Monday, 1 May 2017

TIMES OF PRESCRIBED FIVE DAILY PRAYERS


TIMES OF PRESCRIBED FIVE DAILY PRAYERS

ASSEMBLED BY MALLAM ABBA ABANA, KUBWA, ABUJA, NIGERIA



emails:gonidamgamiri@yahoo.com; abba.abana@gmail.com

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah. As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu. Amma Ba’d.


Praise be to Allaah; we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Sal Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam) is His slave and Messenger.

1.0 Question Was Raised In A Masjid On:-

1.      Using a timetable to stick to the times of Asr prayer.

2.      Correctness of all prayer timetables. Time for ASR is 3.35PM on the time table. Is this correct?

3.      Why Badr Mosque in Kubwa prays 3.45PM in Kubwa while others pray before 4.00PM and this Mosque prays at 4.00PM?

In response, we gave the following; in Abuja Mosques pray at different times and should not restrict to Kubwa, which would help our brothers and Muslims to know the importance of prayer in Islam and also timing using astronomical calculations or on timetables whose authors are unknown as far as their trustworthiness and knowledge are concerned, especially if it is proven that they do not give the correct times. 

Besides one should not use his/her business timing to override prayer time instituted by the local mosque after due consideration within themselves and is within preferred time and not necessity time of prayer. ASR has two times for the end of ‘Asr prayer; the preferred time and the time of necessity time. See Section 3.2 on ASR Prayer Time according to Sunnah.

We give brief background of prayer for both nominal Muslims and sound ones to carry them along.

2.0 ARE THE FIVE DAILY PRAYERS MENTIONED IN THE QUR’AAN?

In the Tafseer of this aayah, The Holy Qur'an, Surah 30: Al Rum 17, it is reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The five daily prayers are (mentioned) in the Qur’aan.” He was asked, “Where?” He said, “Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): ‘So glorify Allaah when you come up to the evening’ is maghrib and ‘isha’; ‘and when you enter the morning’ is fajr; ‘in the afternoon’ is ‘asr; and ‘the time when the day begins to decline’ is zuhr.” Other mufassireen, such as al-Dahhaak and Sa’eed ibn Jubayr said the same thing.

Some of the mufassireen said that these aayat mention only four of the prayers; ‘isha’ is not mentioned here, but it is mentioned in Soorat Hood, where Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “… and in some hours of the night…” [Holy Quran Chapter Hood 11:114]. Most of the mufassireen are of the first opinion. Al-Nahhaas (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The scholars of Tafseer say that the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): ‘So glorify Allaah when you come up to the evening and when you enter the morning…’ [Holy Quran Chapter al-Room 30:17] refers to the prayers.” 

Imaam al-Jassaas (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): ‘… The prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed times [mawqootan].’ [Holy Quran Chapter al-Nisa’ 4:103]. It was reported that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood said: ‘[Mawqootan means that] Salaah has an appointed time just as Hajj does.’ It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas, Mujaahid and ‘Atiyyah said [that mawqootan means] ‘It is obligatory’… The word ‘mawqootan’ means that it is obligatory at certain times. The times are referred to in general terms in this aayah and are explained elsewhere in the Book, without defining precisely when those times start and end – that was explained in detail by the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).  What Allaah mentioned about the times of the prayers in His Book is (interpretation of the meaning): “Perform al-Salaah from mid-day till the darkness of the night and recite the Qur’aan in the early dawn…” [Holy Quran Chapter al-Isra’ 17:78].

Mujaahid reported from Ibn ‘Abbaas: “’Mid-day’ means when the sun has passed its zenith for salaat al-zuhr, and ‘the darkness of the night’ means the beginning of the night, for salaat al-maghrib.” It was also reported from Ibn ‘Umar that mid-day meant the zenith…  Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And perform al-salaah at the two ends of the day and in some parts of the night” [Holy Quran Chapter Hood 11:114].

