Times when Prayer is Prohibited - Section 1

Ibn ‘Umar reported God’s Messenger as saying, “None of you must choose for himself and pray at the rising or setting of the sun.” In a version he said, “When the rim of the sun rises leave off prayer till it comes right up, when the rim of the sun goes below the horizon leave off prayer till it has set, and do not make the rising or setting of the sun your time of prayer, for it rises between the horns of the devil.” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا يَتَحَرَّى أَحَدُكُمْ فَيُصَلِّيَ عِنْدَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ وَلَا عِنْدَ غُرُوبِهَا» وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ قَالَ: «إِذَا طَلَعَ حَاجِبُ الشَّمْسِ فدعوا الصَّلَاة حَتَّى تبرز. فَإِذا غَابَ حَاجِبُ الشَّمْسِ فَدَعُوا الصَّلَاةَ حَتَّى تَغِيبَ وَلَا تَحَيَّنُوا بِصَلَاتِكُمْ طُلُوعَ الشَّمْسِ وَلَا غُرُوبَهَا فَإِنَّهَا تطلع بَين قَرْني الشَّيْطَان»

‘Uqba b. ‘Amir said:

There were three times at which God’s Messenger used to forbid us to pray or bury our dead—when the sun begins to rise till it is fully up, when the sun is at its height at midday till it passes the meridian, and when the sun draws near to setting till it sets. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ عُقْبَةَ بْنِ عَامِرٍ قَالَ: ثَلَاثُ سَاعَاتٍ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ينهانا أَن نصلي فِيهِنَّ أَو نَقْبُرَ فِيهِنَّ مَوْتَانَا: حِينَ تَطْلُعُ الشَّمْسُ بَازِغَةً حَتَّى تَرْتَفِعَ وَحِينَ يَقُومُ قَائِمُ الظَّهِيرَةِ حَتَّى تَمِيلَ الشَّمْسُ وَحِينَ تَضَيَّفُ الشَّمْسُ لِلْغُرُوبِ حَتَّى تغرب. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri reported God’s Messenger as saying, “No prayer is to be said after the morning prayer until the sun rises, or after the afternoon prayer until the sun sets.”. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «لَا صَلَاةَ بَعْدَ الصُّبْحِ حَتَّى تَرْتَفِعَ الشَّمْسُ وَلَا صَلَاةَ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ حَتَّى تَغِيبَ الشَّمْسُ»

‘Amr b. ‘Abasa said:

