Explanation of the author's statement: "… The time of the Zuhr prayer is from the sun reaching its zenith until the shadow of an object equals its shadow after the zenith shadow…".

The Shaykh : Then the author (may Allah have mercy on him) began to explain the times of prayer in detail, saying: "The time of the Zuhr prayer is from the sun reaching its zenith". The author began with this because Jibril began with it when he led the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in prayer. Some scholars begin with the Fajr prayer; they begin with the Fajr prayer because it is the first prayer of the day, and because it is by beginning with it that it is established that the Asr prayer is the middle prayer. The discussion on this is easy, meaning it does not matter whether we begin with the Zuhr or the Fajr; the important thing is that we know the times. He said: "The time of the Zuhr prayer is from the sun reaching its zenith until the shadow of an object equals its shadow after the zenith shadow". Some linguists say that *fi'ah* is the shadow after the zenith. *Fi'ah* is the shadow after the zenith, whereas before that it is called *zill* (shadow) and not *fi'ah*. What they said has a basis, because *fi'ah* is derived from *fa'a yaf'u*, as if the shadow returned after it had been light. As for that which has always existed, it is not called *fi'ah* because it has always been in shadow. For example, at this time, we find that the southern side of an object, which is actually the northern side relative to the object, is always in shadow, is it not? This is not called *fi'ah*. But if we find that the sun illuminated this place, and then after the zenith the shadow appeared, we call this *fi'ah*. So, the equality of the shadow's *fi'ah* after the zenith shadow is because when the sun rises, a vertical object has a shadow toward the west. The base of the vertical object is the elevated thing, and its shadow is toward the west. Then this shadow continues to decrease as the sun rises in the horizon until it stops decreasing. When it stops decreasing and then increases, even by the width of a hair, this is the zenith. This is the zenith. So, if you want to know the zenith, place a vertical object and observe it. You will find that as the sun rises, the shadow decreases. As long as it is decreasing, the sun has not reached the zenith. If it increases, even by the slightest increase, the sun has reached the zenith, and at that time the time of Zuhr has entered. Do you understand now? Good. The author says "after the zenith shadow," meaning that the shadow at the time the sun reached the zenith is not counted. In our current time, when the sun was tilting toward the south, there must have been a permanent shadow for every vertical object on its northern side. This shadow is not considered. If the shadow begins to increase, place a mark at the beginning of its increase. Then, when the shadow extends from this mark by the length of the vertical object, the time of Zuhr has ended and the time of Asr has entered. There is no difference between the vertical object being long or short, but the increase in the shadow and the decrease are more apparent when it is long. It is more apparent, meaning it is clearer when it is long. Do we know this now, or not? Good. How did we know? We said: place a vertical object, meaning a stick. If you place it, it will have a shadow. This shadow decreases as the sun rises. As long as it is decreasing, the sun has not reached the zenith. If it increases, even by the slightest increase, the sun has reached the zenith. At that time, the time of Zuhr enters. Until when? We said: place a mark at the beginning of the increase. Place a mark at the beginning of the increase. Then observe the shadow. When it reaches a point equal to the length of the vertical object from the mark, the time of Zuhr has ended and the time of Asr has entered. Is that clear? As for the sign of the zenith by the clock, divide the time between the sunrise and the sunset into two halves. Divide it into two halves, and this is the zenith. If we estimate that the sun rises at six o'clock and sets at six o'clock, the zenith is twelve o'clock. If it rises at seven o'clock and sets at seven o'clock, the time is one hour.

The questioner : The time is twelve and a half.

The Shaykh : Good, wait. The time is seven. How much is left with us? Five hours. Seven plus twelve, is it or not? Add six to seven, that is thirteen. How much is this thirteen? One. Yes. This is the sign by the clock. But the sign by the sun is what was mentioned. Good. Then the author said: We will mention, if Allah wills, the evidence at the end.