‘Amr reported from al-Hasan that ‘the two ends of the day’ means fajr at the first end and zuhr and ‘asr at the other; ‘some parts of the night’ means maghrib and ‘isha’. So according to this opinion the aayah refers to all five prayers….  Layth reported from al-Hakam from Abu ‘Ayyaad that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: “This aayah mentions all five prayers together. ‘So glorify Allaah when you come up to the evening’ refers to maghrib and ‘isha’,  ‘and when you enter the morning’ refers to fajr, ‘in the afternoon’ is ‘asr; and ‘the time when the day begins to decline’ is zuhr.” Something similar was also reported from al-Hasan. 

Abu Razeen reported from Ibn ‘Abbaas: “ ‘…and glorify the praises of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before (its) setting’ [Holy Quran Chapter Qaaf 50:39 – interpretation of the meaning] refers to the prescribed prayers. ‘… and glorify the praises of your Lord before the rising of the sun, and before its setting, and during some of the hours of the night, and at the sides of the day, that you may become pleased with the reward which Allaah shall give you.’ [Holy Quran Chapter Ta-Ha 20:130 – interpretation of the meaning] This aayah also includes the times of the prayers. All of these aayaat mention the times of the prayers.”  Ahkaam al-Qur’aan by al-Jassaas, Baab Mawaaqeet al-Salaah

What we should know is that the Holy Qur’aan does not contain details of all the rules but it also tells us that the Sunnah is a source of evidence in which many rules are mentioned in detail that are not mentioned in the Holy Qur’aan. Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):

“… and We have also sent down to you (O Muhammad) the reminder and the advice (the Qur’aan), that you may explain clearly to men what is sent down to them and that they may give thought.” [Holy Quran Chapter al-Nahl 16:44]. “… and whatsoever the Messenger gives you, take it…” [Holy Quran Chapter al-Hashr 59:7]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I have been given the Qur’aan and something like it with it…” (Reported by Imaam Ahmad, 16546; this is a saheeh hadeeth). Whether the rules were narrated in the Qur’aan or in the Sunnah, all of it is true and right, and all of it has one source, which is the wahy or revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.

3.0 TIMES OF THE FIVE DAILY PRAYERS; (FAJR, ZUHR, ASR, MAGRIB AND ISHAI)

Allaah has enjoined upon His slaves five prayers throughout the day and night at specific times decreed by the wisdom of Allaah so that the slave may be in contact with his Lord in these prayers throughout all of these times. They are for the heart like water for a tree, given to it time after time, not all in one go and then it stops. Refer to Isra and Mi'raj night journey of the Prophet (Sal Allahu Alaihi Wa Sallam)  mentioned in Hadiths. Part of the wisdom behind doing the prayers at these times is so that people will not get bored or find it too difficult, which would happen if they all had to be done at once. Blessed be Allaah, the Wisest of judges. 

(From the Introduction to Risaalat Ahkaam Mawaaqeet al-Salaah (Essay on the Rulings on the Times of the Prayers) by Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen, may Allaah have mercy on him). The times of the prayers were mentioned by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in the hadeeth: “The time for Zuhr is from when the sun has passed its zenith and a man’s shadow is equal in length to his height, until the time for ‘Asr comes. The time for ‘Asr lasts until the sun turns yellow. The time for Maghrib lasts until the twilight has faded. The time for ‘Isha’ lasts until midnight. The time for Subh (Fajr) prayer lasts from the beginning of the pre-dawn so long as the sun has not yet started to rise. When the sun starts to rise then stop praying, for it rises between the two horns of the Shaytaan.” (Narrated by Muslim, 612). 

This hadeeth explains the timings of the five daily prayers. As for defining them by the clock, that varies from one city or country to another. We will define each in more detail for those not reading Risaalat Ahkaam Mawaaqeet al-Salaah as follows: 

3.1 – THE PRAYER TIME OF ZUHR 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The time for Zuhr is from when the sun has passed its zenith and a man’s shadow is equal in length to his height, until the time for ‘Asr comes.” So the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) defined the start and the end of the time for Zuhr: 

The start of the time for Zuhr is when the sun has passed its zenith i.e., has passed the highest part of the sky and started to descend towards the west. 

Practical way of knowing when the zenith has been passed (and the time for Zuhr has begun): 

Put a stick or pole in an open place. When the sun rises in the east, the shadow of this stick will fall towards the west. The higher the sun rises, the shorter the shadow will become. So long as it keeps growing shorter, the sun has not yet reached its zenith. The shadow will keep on growing shorter until it reaches a certain point, then it will start to increase, falling towards the east. When it increases by even a small amount, then the sun has passed its zenith. At that point the time for Zuhr has begun. 

Knowing the time of the zenith by the clock: divide the time between sunrise and sunset in half, and that is the time of the zenith. If we assume that the sun rises at 6 a.m. and sets at 6 p.m., then the zenith is at 12 noon. If it rises at 7 a.m. and sets at 7 p.m., then the zenith is at 1 p.m., and so on. Refer to al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 2/96 

The end of the time for Zuhr is when the shadow of everything is equal in length to the object itself, plus the length of the shadow of the object at the time of the zenith.  

Practical way of knowing when the time for Zuhr has ended: go back to the stick or pole which we described above. Let us assume that its length is one meter. We will notice that before the sun reached its zenith, the shadow decreased gradually until it reached a certain point (make a mark at this point), then it started to increase, at which point the time for Zuhr began. The shadow will continue to increase, falling towards the east until the length of the shadow is equal to the length of the object itself, i.e., it will be one meter long, starting from the point marked at the zenith). As for the shadow before the mark, that is not counted, and it is called fay’ al-zawaal (the shadow of the zenith). At this point the time for Zuhr ends and the time for ‘Asr begins straight away. 

3.2 – THE PRAYER TIME OF ‘ASR 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The time for ‘Asr lasts until the sun turns yellow.” 

We know that the time for ‘Asr begins when the time for Zuhr ends, i.e., when the length of an object’s shadow becomes equal to the length of the object itself. There are two times for the end of ‘Asr. 

(1)    The preferred time: this lasts from the beginning of the time for ‘Asr until the sun begins to turn yellow, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The time for ‘Asr lasts until the sun turns yellow.” Defining this time by the clock varies according to the season (raining, winter, hot etc).

(2)    The time of necessity. This lasts from the time the sun turns yellow until sunset, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever catches up with one rak’ah of ‘Asr before the sun sets has caught up with ‘Asr.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 579; Muslim, 608) 

Question: what is meant by the time of necessity? 

Necessity here refers to when a person is distracted from praying ‘Asr by some essential and unavoidable work, such as dressing wounds, and he is able to pray before the sun turns yellow but it is difficult, then he prays just before sunset. In this case he has prayed on time and has not sinned, because this is the time of necessity. If a person is forced to delay the prayer, there is no sin so long as he prays before the sun sets. 

3.3 – THE PRAYER TIME OF MAGHRIB 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The time for Maghrib lasts until the twilight has faded.” i.e., the time for Maghrib starts immediately after the time for ‘Asr ends, which is when the sun sets, until the twilight or red afterglow has faded. When the red afterglow has disappeared from the sky, the time for Maghrib ends and the time for ‘Isha’ begins. Defining this time by the clock varies according to the season. When you see that the red afterglow has disappeared from the horizon, this is a sign that the time for Maghrib has ended. 

3.4 – THE PRAYER TIME OF ‘ISHA 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The time for ‘Isha’ lasts until midnight.”  

So the time for ‘Isha’ begins immediately after the time for Maghrib ends (i.e., when the red afterglow disappears from the sky) until midnight. 

Question: how do we calculate when midnight is? 

Answer: if you want to calculate when midnight is, then calculate the time between sunset and the break of true dawn (when Fajr begins) then divide it in half; that halfway point is the end of the time for praying ‘Isha’ (and that is midnight). 

So if the sun sets at 5 p.m., and Fajr begins at 5 a.m., then midnight is 11 p.m. If the sun sets at 5 p.m. and Fajr begins at 6 a.m., then midnight is 11.30 p.m., and so on. 