After the Prophet (ﷺ) had gone to Medina I went there, and I visited him and said, “Tell me about the prayer.” He replied, “Observe the Morning Prayer, then stop praying when the sun is rising till it is fully up, for when it rises it comes up between the horns of the devil, and the infidels prostrate themselves to it at that time. Then pray, for the prayer is witnessed and angels are attendant at it, till the shadow becomes about the breadth of a lance; then cease prayer, for at that time jahannam is heated up. Then when the shadow moves forward pray, for the prayer is witnessed and angels are attendant at it, till you pray the afternoon prayer; then cease prayer till the sun sets, for it sets between the horns of the devil, and at that time the infidels prostrate themselves to it.” I then asked God’s prophet to tell me about ablution, and he said, “None of you will keep his water for ablution handy and rinse his mouth, snuff up water and blow it out without the sins of his face, his mouth and the inner parts of his nose falling out. When he then washes his face as God has commanded him the sins of his face will fall out at the ends of his beard along with the water; when he then washes his arms up to the elbows the sins of his arms will fall out at his finger-tips along with the water; when he then wipes his head the sins of his head will fall out at the ends of his hairs along with the water when he then washes his feet up to the ankles the sins of his feet will fall out at his toes along with the water. Then if he stands praying, and praises, lauds and glorifies God as is fitting and devotes his whole heart to God, his sin will depart leaving him as he was the day his mother bore him.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن عَمْرو بن عبسة قَالَ: قَدِمَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ الْمَدِينَةَ فَقَدِمْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ فَقُلْتُ: أَخْبِرْنِي عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فَقَالَ: «صَلِّ صَلَاةَ الصُّبْحِ ثُمَّ أقصر عَن الصَّلَاة حَتَّى تَطْلُعُ الشَّمْسُ حَتَّى تَرْتَفِعَ فَإِنَّهَا تَطْلُعُ حِينَ تَطْلَعُ بَيْنَ قَرْنَيْ شَيْطَانٍ وَحِينَئِذٍ يَسْجُدُ لَهَا الْكُفَّارُ ثُمَّ صَلِّ فَإِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ مَشْهُودَةٌ مَحْضُورَةٌ حَتَّى يَسْتَقِلَّ الظِّلُّ بِالرُّمْحِ ثُمَّ أَقْصِرْ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فَإِنَّ حِينَئِذٍ تُسْجَرُ جَهَنَّمُ فَإِذَا أَقْبَلَ الْفَيْءُ فَصَلِّ فَإِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ مَشْهُودَةٌ مَحْضُورَةٌ حَتَّى تُصَلِّيَ الْعَصْرَ ثُمَّ أَقْصِرْ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ حَتَّى تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ فَإِنَّهَا تَغْرُبُ بَيْنَ قَرْنَيْ شَيْطَانٍ وَحِينَئِذٍ يسْجد لَهَا الْكفَّار» قَالَ فَقلت يَا نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ فَالْوُضُوءُ حَدِّثْنِي عَنْهُ قَالَ: «مَا مِنْكُم رجل يقرب وضوءه فيتمضمض ويستنشق فينتثر إِلَّا خَرَّتْ خَطَايَا وَجْهِهِ وَفِيهِ وَخَيَاشِيمِهِ ثُمَّ إِذَا غَسَلَ وَجْهَهُ كَمَا أَمَرَهُ اللَّهُ إِلَّا خَرَّتْ خَطَايَا وَجْهِهِ مِنْ أَطْرَافِ لِحْيَتِهِ مَعَ الْمَاءِ ثُمَّ يَغْسِلُ يَدَيْهِ إِلَى الْمِرْفَقَيْنِ إِلَّا خَرَّتْ خَطَايَا يَدَيْهِ مِنْ أَنَامِلِهِ مَعَ الْمَاءِ ثُمَّ يَمْسَحُ رَأْسَهُ إِلَّا خَرَّتْ خَطَايَا رَأْسِهِ مِنْ أَطْرَافِ شَعْرِهِ مَعَ الْمَاءِ ثُمَّ يَغْسِلُ قَدَمَيْهِ إِلَى الْكَعْبَيْنِ إِلَّا خَرَّتْ خَطَايَا رِجْلَيِهِ مِنْ أَنَامِلِهِ مَعَ الْمَاءِ فَإِنْ هُوَ قَامَ فَصَلَّى فَحَمِدَ اللَّهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ وَمَجَّدَهُ بِالَّذِي هُوَ لَهُ أَهْلٌ وَفَرَّغَ قَلْبَهُ لِلَّهِ إِلَّا انْصَرَفَ مِنْ خَطِيئَتِهِ كَهَيْئَتِهِ يَوْمَ وَلَدَتْهُ أُمُّهُ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Kuraib said that Ibn ‘Abbas, al-Miswar b. Makhrama and ‘Abd ar-Rahman b. al-Azhar sent him to ‘A’isha telling him to give her their greetings and ask her about the two <i>rak'as</i> after the afternoon prayer. He said that when he went to visit her and conveyed their message she told him to ask Umm Salama, so he came out to them and they sent him back to Umm Salama who said :

I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) prohibiting them and afterwards saw him praying them. When he came in I sent the slavegirl to him telling her to say that Umm Salama sent this query, “Messenger of God, I heard you prohibiting these two, and I see you praying them.” He replied, “Daughter of Abu Umayya,* you have asked about the two <i>rak'as</i> after the afternoon prayer. Some people of ‘Abd Qais came and hindered me from praying the two <i>rak'as</i> which come after the noon prayer, so those are the two I have been praying.” * Abu Umayya was Umm Salama’s father. Although the slavegirl conveyed the query, the reply is given as if addressed directly to Umm Salama. (Bukhari and Muslim)

