The Book on Salat (Prayer)

Ibn Abbas narrated that : the Prophet said: "Jibril (peace be upon him] led me (in Salat) twice at the House. So he prayed Zuhr the first time when the shadow was similar to (the length of) the strap a sandal. Then he prayed Asr when everything was similar (to the length of) its shadow. Then he prayed Maghrib when the sun had set and the fasting person breaks fast. Then he prayed Isha when the twilight had vanished. Then he prayed Fajr when Fajr (dawn) began, and when eating is prohibited for the fasting person. The second time he prayed Zuhr when the shadow of everything was similar to (the length of) it, at the time of Asr the day before. Then he prayed Asr when the shadow of everything was about twice as long as it. Then he prayed Maghrib at the same time as he did the first time. Then he prayed Isha, the later one, when a third of the night had gone. Then he prayed Subh when the land glowed. The Jibril turned towards me and said: "O Muhammad! These are the times of the Prophets before you, and the (best) time is what is between these two times."

Jabir bin Abdullah narrated that : Allah's Messenger said: "Jibril let me (in Salat)". He mentioned something similar to the Hadith of Ibn Abbas (no. 149) in meaning, but he did not mention: "At the time of Asr the day before."

Abu Hurairah narrated that : Allah's Messenger said: "Indeed for (the time of) Salat (there is a) beglnning and an end. The beginning of the time for the Zuhr prayer is when the sun passes the zenith, and the end of its time is when the time for Asr enters. The beginning of the time for the Asr [prayer] is when its time enters, and the end of its time is when the sun yellows (turns pale). The beginning of the time of Maghrib is when the sun as set, and the end of its time is when the twilight has vanished (i.e., the horizon is invisible because of darkness). The beginning of the time for Isha, the later one, is when the horizon has vanished, and the end of its time is when the night is at its half. The beginning of the time for Fajr is when Fajr begins, and its end is when the sun rises."

Sulaiman bin Buraidah narrated that his father said: "A man came to the Prophet to ask him about the times for Salat. So he said: 'Stay with us, In sha Allah.' So he ordered Bilal to call the Iqamah when Fajr began, then he ordered him to call the Iqamah when the Sun passed the zenith, then he prayed Zuhr. Then he ordered him to call the Iqamah to pray Asr while the sun was elevated and white. Then he ordered him (to call the Iqamah for) Maghrib when the (top) edge of the sun had set. Then he ordered him to call the Iqamah for Isha when the horizon (twilight) had vanished. Then he ordered him in the morning (to give the call for Fajr prayer), when the light of Fajr glowed. Then he ordered (him to call the Iqamah for) Zuhr, so he waited well until it had cooled. Then he ordered (him to call the Iqamah for) Asr, so he calIed the Iqamah while the sun was later in its position than what it was (the day before). Then he ordered him to delay Maghrib until right before the twilight had disappeared. Then he ordered (him to call the Iqamah for) Isha, so he called the Iqamah when a third of the night had passed. Then he said: 'Where is the one who asked about he times for the Salat?' So the man said, 'It is I.' So he said: 'The times [or the Salat are what are between these two.'"

Aishah narrated: "Allah's Messenger would pray Subh (at such time that) the women would leave (after the prayer)" - AI-AnsarI (one of the narrators) said - the women would pass by wrapped in their Mirts and they would not be recognizable due to the darkness." And Qutaibah said: "covered." (instead of "wrapped.")

Rafi bin Khadlj said: "I heard Allah's Messenger saying: 'Perform Fajr at AI-Isfar, for indeed its reward is greater.'"

Aishah narrated: "I have not seen anyone who hastened Zuhr more than Allah's Messenger nor Abu Bakr, nor Umar."

Anas bin Malik narrated: "Allah's Messenger prayed Zuhr when the sun had passed the zenith."

Abu Hurairah narrated that : Allah's Messenger said: "In very hot weather, delay the (Zuhr) prayer until it becomes (a bit) cooler, because the severity of heat is from the raging of the Hell."

