of the night has passed.'"

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.'"

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "We stayed in the Masjid one night waiting for the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) to pray 'Isha'. He came out to us when one-third of the night or more had passed, and he said when he came out: 'You are waiting for a prayer for which the followers of no other religion are waiting. Were it not that I would impose too much difficulty on my Ummah, I would have led them in prayer at this time.' Then he commanded the Mu'adhdhin to say the Iqamah and he prayed."

It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in Maghrib prayer, then he did not come out to us until half the night had passed. Then he came out and led them in prayer, then he said: 'The people have prayed and gone to sleep, but you are still in a state of prayer so long as you are waiting for the prayer. Were it not for the weakness of the weak and, the sickness of the sick, I would have commanded that this prayer be delayed until halfway through the night.'"

Humaid said: "Anas was asked: 'Did the Prophet (ﷺ) use a ring?' He said: 'Yes. One night he delayed the later 'Isha' prayer, until almost halfway through the night. When he prayed the Prophet (ﷺ) turned his face toward us and said: 'You are sill in a state of prayer so long as you waiting for it.'" Anas said: 'It is as if I can see the luster of his ring.' According to the narration of 'Ali - that is, Ibn Hujr - "until halfway through the night."

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "If the people knew what (virtue) there was in the call to prayer and the first row, and they not find any way to get to do that [1] other than by drawing lots, they would do that. If they knew what (virtue) there was in coming early to prayer, they would compete to be first in the Masjid. If they knew what (virtue) there was in Al-'Atamah and Subh, they would come to them even if they had to crawl."[1] Indicating the two mentioned items: that is the call to prayer and praying in the first row.

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: 'Do not let the Bedouin make you change the name of this prayer of yours, for they delay the prayer until it is very dark because of their preoccupation with camels and milking them. Verily, it is 'Isha'.'"

It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say on the Minbar: 'Do not let the Bedouin make you change the name of your prayer; verily, it is 'Isha'.'"

Ja'far bin Muhammad bin 'Ali bin Al-Husain narrated from his father, that Jabir bin 'Abdullah said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prayed Subh as soon as he was certain the dawn had appeared."

Humaid narrated from Ans that a man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and asked him about the time of the Subh prayer. The following morning he commanded that the Iqamah for prayer be said when dawn broke, and he led us in prayer. The next day when there was light he commanded that the Iqamah for prayer be said and he led us in prayer. Then he said: "Where is the one who was asking about the time for prayer? (It is) between these two times."

It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has prayed Subh, the women would depart, wrapped in their wrappers, unrecognizable because of the darkness."

It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "The women used to pray Subh with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), wrapped in their wrappers, then they would return, and no one would recognize them because of the darkness."

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

It was narrated from Rafi' bin Khadij that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Pray Fajr when the dawn shines."

It was narrated from Mahmud bin Labid, from some men among his people who were of the Ansar, that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "The more you delay Fajr, the greater the reward."

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: "Whoever catches up with a prostration of Subh before the sun rises, then he has caught up with it; and whoever catches up with a prostration of 'Asr before the sun sets, then he has caught up with it."

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."

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."