2. The Book of the Prayer
The Chapters On The Time Of Prayer
It was narrated from Sulaiman bin Buraidah that his father said: "A man came to the Prophet and asked him about the times of the prayer. He said: 'Pray with us for two days.' When the sun passed its zenith he commanded Bilal to call the Adhan, then he commanded him to give the Iqamah for Zuhr; then he commanded him to give the Iqamah for 'Asr when the sun was high and clearly white. Then he commanded him to give the Iqamah for Maghrib when the sun had set; then he commanded him to give the Iqamah for 'Isha' when the red afterglow had disappeared; then he commanded him to give the Iqamah for Fajr when dawn came. On the following day he commanded him to give the Adhan for Zuhr when the extreme heat had passed and it had cooled down; then he prayed 'Asr when the sun was still high, but he delayed it more than he had done the day before; then he prayed Maghrib before the red afterglow disappeared; he prayed 'Isha' when one-third of the night had passed; and he prayed Fajr at the time when it was already light. Then he said: 'Where is the one who was asking about the times of Prayer?' The man said: 'Here I am, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'The times of your prayer are between the times you have seen.'" It was narrated from Ibn Shihab that: He was sitting on the cushions of 'Umar bin 'Abdul-'Aziz when he was the leader over Al-Madinah, and with him was 'Urwah bin Zubair. "umar delayed 'Asr somewhat, and 'Urwah said to him: "Jibril came down and led the Messenger of Allah in prayer." 'Umar said to him: "Know what you are saying, O 'Urwah!" he said: "I heard Bashir bin Abu Mas'ud saying, 'I heard Abu Mas'ud saying, "I heard the Messenger of Allah saying, 'Jibril came down and led me in prayer, and I prayed with him, then I prayed with him, then I prayed with him, then I prayed with him, then I prayed with him,' and he counted five prayers on his fingers."
The Time Of The Fajr Prayer
It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "The believing women used to perform the Subh prayer with the Prophet, then they would go back to their families and no one would recognize them," meaning of the darkness. It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that: The Messenger of Allah recited: And recite the Qur'an during the Fajr. Verily, the recitation of the Qur'an during Fajr is ever witnessed." He said: "It is witnessed by the angels of the night and the day." Mughith bin Sumayi said: "I prayed the Subh with 'Abdullah bin Zubair in the darkness, and when he said the Taslim, I turned to Ibn 'Umar and said: 'What is this prayer?' He said: 'This is how we prayed with the Messenger of Allah and with Abu Bakr and 'Umar. When 'Umar was stabbed, 'Uthman delayed it until there was light.'" It was narrated from Rafi' bin Khadij that: The Prophet said: "Pray the Subh early, for indeed its reward is greater" or "your reward."
The Time Of The Zuhr Prayer
It was narrated from Jabir bin Samurah that: The Prophet used to pray Zuhr when the sun had passed its zenith. It was narrated that Abu Barzah Al-Aslami said: "The Prophet used to pray the Hajir prayer, which you call 'Zuhr', when the sun had passed its zenith." It was narrated that Khabbab said: "We complained to the Messenger of Allah about the heat of the sunbaked ground, but he did not respond to our complaint." (Sahih)Another chain with similar wording. It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said: "We complained to the Messenger of Allah about the heat of the sunbaked ground, but he did not respond to our complaint."
Waiting For It To Cool Down Before The Zuhr Prayer When The Heat Is Intense
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'When it is very hot, then wait for it to cool down before you pray, for intense heat is from the flaring up of the Hell-fire.'" It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that: The Messenger of Allah said: "When it is very hot, then wait for it to cool down before you pray, for intense heat is from the flaring up of the Hell-fire." It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Wait for it to cool down before you pray, for intense heat is from the flaring up of the Hell-fire.'" It was narrated that Mughirah bin Shu'bah said: We were praying Zuhr with the Messenger of Allah at the time of intense heat (i.e., midday when the sun has just passed its zenith) and he said to us, "Wait for it to cool down before you pray, for intense heat is from the flaring up of the Hell-fire." It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Wait for it to cool down before you pray the Zuhr.'"
The Time Of The 'Asr Prayer
It was narrated from Anas bin Malik that: The Messenger of Allah used to pray 'Asr when the sun was still hot and high, and if a person were to go to the suburbs (of Al-Madinah) he would be able to reach it while the sun was still hot and high. It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "The Prophet prayed the 'Asr when the sun was shining into my room and there were no shadows yet."
Maintaining The 'Asr Prayer
It was narrated from 'Ali bin Abu Talib that,: On the Day of Khandaq, the Messenger of Allah said: "May Allah fill their houses and graves with fire, just as they distracted us from the middle prayer." It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar that: The Messenger of Allah said: "The one who misses the 'Asr prayer, it is as if he has been cheated out of his family and wealth." It was narrated that 'Abdullah said: "The idolaters kept the Prophet from the 'Asr prayer until the sun had set. He said: 'They kept us from performing the middle prayer; may Allah fill their graves and their houses with fire.'"