3.5 – THE PRAYER TIME OF FAJR 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The time for Subh (Fajr) prayer lasts from the beginning of the pre-dawn so long as the sun has not yet started to rise. When the sun starts to rise then stop praying, for it rises between the two horns of the Shaytaan.” 

The time for Fajr begins with the onset of the “second dawn” (al-fajr al-thaani) and ends when the sun starts to rise. The “second dawn” is the brightness that appears along the horizon in the east and extends north to south. The “first dawn” (al-fajr al-awwal) occurs approximately one hour before this, and there are differences between the two: 

(1)   In the “first dawn” the brightness extends from east to west, and in the “second dawn” it extends from north to south.

(2)   The “first dawn” is followed by darkness, i.e., the brightness lasts for a short period then it becomes dark. The “second dawn” is not followed by darkness, rather the light increases.

(3)   The “second dawn” is connected to the horizon, with no darkness between it and the horizon, whereas the “first dawn” is separated from the horizon with darkness between it and the horizon. Refer to al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 2/107. Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid. https://islamqa.info/en/9940

4.0 AN-NAWAWI ON THE EXCELLENCE OF PRESCRIBED PRAYERS 
An-Nawawi records in his book, Riyad us-Saliheen: Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Verily, prayer prohibits
immorality and wrongdoing, but the remembrance of Allah is greater, and Allah knows that which you do. [Holy Quran Chapter Surah Al-Ankabut 29:45].
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: If there was a river at the door of anyone of you and he took a bath in it five times a day, would you notice any dirt on him? They said, “Not a trace of dirt would be left.” The Prophet said: That is the example of the five prayers with which Allah erases evil deeds. Source: Sahih Bukahri 505, Grade: Sahih.
Jabir ibn Abdullah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
The example of the five prayers is that of a river running at the door of one of you in which he cleanses himself five times a day. Source: Sahih Muslim 668, Grade: Sahih.
Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: A man kissed a woman and he came to the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and told him about that. So the verse was revealed: Establish prayer at the two ends of the day and in the first hours of the night. Verily, good deeds take away evil deeds. [Holy Quran Chapter Surah Hud 11:114].
The man said, “O Messenger of Allah, does it concern me only?” The Prophet said: It concerns everyone in my nation who acts according to it. Source: Sahih Muslim 2763, Grade: Sahih.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: The five prayers and Friday to Friday will erase the sins between them, so long as major sins are avoided. Source: Sahih Muslim 233, Grade: Sahih.
Uthman ibn Affan reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:  When the time of prescribed prayer arrives, no Muslim performs ablution well with its due reverence and bowing except that it will be an expiation for his previous sins as long as he does not commit a major sin, and this applies for all time. Source: Sahih Muslim 228, Grade: Sahih
USING ASTRONOMICAL TIMETABLE TO KNOW THE TIMES OF PRAYER

We have mentioned in Section 3.0 (3.1 -3.5) above; the times for prayer in detail, and practical ways of knowing when the sun passes its zenith, by looking at the shadows, and by working out the hours of the day, and knowing when the middle of the night is and how to work it out.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Barraak (may Allaah preserve him) said: The time between dawn and sunrise is approximately one and a half hours, as is shown in the timetables. Timetables have become a means for people to know the times of prayer by hours and minutes, and attention should be paid to that because the five daily prayers are the basis of Islam, so the Muslim must observe them at the proper times, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):  “Those who remain constant in their Salaah (prayers)”[Holy Quran Chapter al-Ma’aarij 70:23]. “Guard strictly (five obligatory) As‑Salawaat (the prayers) especially the middle Salaah (i.e. the best prayer ‑ ‘Asr).   And stand before Allaah with obedience”[ Holy Quran Chapter al-Baraqah 2:238]. end quote. 

DISADVANTAGES OF PRAYER TIME TABLE

Although timetables are important and useful, they are a human effort which is subject to the same mistakes and errors as any other human effort. But usually they are correct in stating the times, except for the mistake in the time for Fajr which occurs in some of them.

