At what times is prayer not allowed?
The question as asked, details removedAre there times of the day when we should not pray?More
This is a sample answer written to show how the site works. It follows the standard Hanafi books, but no mufti has reviewed or signed it yet, so it is not a fatwa. For a real answer, ask a question. Ask a mufti
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ اَلْجَوَابُ بِعَوْنِ الْمَلِكِ الْوَهَّابِ اَللّٰهُمَّ هِدَايَةَ الْحَقِّ وَالصَّوَابِ
1Short answer
No prayer at all is allowed at three times: while the sun is rising (until about 20 minutes after sunrise), at exact midday (zawal), and while the sun is setting, except that day's Asr if not yet prayed. After Fajr until sunrise, and after Asr until sunset, nafl prayers are disliked but qada prayers are allowed.
2Detailed answer
There are two groups of times:
- Three times in which no prayer is allowed, whether fard, wajib, nafl or qada:
- From the start of sunrise until the sun has risen clearly, about 20 minutes.
- At zawal, when the sun is at its highest point, until it begins to decline.
- From when the sun turns pale before sunset until it has set.
- Two periods in which nafl prayers are disliked, but qada prayers, sajdah tilawah and the funeral prayer are allowed:
- After praying Fajr until sunrise.
- After praying Asr until the sun turns pale.
The one exception to the first group: if a person has not yet prayed that same day's Asr, they must pray it even at sunset, though delaying it that late is a sin.
Even the sunnah of Fajr, if missed, is not prayed after the fard of Fajr; it is better to pray it after sunrise, before zawal.
3Evidence and sources
- Sahih Muslim, Book of the Prayers of Travellers
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Book of the Times of Prayer
- Bahar-e-Shariat, chapter on disliked times
Arabic texts, translations and how the ruling was derived
ثلاث ساعات كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ينهانا أن نصلي فيهن أو أن نقبر فيهن موتانا: حين تطلع الشمس بازغة حتى ترتفع، وحين يقوم قائم الظهيرة حتى تميل الشمس، وحين تضيف الشمس للغروب حتى تغرب
Meaning: There are three times in which the Messenger of Allah ﷺ forbade us to pray or to bury our dead: when the sun rises until it is high, when the sun is at its height at midday until it declines, and when the sun is about to set until it sets.
The Prophet ﷺ also said that there is no prayer after Fajr until the sun rises, and none after Asr until it sets. The fuqaha apply this second narration to nafl prayers only.
وَاللهُ أَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَرَسُوْلُهُ أَعْلَمُ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّمَ