Explaining the Times of Prayer
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Q149: The questioner says: Regarding prayer, we are ignorant of the times of prayer here. How should we act or estimate the times of the prayers so that we can perform our obligations at their times? It may have happened that we prayed the prayers outside their times. What is the ruling in this case?
A149: Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has determined the times of the prayers, and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified them by his words and his actions. They are clear limits known by the layperson, the scholar, the city dweller, and every Muslim. The rising of the dawn is the time for the Fajr prayer, when the dawn appears. The time for the Zuhr prayer is when the sun passes from the middle of the sky toward the west. The time for the 'Asr prayer is when the shadow of a thing becomes equal to its length, meaning the shadow of the object equals the object itself; here the time for 'Asr begins. The time for Maghrib is when the sun sets. The time for 'Isha' is when the red twilight disappears. These are clear times that are known. It is obligatory for the Muslim to adhere to them, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Isra 17:78], and His saying the Exalted: [Ar-Rum 30:17-18],
and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified these times for the Muslims, and he said (peace and blessings be upon him):Sahih al-Bukhari 6008 And Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said: [An-Nisa 4:103], meaning: prescribed at specific times in which they are performed. Wherever a person may be, he may perform the prayers in these clear times that Allah and His Messenger clarified for the Muslims. It is obligatory for you to adhere to the times, and not to advance the prayer before its time, or delay it past its time. You must strive to know this in the country where you are, by observing the sun and knowing when it passes its zenith, observing the time of 'Asr, observing the setting of the sun, and the disappearance of the twilight. It is obligatory for you to strive and observe these times, and to ask
those who have expertise in that country. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, assists the Muslim if he cares about the affairs of his religion.
A149: Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, has determined the times of the prayers, and His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified them by his words and his actions. They are clear limits known by the layperson, the scholar, the city dweller, and every Muslim. The rising of the dawn is the time for the Fajr prayer, when the dawn appears. The time for the Zuhr prayer is when the sun passes from the middle of the sky toward the west. The time for the 'Asr prayer is when the shadow of a thing becomes equal to its length, meaning the shadow of the object equals the object itself; here the time for 'Asr begins. The time for Maghrib is when the sun sets. The time for 'Isha' is when the red twilight disappears. These are clear times that are known. It is obligatory for the Muslim to adhere to them, due to the saying of Allah the Exalted:
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.
أَقِمِ الصَّلاَةَ لِدُلُوكِ الشَّمْسِ إِلَى غَسَقِ اللَّيْلِ وَقُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ إِنَّ قُرْآنَ الْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًا(17) So exalted is Allah when you reach the evening and when you reach the morning. (18) And to Him is [due all] praise throughout the heavens and the earth. And [exalted is He] at night and when you are at noon.
فَسُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ حِينَ تُمْسُونَ وَحِينَ تُصْبِحُونَ (17) وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَعَشِيًّا وَحِينَ تُظْهِرُونَand the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) clarified these times for the Muslims, and he said (peace and blessings be upon him):
and offer your prayers in the way you saw me offering my prayers
وصلوا كما رأيتموني أصليAnd when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, or [lying] on your sides. But when you become secure, re-establish [regular] prayer. Indeed, prayer has been decreed upon the believers a decree of specified times.
فَإِذَا قَضَيْتُمُ الصَّلاَةَ فَاذْكُرُوا اللَّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَى جُنُوبِكُمْ فَإِذَا اطْمَأْنَنْتُمْ فَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلاَةَ إِنَّ الصَّلاَةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًاthose who have expertise in that country. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, assists the Muslim if he cares about the affairs of his religion.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.