Rulings Concerning the Entry and Exit of Prayer Times
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The Shaykh : The benefit of this specification is that if a person is in a state where prayer is obligatory before the time enters, prayer becomes obligatory upon him. However, if his capacity for prayer ceases before the time enters and that cessation continues until the time enters or until the time exits, prayer is not obligatory upon him. For example, suppose a man is struck by an illness and loses consciousness before the sun passes its zenith, and he does not regain consciousness until after the sun has set. Is the midday and afternoon prayer obligatory upon him?
No, the midday and afternoon prayer are not obligatory upon him, because his reason ceased before the time entered, and his reason did not return until after the time had exited. Therefore, no prayer is required of him.
Now, what about a woman who becomes pure from menstruation after the sun has set? Is the midday and afternoon prayer obligatory upon her? She became pure from menstruation after the sun set; is the midday and afternoon prayer obligatory upon her? No. Why? Because the time has exited.
Now, what about a woman who begins menstruating a quarter of an hour before the sun passes its zenith? Is she required to make up the midday prayer if she becomes pure?
Answer: She is not required to, because her capacity for prayer ceased before the time entered.
What about a woman who becomes pure from menstruation after midnight? Is the night prayer obligatory upon her? No. Why? Because the time has exited. And so you may apply this analogy to other cases.
This is one of the conditions of prayer: the entry of the time. Its evidence is in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). So, from the Qur'an, what is the evidence, O brother?
The student:[An-Nisa 4:103].
The Shaykh : The evidence for the times, not that they are time-bound. That is what you are saying is evidence that they are time-bound, but the evidence for the times themselves.
The student:[Al-Isra 17:78].
The Shaykh : Well done. Now, what is the evidence from the Sunnah? Please proceed.
The student: The saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh : The hadith of 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As: "The time for the midday prayer is when the sun passes its zenith and the shadow of a man is equal to his height, as long as the time for the afternoon prayer has not arrived."
The student: And the time for the afternoon prayer is until the sun turns yellow, and the time for the sunset prayer is until the red twilight disappears, and the time for the night prayer is until the middle of the night, and the time for the dawn prayer.
The Shaykh : Is until the sun rises.
The student: The sun.
The Shaykh : Good, well done.
No, the midday and afternoon prayer are not obligatory upon him, because his reason ceased before the time entered, and his reason did not return until after the time had exited. Therefore, no prayer is required of him.
Now, what about a woman who becomes pure from menstruation after the sun has set? Is the midday and afternoon prayer obligatory upon her? She became pure from menstruation after the sun set; is the midday and afternoon prayer obligatory upon her? No. Why? Because the time has exited.
Now, what about a woman who begins menstruating a quarter of an hour before the sun passes its zenith? Is she required to make up the midday prayer if she becomes pure?
Answer: She is not required to, because her capacity for prayer ceased before the time entered.
What about a woman who becomes pure from menstruation after midnight? Is the night prayer obligatory upon her? No. Why? Because the time has exited. And so you may apply this analogy to other cases.
This is one of the conditions of prayer: the entry of the time. Its evidence is in the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). So, from the Qur'an, what is the evidence, O brother?
The student:
Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
إن الصلاة كانت على المؤمنين كتابا موقوتاThe Shaykh : The evidence for the times, not that they are time-bound. That is what you are saying is evidence that they are time-bound, but the evidence for the times themselves.
The student:
Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.
أقم الصلاة لدلوك الشمس إلى غسق الليل وقرآن الفجر إن قرآن الفجر كان مشهوداThe Shaykh : Well done. Now, what is the evidence from the Sunnah? Please proceed.
The student: The saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him).
The Shaykh : The hadith of 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'As: "The time for the midday prayer is when the sun passes its zenith and the shadow of a man is equal to his height, as long as the time for the afternoon prayer has not arrived."
The student: And the time for the afternoon prayer is until the sun turns yellow, and the time for the sunset prayer is until the red twilight disappears, and the time for the night prayer is until the middle of the night, and the time for the dawn prayer.
The Shaykh : Is until the sun rises.
The student: The sun.
The Shaykh : Good, well done.