How to reconcile the hadiths prohibiting prayer after 'Asr with the hadith of 'Ali, who said
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The Shaykh : ... the prayer of 'Asr, and we know the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Sunan Ibn Majah 1249Sahih (Darussalam) ; and peace be upon you, and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. Welcome, please proceed. We are well, praise be to Allah. This is what creates a difficulty with the first hadith, the hadith of 'A'ishah, in which he says: Sunan an-Nasa'i 518Da'if (Darussalam) How does he pray... Is that clear?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : This is the difficulty. The answer comes from two aspects. The first aspect is the most important, because it concerns us, who follow the Messenger (peace be upon him). The second aspect concerns him (peace be upon him), and he has a special status. The first aspect, which is the most important, is answered by saying that the hadithSunan Ibn Majah 1249Sahih (Darussalam) is a general statement that has been specified. What is the meaning of this answer from the jurisprudential perspective?
The questioner : A general statement that has been specified...?
Al-Halabi : It means that this hadith is general, and it has a specification in another place.
The Shaykh : Understood. Its specifier is the hadith of 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and similar to it is the hadith of Anas ibn Malik:Sunan an-Nasa'i 573Sahih (Darussalam) Is that clear?
The questioner : Yes, it is clear.
The Shaykh : This exception specifies the first hadith. The first hadith covers all the time following the 'Asr prayer. The second hadith, by saying "no," does not mean all the time, but rather the time when the sun begins to turn yellow and the light narrows toward sunset. When you know this hadith from 'Ali and from Anas, the difficulty is resolved. Is that clear?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : But it is useful to mention the second answer, because this benefits us in other issues. The second answer assumes that we did not know this specifying hadith. Is that clear?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : We would say that he told his Ummah:Sunan an-Nasa'i 518Da'if (Darussalam) , but he himself did what he did because he had specific circumstances. He married nine women, which was more than the norm, whereas when a man with nine women came to him and embraced Islam, he told him: "Keep four of them and divorce the rest." Is there a contradiction between these two? No, because of the special status of the Messenger (peace be upon him). If the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed after 'Asr, that would be what? It would be a special status for him. But when does this apply? It applies when we are unaware of the hadith of 'Ali, which states "except when the sun is high and clear." Is the answer clear?
The questioner : Is that clear?
Another questioner : Excuse me, sir, regarding the hadith of 'Ali from the Messenger of Allah... Is it the opinion of 'Ali, or did he narrate it from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)...?
The Shaykh : No, I am saying that the hadith of 'Ali states that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited prayer after 'Asr except when the sun is high and clear. And it is a marfu' hadith. Yes.
There is no prayer after the ‘Asr until the sun has set
لا صلاة بعد العصر حتى تغرب الشمسThere is no prayer after 'Asr
لا صلاة بعد العصرThe questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : This is the difficulty. The answer comes from two aspects. The first aspect is the most important, because it concerns us, who follow the Messenger (peace be upon him). The second aspect concerns him (peace be upon him), and he has a special status. The first aspect, which is the most important, is answered by saying that the hadith
There is no prayer after the ‘Asr until the sun has set
لا صلاة بعد العصر حتى تغرب الشمسThe questioner : A general statement that has been specified...?
Al-Halabi : It means that this hadith is general, and it has a specification in another place.
The Shaykh : Understood. Its specifier is the hadith of 'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), and similar to it is the hadith of Anas ibn Malik:
forbade praying after 'Asr unless the sun was still white, clear and high
نهى عن الصلاة بعد العصر إلا أن تكون الشمس مرتفعة نقيةThe questioner : Yes, it is clear.
The Shaykh : This exception specifies the first hadith. The first hadith covers all the time following the 'Asr prayer. The second hadith, by saying "no," does not mean all the time, but rather the time when the sun begins to turn yellow and the light narrows toward sunset. When you know this hadith from 'Ali and from Anas, the difficulty is resolved. Is that clear?
The questioner : Yes, exactly.
The Shaykh : But it is useful to mention the second answer, because this benefits us in other issues. The second answer assumes that we did not know this specifying hadith. Is that clear?
The questioner: Yes.
The Shaykh : We would say that he told his Ummah:
There is no prayer after 'Asr
لا صلاة بعد العصرThe questioner : Is that clear?
Another questioner : Excuse me, sir, regarding the hadith of 'Ali from the Messenger of Allah... Is it the opinion of 'Ali, or did he narrate it from the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)...?
The Shaykh : No, I am saying that the hadith of 'Ali states that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) prohibited prayer after 'Asr except when the sun is high and clear. And it is a marfu' hadith. Yes.
Source
www.al-albany.com
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