The Time Of The Maghrib Prayer
Abu Najashi said: "I heard Rafi' bin Khadij say: 'We used to perform the Maghrib at the time of the Messenger of Allah, and one of us would be able to see the places where his arrows would land when shot from his bow.'" (Sahih)Another chain with similar wording. It was narrated from Salamah bin Akwa' that: He used to pray the Maghrib with the Messenger of Allah when the sun set. It was narrated that 'Abbas bin 'Abdul-Muttalib said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'My Ummah will continue to adhere to the Fitrah so long as they do not delay the Maghrib until the stars have come out." (Hasan)Abu 'Abdullah bin Majah said: I heard Muhammed bin Yahya saying: 'The people in Baghdad were confused in narrating this Hadith. Abu Bakr Al-A'yan and I went to 'Awwam bin 'Abbad bin 'Awwam and he brought out to us the book of his father, and this Hadith was in it.'"
The Time Of The 'Isha' Prayer
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that: The Messenger of Allah said: "Were it not that it would be too difficult for my Ummah, I would have commanded them to delay the 'Isha'." It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Were it not that it would be too difficult for my Ummah, I would have delayed the 'Isha' prayer until one third or one half of the night had passed.'" Humaid said: "Anas bin Malik was asked: 'Did the Prophet wear a ring?' He said: 'Yes.' One night he delayed the 'Isha' prayer until almost the middle of the night. When he had prayed, he turned to face us and said: 'The people have prayed and gone to sleep, but you will still be in a state of prayer so long as you are waiting for the (next) prayer.'" (Sahih)Anas said: "It was as if I can see the sparkle from his ring.'" It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed said: "The Messenger of Allah led us for the Maghrib prayer. Then he did not come out until half the night had passed. Then he came out and led them in prayer, then he said: "The people have prayed and gone to sleep, but you are still in a state of prayer so long as you are waiting for the (next) prayer. Were it not for the weak and the sick, I wanted to delay this prayer until the middle of the night.'"
Times Of Prayer When It Is Cloudy
It was narrated that Buraidah Al-Aslami said: "We were with the Messenger of Allah on a campaign, and he said: 'Hasten to perform prayer on a cloudy day, for whoever misses the 'Asr prayer, all his good deeds will be in vain.'"
Whoever Sleeps Through Prayer Or Forgets it
It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said: 'The Prophet was asked about a man who forgets prayer or sleeps and misses it. He said: 'he performs it when he remembers it.'" It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said: "The Messenger of Allah said: 'Whoever forgets a prayer, let him perform it when he remembers it.'" It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that : When the Messenger of Allah was coming back from the battle of Khaibar, night came and he felt sleepy, so he made camp and said to Bilal: "Keep watch for us tonight." Bilal prayed as much as Allah decreed for him, and the Messenger of Allah and his Companions went to sleep. When dawn was approaching, Bilal went to his mount, facing towards the east, watching for the dawn. Then Bilal's eyes grew heavy while he was leaning on his mount (and he slept). Neither Bilal nor any of his Companions woke until they felt the heat of the sun. The Messenger of Allah was the first one to wake up. The Messenger of Allah was startled and said: "O Bilal!" Bilal said: "The same thing happened to me as happened to you. May my father and mother be ransomed for you, O Messenger of Allah!" He said: "Bring your mounts forward a little." So they brought their mounts forward a little (away from that place). Then the Messenger of Allah performed ablution and told Bilal to call the Iqamah for prayer, and he led them in the prayer. When the Prophet finished praying, he said: "Whoever forgets a Salah, let him pray it when he remembers, for Allah says: And perform the prayer for My remembrance." [Ta-Ha: 14] He (one of the narrators) said: "Ibn Shihab used to recite this Verse as meaning, 'when you remember'." 'Abdullah bin Rabah narrated that Abu Qatadah said: "They mentioned negligence because of sleeping too much, and he said: 'They slept until the sun had risen. The Messenger of Allah said: "There is no negligence when oneis sleeping, rather there is negligence when one is awake. If anyone of you forgets to pray, or sleeps and misses a prayer, then let him pray when he remembers, and during its time if it is a day after. (Sahih)'Abdullah bin Rabah said: "Imran bin Husain heard me when I was narrating this Hadith and said: 'O young man, look at how you are narrating the Hadith. I was present at the time of this Hadith with the Messenger of Allah.' And he did not deny anything of the Hadith."
The Time Of Prayer When One has An Excuse Or In Cases Of Necessity
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that: The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever catches one Rak'ah of the 'Asr before the sun sets, then he has caught it, and whoever catches one Rak'ah of the Subh before the sun rises, then he has caught it." It was narrated from 'Aishah that: The Messeenger of Allah said: "Whoever catches one Rak'ah of the Subh before the sun rises, then he has caught it, and whoever catches one Rak'ah of the 'Asr before the sun sets, then he has caught it." (Sahih)Another chain with similar wording.
The Prohibition Of Sleeping Before The 'Isha' prayer And Engaging In Conversation After
It was narrated that Abu Barzah Al-Aslami said: "The Messenger of Allah used to like to delay the 'Isha', and he disliked sleeping before it, and engaging in conversation after it." It was narrated that 'Aishah said: "The Messenger of Allah did not sleep before the 'Isha' nor stay up (talking) after it." It was narrated that 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud said: "The Messenger of Allah rebuked us for staying up (talking) after the 'Isha'."
Prohibition Of Saying The "Atamah Prayer" (Prayer Of Darkness)
It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'Do not let the Bedouin make you change the name of your prayer. It is the 'Isha', and they bring their camels in and milk them at nightfall.'" It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that: The Prophet said: "Do not let the Bedouins make you change the name of your prayer." Ibn Harmalah added: "Rather it is the 'Isha', but they say the 'Atamah because they bring their camels in for milking at that time (when it is dark)."