The time for Salaat al-Fajr is from the break of dawn until the time the sun rises. Whenever you pray during this time, you have performed the prayer on time. Whoever deliberately delays it until the sun has risen has committed a major sin, and some scholars say that he is like one who does not pray it at all. We must beware of delaying prayers until after their time is over. The length of the period between dawn and sunrise is approximately one and a half hours, as is stated in the timetable. These timetables have become a means for people to know the times for the prayers to the hour and minute, and we should pay attention to that, because the prayers are the foundation of Islam. The Muslim must pray regularly and on time, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And those who strictly guard their (five compulsory congregational) Salawaat (prayers) (at their fixed stated hours)” [Holy Quran Chapter al-Mu’minoon 23:9]. “Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawaat (the prayers) especially the middle Salaat (i.e. the best prayer - ‘Asr)” [Hoy Quran Chapter al-Baqarah 2:238]. The “middle salaah” is Salaat al-‘Asr.

This mistake does not occur only in Egypt, rather it seems that most of the timetables do not give the correct time for Fajr and are based on the false dawn. This means that there is the risk that the Muslims’ prayers are invalid, especially in the case of those who pray in their houses immediately after hearing the adhaan. A group of scholars and researchers in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Syria, Egypt and Sudan have attempted to find out the time of the true dawn, and it is clear to them that the timetables in use at present are incorrect. 

Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “I have seen that myself many times in my house, in the Hamlaan mountains to the south-east of Amman, and that enables me to confirm what some of those who are keen that the Muslims’ worship should be correct have said, that the adhaan of Fajr in some Arab countries is given 20-30 minutes before the time of the true dawn, i.e., it is also before the time of the false dawn. I have often heard the iqaamah for Fajr being given in some mosques at the time when the true dawn begins, and they give the adhaan before it is time. And they may hasten to do the fard prayer before it is time during the month of Ramadaan.” (from al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 5/25).

Once this is understood, the people from each town or city should appoint a group of trustworthy scholars to find out the time of Fajr and to announce that to the people, and warn them against following timetables if it is proven that they are incorrect. 

All Muslims, should not pray Fajr until they are certain or think it most likely that dawn has broken; if they can delay the adhaan until this time, they should do that. They should also explain this ruling to their wives and daughters, lest they end up doing the prayer at the wrong time.  

Note that the time for Fajr prayer begins when the second dawn starts, which is the white line that spreads horizontally along the horizon right and left. The time lasts until the sun rises. 

The first dawn is the false dawn, which is whiteness that appears vertically in the sky like pillars. This happens approximately twenty minutes before the true dawn, and it increases and decreases according to the season. 

It is known that the rulings apply to the true dawn, not the false dawn. 

There are many ahaadeeth which speak about the two dawns, such as the following:  The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are two dawns, the dawn when food becomes haraam and prayer becomes permissible, and the dawn when prayer (i.e., Fajr prayer) is haraam and food is permitted.” (Narrated by al-Haakim and al-Bayhaqi from the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 4279). 

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are two dawns. With regard to the dawn which is like the tail of a wolf, this does not make it permissible to pray and haraam to eat. With regard to the dawn which appears horizontally in the sky, this makes it permissible to pray and forbidden to eat.”(Narrated by al-Haakim and al-Bayhaqi from the hadeeth of Jaabir; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 4278) 

According to another report, “There are two dawns. One is called the tail of the wolf, which is the false dawn that appears vertically, not horizontally. The other appears horizontally and not vertically.” (Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, no. 2202). 

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Do not let the adhaan of Bilaal stop you from eating suhoor, or the vertical dawn, but the dawn which appears along the horizon.”(Narrated by Abu Dawood and al-Tirmidhi, who classed it as hasan. Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, no. 568) 

From this explanation given by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), we know that the definition of the time of Fajr is based on observation, not on astronomical calculations or on timetables whose authors are unknown as far as their trustworthiness and knowledge are concerned, especially if it is proven that they do not give the correct times

We ask Allaah to guide us and you (reader). Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.

Sources:


 

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