وَعَنْ كُرَيْبٍ: أَنَّ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ وَالْمِسْوَرَ بْنَ مخرمَة وَعبد الرَّحْمَن بن أَزْهَر رَضِي اللَّهُمَّ عَنْهُم وأرسلوه إِلَى عَائِشَةَ فَقَالُوا اقْرَأْ عَلَيْهَا السَّلَامُ وَسَلْهَا عَن الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ بعدالعصرقال: فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَبَلَّغْتُهَا مَا أَرْسَلُونِي فَقَالَتْ سَلْ أُمَّ سَلَمَةَ فَخَرَجْتُ إِلَيْهِمْ فَرَدُّونِي إِلَى أم سَلمَة فَقَالَت أم سَلمَة رَضِي اللَّهُمَّ عَنْهَا سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَنْهَى عَنْهُمَا ثُمَّ رَأَيْتُهُ يُصَلِّيهِمَا ثُمَّ دَخَلَ فَأَرْسَلْتُ إِلَيْهِ الْجَارِيَةَ فَقُلْتُ: قُولِي لَهُ تَقُولُ أُمُّ سَلَمَةَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ سَمِعْتُكَ تَنْهَى عَنْ هَاتين وَأَرَاكَ تُصَلِّيهِمَا؟ قَالَ: «يَا ابْنَةَ أَبِي أُمَيَّةَ سَأَلْتِ عَنِ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ وَإِنَّهُ أَتَانِي نَاسٌ مِنْ عَبْدِ الْقَيْسِ فَشَغَلُونِي عَنِ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ اللَّتَيْنِ بعد الظّهْر فهما هَاتَانِ»

Muhammad b. Ibrahim on the authority of Qais b. ‘Amr told how when the prophet saw a man praying two <i>rak'as</i> after the Morning Prayer he said, “At the Morning Prayer pray two <i>rak'as</i>." The man replied I had not prayed the two <i>rak'as</i> which precede them, so I prayed themjust now,” and God’s Messenger said nothing. Abu Dawud transmitted it. Tirmidhi transmitted something similar, saying, “The <i>isnad</i> of this tradition is not connected, because Muhammad b. Ibrahim did not hear from Qais b. ‘Amr.” There is something similar in <i>Sharh as-sunna</i> and in some texts of <i>al-Masabih</i> from Qais b. Qahd.

عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ عَمْرو قَالَ: رَأَى النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ رَجُلًا يُصَلِّي بَعْدَ صَلَاةِ الصُّبْحِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «صَلَاة الصُّبْحِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ رَكْعَتَيْنِ» فَقَالَ الرَّجُلُ: إِنِّي لَمْ أَكُنْ صَلَّيْتُ الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ اللَّتَيْنِ قَبْلَهُمَا فَصَلَّيْتُهُمَا الْآنَ. فَسَكَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ. رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَرَوَى التِّرْمِذِيُّ نَحْوَهُ وَقَالَ: إِسْنَادُ هَذَا الْحَدِيثِ لَيْسَ بِمُتَّصِلٍ لِأَنَّ مُحَمَّدَ بن إِبْرَاهِيم يسمع لَمْ يَسْمَعْ مِنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو. وَفِي شَرْحِ السُّنَّةِ وَنُسَخِ الْمَصَابِيحِ عَنْ قَيْسِ بْنِ قهد نَحوه

Jubair b. Mut'im reported the Prophet (ﷺ) as saying, “You descendants of ‘Abd Manaf must not prevent anyone who goes round this House and prays at any hour of the night or day he wishes.” Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Nasa’i transmitted it.

وَعَن جُبَير بن مطعم أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «يَا بَنِي عَبْدَ مَنَافٍ لَا تَمْنَعُوا أَحَدًا طَافَ بِهَذَا الْبَيْتِ وَصَلَّى آيَةً سَاعَةَ شَاءَ مِنْ لَيْلٍ أَوْ نَهَارٍ» . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد وَالنَّسَائِيّ

Abfi Huraira said that the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade prayer at the middle of the day until the sun declined from the meridian, with the exception of Friday. Shafi‘i transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ: أَنَّ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَهَى عَنْ الصَّلَاةِ نِصْفَ النَّهَارِ حَتَّى تَزُولَ الشَّمْسُ إِلَّا يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ. رَوَاهُ الشَّافِعِي

Abu Khalil said on the authority of Abu Qatada that the Prophet (ﷺ) disliked prayer in the middle of the day before the sun declined from the meridian, except on Friday, saying, “Jahannam is heated up except on Friday.” Abu Dawud transmitted it, adding that Abu Khalil did not meet Abu Qatada.

