Determining the setting of the sun in mountainous areas

The questioner:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, in mountainous areas, when does a person know that the sun has set? The sun may disappear from view at the beginning of the 'Asr prayer, so how does he know when it has set?

The Shaykh:
What areas?

The questioner:
Mountainous areas.

The Shaykh:
Yes, the point is not if it disappears behind a mountain. The point is when the night approaches. If the darkness comes from the east, that is a sign that the sun has set. But if the sun disappears behind a mountain and no night comes from the east, that is not the setting of the sun. That is merely the sun being blocked by an obstacle. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave us a clear sign. He said: When the night comes from here, meaning from the east, and the day departs from here, meaning from the west, then when the day departs from the west and the night comes from the east the prayer. As for it disappearing behind a mountain, or behind a high place, or behind buildings, this does not, no, it does not end the day. The day remains. Yes.