Abu Dharr narrated: "Allah's Messenger was on a journey and Bilal was with him. So he wanted to call for the prayer, but he (the Prophet) said: 'Let it get cooler.' Then he wanted to call for the prayer, so Allah's Messenger said: 'Let it get to the cooler time of Zuhr.'" He (i.e., Abu Dharr) said: "Until we saw the shadows of the hillocks, then he commanded that the Iqamah be called and then led the people in prayer. Allah's Messenger said: 'The severity of heat is from the raging of Hell, so wait until it becomes cooler for the (Zuhr) prayer.'"

Urwah narrated from Aishah: "Allah's Messenger prayed Asr while the sun was (shining) in her chamber, (and) no shadow appeared in her chamber."

Al-Ala bin Abdur-Raman narrated that : he visited Anas bin Malik in his home in Al Basrah after finishing Zuhr, and his home was next to the Masjid. So he said: 'Stand to pray Asr." He (Al-Ala) said: "So we stood to pray. When we were finished he (Anas) said: 'I heard Allah's Messenger saying: "That is the prayer of the hypocrite. He sits watching the sun, until when it is between the horns of the Shaitan he stands and pecks out four (units of prayer), not remembering Allah in them but a little."

Umm Salamah narrated: "Allah's Messenger would hasten Zuhr more than you (people), while you (people) hasten Asr more than him."

Narrator not mentioned: [And I have in my book: "Ali bin Hujr informed me from lsma'il bin Ibrahim, from Ibn Juraij."]

Similar narration is reported by Bishr ibn Mu'adh Al-Bari who said that : Isma'il ibn Ulayyah narrated to him from Ibn Juraij. This latter chain is more correct.

Salmah bin AI-Akwa narrated: "Allah's Messenger prayed Maghrib when the sun had set and it (the sun) had hidden in the veil (of darkness)."

An-Nu'man bin Bashir said: "I am the most knowledgeable among the people about the prescribed time of this prayer: Allah's Messenger would pray it when the moon set on the third (of the month)."

An-Nu'man bin Bashir said: A similar narration (from another chain linking to) this chain is also reported.

Abu Hurairah narrated that : Allah's Messenger said: "If it were not that it would be a hardship on my Ummah, then I would have ordered you to delay Isha until the third of the night, or its half."

Abu Barzah narrated: "The Prophet would dislike to sleep before Isha and to talk after it."

Umar bin Al-Khattab narrated: "Allah's Messenger would talk during the night with Abu Bakr about matters concerning the Muslims while I was with them."

Umm Farwah - and she was one of those who gave pledge of allegiance to the Prophet - narrated: "The Prophet was asked: 'Which deed is the best?' So he said: 'Salat in the beginning of its time.'"

Ali bin AbI Talib narrated that : the Prophet said to him: 'Ali! Three are not to be delayed: Salat when its time comes, a funeral whet it (a prepared body) is present, and the (marriage of a) single woman when there is an equal for her."

Ibn Umar narrated that : Allah's Messenger said: "The beginning of the time for Salat is pleasing to Allah, and the end of its time is pardoned by Allah."

Abu Amr Ash-Shaibani narrated: "A man said to Ibn Mas'ud: 'Which deed is most virtuous?' He said: 'I asked Allah's Messenger (that). He said: "Salat at the beginning of its time." I asked him: "What is after that O Messenger of Allah?" He said: "Being dutiful to one's parents." I said: "What is after that [O Messenger of Allah]?" He said: "Jihad in the Way of Allah."

Aishah narrated: "Allah's Messenger did not pray any Salat at the end of its time two times, until Allah took him."

Ibn Umar narrated that : the Prophet said: "Whoever misses the Asr prayer, then it is as if he was robbed of his family and his property."

Abu Dharr narrated that : the Prophet said: "O Abu Dharr! There will be leaders after me who cause the Salat to die; so perform the Salat during its time. If you pray (with them) during its time, then that will be voluntary Salat for you, if not, then you will have attained your Salat."

Abu Qatadah narrated: "They asked the Prophet about when they sIept past the Salat. He said: 'There is no negligence in sleep, negligence is only while one is awake. So when one of you forgets a Salat, or sleeps through it, then let him pray it when he remembers it.'"

Anas (bin Malik) narrated that : Allah's Messenger said: "Whoever forgets a Salat then he is to pray it when he remembers it."