وَعَنْ أَبِي الْخَلِيلِ عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ قَالَ: كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَرِهَ الصَّلَاة نصف النَّهَار حَتَّى نِصْفَ النَّهَارِ حَتَّى تَزُولَ الشَّمْسُ إِلَّا يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَقَالَ: «إِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ تُسَجَّرُ إِلَّا يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ» . رَوَاهُ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَقَالَ أَبُو الْخَلِيلِ لم يلق أَبَا قَتَادَة

‘Abdallah as-Sunabihi reported God’s Messenger as saying, “The sun rises accompanied by the horn of the devil, but when it is fully risen it leaves it; then when it is at the meridian it joins it, but when it passes the meridian it leaves it; then when it comes near to setting it joins it, but when it sets it leaves it.” God’s Messenger prohibited prayer at those hours. Malik, Ahmad and Nasa’i transmitted it.

عَن عبد الله الصنَابحِي قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ تَطْلُعُ وَمَعَهَا قَرْنُ الشَّيْطَانِ فَإِذَا ارْتَفَعَتْ فَارَقَهَا ثُمَّ إِذَا اسْتَوَتْ قَارَنَهَا فَإِذا زَالَت فَارقهَا فَإِذَا دَنَتْ لِلْغُرُوبِ قَارَنَهَا فَإِذَا غَرَبَتْ فَارَقَهَا» . وَنَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ عَنِ الصَّلَاةِ فِي تِلْكَ السَّاعَاتِ. رَوَاهُ مَالِكٌ وَأحمد وَالنَّسَائِيّ

Abu Basra al-Ghifari said:

God’s Messenger led us in the afternoon prayer at al-Mukhammas and said, “This is a prayer which was proposed to your predecessors, but they neglected it. Everyone who keeps observing it will have a double reward, but there is no prayer after it till <i>ash-shahid</i> rises.” <i>Ash-shahid</i> is the star.* * No particular star is intended. The meaning is that the prayer should be observed when stars become visible. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن أبي بصرة الْغِفَارِيّ قَالَ: صَلَّى بِنَا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالْمُخَمَّصِ صَلَاةَ الْعَصْرِ فَقَالَ: «إِنَّ هَذِهِ صَلَاةٌ عُرِضَتْ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ فَضَيَّعُوهَا فَمَنْ حَافَظَ عَلَيْهَا كَانَ لَهُ أَجْرُهُ مَرَّتَيْنِ وَلَا صَلَاةَ بَعْدَهَا حَتَّى يَطْلُعَ الشَّاهِدُ» . وَالشَّاهِد النَّجْم. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Mu'awiya said, “You observe a prayer which we who were the companions of God's Messenger never saw him pray; indeed, he forbade them;”* meaning the two <i>rak'as</i> after the afternoon prayer. * The dual is used here, the reference being to the two <i>rak’as</i>. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَن مُعَاوِيَة قَالَ: إِنَّكُمْ لَتُصَلُّونَ صَلَاةً لَقَدْ صَحِبْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَمَا رَأَيْنَاهُ يُصَلِّيهِمَا وَلَقَدْ نَهَى عَنْهُمَا يَعْنِي الرَّكْعَتَيْنِ بَعْدَ الْعَصْر. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Abu Dharr who had gone up on the step of the Ka'ba said:

He who knows me knows me, and if anyone does not know me, I am Jundub* who heard God's Messenger say, “There is no prayer after the morning prayer till the sun rises, or after the afternoon prayer till the sun sets except in Mecca, except in Mecca, except in Mecca.” * Abu Dharr’s name was Jundub b- Janada. Ahmad and Razin transmitted it.

وَعَن أبي ذَر قَالَ وَقَدْ صَعِدَ عَلَى دَرَجَةِ الْكَعْبَةِ: مَنْ عَرَفَنِي فَقَدْ عَرَفَنِي وَمَنْ لَمْ يَعْرِفْنِي فَأَنَا جُنْدُبٌ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ: «لَا صَلَاةَ بَعْدَ الصُّبْحِ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ وَلَا بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ حَتَّى تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ إِلَّا بِمَكَّةَ إِلَّا بِمَكَّةَ إِلَّا بِمَكَّةَ» . رَوَاهُ أَحْمد ورزين