Discussion of the times of prayer, and clarification of the ruling on praying before the time.

The Shaykh : Standing for prayer does not occur except after the time has entered, so the entry of the time is necessary. If a person prays before the time, he has no prayer. Even if he was ignorant, he must repeat the prayer. Just as one who sacrifices before the Eid prayer has no sacrifice, even if he was ignorant. For this reason, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered those who sacrificed on the Day of Sacrifice before the Eid prayer to repeat the sacrifice, because it had occurred before the time. From this, it is derived that if a time-bound act of worship is performed before its time, what is the ruling? It becomes obligatory to repeat it, even if the person was ignorant. However, in prayer, if one prays before the time while ignorant, his prayer does not suffice for the obligatory prayer, but it becomes a voluntary prayer. This is because the one praying intended two things: he intended a prayer and that it be an obligatory prayer. The status of it being an obligatory prayer is invalidated, but the status of it being a prayer remains. So he is rewarded with the reward of a voluntary prayer. For this reason, the scholars have a phrase: "What is revealed to be non-existent becomes a voluntary prayer." This means that the obligatory prayer becomes a voluntary prayer when it is revealed that it was not obligatory, such as a prayer performed before the time. It becomes a voluntary prayer, and the reward of a voluntary prayer applies to it, but it does not suffice for the obligatory prayer.