Sunan Abu Dawood, Book of Prayer (Kitab Al-Salat)

Talhah b. 'Ubaid Allah said:
A man from among the people of Najd with disheveled hair came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. The humming sound of his voice could be heard but what he was saying could not be understood. He came closer and it was then known that he was asking about Islam. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Five times of prayer each day and night: He asked: Must I observe any more than them? He replied: No, unless you do it voluntarily. He (Talhah) said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned fasting during the month of Ramadan. He asked: Must I observe anything else? He replied: No, unless you do it voluntarily. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ mentioned Zakat to him. He asked: Must I pay anything else? He replied: No, unless you do it voluntarily. The man then turned away saying: I swear by Allah, I shall not add anything to this or fall short of it. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: The man will be successful if he speaks truth.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ عَمِّهِ أَبِي سُهَيْلِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ طَلْحَةَ بْنَ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، يَقُولُ جَاءَ رَجُلٌ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْ أَهْلِ نَجْدٍ ثَائِرَ الرَّأْسِ يُسْمَعُ دَوِيُّ صَوْتِهِ وَلاَ يُفْقَهُ مَا يَقُولُ حَتَّى دَنَا فَإِذَا هُوَ يَسْأَلُ عَنِ الإِسْلاَمِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " خَمْسُ صَلَوَاتٍ فِي الْيَوْمِ وَاللَّيْلَةِ " . قَالَ هَلْ عَلَىَّ غَيْرُهُنَّ قَالَ " لاَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَطَّوَّعَ " . قَالَ وَذَكَرَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ صِيَامَ شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ قَالَ هَلْ عَلَىَّ غَيْرُهُ قَالَ " لاَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَطَّوَّعَ " . قَالَ وَذَكَرَ لَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ الصَّدَقَةَ . قَالَ فَهَلْ عَلَىَّ غَيْرُهَا قَالَ " لاَ إِلاَّ أَنْ تَطَّوَّعَ " . فَأَدْبَرَ الرَّجُلُ وَهُوَ يَقُولُ وَاللَّهِ لاَ أَزِيدُ عَلَى هَذَا وَلاَ أَنْقُصُ . فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " أَفْلَحَ إِنْ صَدَقَ " .

This tradition has also been reported by Abu Suhail Nafi' b. Malik b. Abi 'Amir through a different chain of narrators. It adds:
He will be successful, by his father, if he speaks the truth; he will enter Paradise, by his father, if he speaks the truth.

حَدَّثَنَا سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ دَاوُدَ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ الْمَدَنِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي سُهَيْلٍ، نَافِعِ بْنِ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَبِي عَامِرٍ بِإِسْنَادِهِ بِهَذَا الْحَدِيثِ قَالَ " أَفْلَحَ وَأَبِيهِ إِنْ صَدَقَ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ وَأَبِيهِ إِنْ صَدَقَ " .

Narrated Abdullah Ibn Abbas:

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Gabriel ﷺ led me in prayer at the House (i.e. the Ka'bah). He prayed the noon prayer with me when the sun had passed the meridian to the extent of the thong of a sandal; he prayed the afternoon prayer with me when the shadow of everything was as long as itself; he prayed the sunset prayer with me when one who is fasting breaks the fast; he prayed the night prayer with me when the twilight had ended; and he prayed the dawn prayer with me when food and drink become forbidden to one who is keeping the fast.

On the following day he prayed the noon prayer with me when his shadow was as long as himself; he prayed the afternoon prayer with me when his shadow was twice as long as himself; he prayed the sunset prayer at the time when one who is fasting breaks the fast; he prayed the night prayer with me when about the third of the night had passed; and he prayed the dawn prayer with me when there was a fair amount of light.

Then turning to me he said: Muhammad, this is the time observed by the prophets before you, and the time is anywhere between two times.

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ فُلاَنِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبِيعَةَ، - قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ هُوَ عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ عَيَّاشِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبِيعَةَ - عَنْ حَكِيمِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ، عَنْ نَافِعِ بْنِ جُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " أَمَّنِي جِبْرِيلُ عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ عِنْدَ الْبَيْتِ مَرَّتَيْنِ فَصَلَّى بِيَ الظُّهْرَ حِينَ زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَكَانَتْ قَدْرَ الشِّرَاكِ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْعَصْرَ حِينَ كَانَ ظِلُّهُ مِثْلَهُ وَصَلَّى بِيَ - يَعْنِي الْمَغْرِبَ - حِينَ أَفْطَرَ الصَّائِمُ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْعِشَاءَ حِينَ غَابَ الشَّفَقُ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْفَجْرَ حِينَ حَرُمَ الطَّعَامُ وَالشَّرَابُ عَلَى الصَّائِمِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ الْغَدُ صَلَّى بِيَ الظُّهْرَ حِينَ كَانَ ظِلُّهُ مِثْلَهُ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْعَصْرَ حِينَ كَانَ ظِلُّهُ مِثْلَيْهِ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ أَفْطَرَ الصَّائِمُ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْعِشَاءَ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ وَصَلَّى بِيَ الْفَجْرَ فَأَسْفَرَ ثُمَّ الْتَفَتَ إِلَىَّ فَقَالَ يَا مُحَمَّدُ هَذَا وَقْتُ الأَنْبِيَاءِ مِنْ قَبْلِكَ وَالْوَقْتُ مَا بَيْنَ هَذَيْنِ الْوَقْتَيْنِ " .

Ibn Shihab said:

'Umar b. 'Abdul 'Aziz was sitting on the pulpit and he somewhat postponed the afternoon prayer. 'Urwah b. al-Zubair said to him: "Gabriel informed Muhammed ﷺ of the time of prayer". So 'Umar said to him: "Be sure of what you are saying". 'Urwah then replied: "I heard Bashir b. Abu Mas'ud say that he heard Abu Mas'ud al-Ansari say that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: 'Gabriel came down and informed me of the time of prayer, and I prayed along with him, then prayed along with him, then I prayed along with him, then I prayed along with him, then I prayed along with him, reckoning with his fingers five times of the prayer.' I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ offering the Duhr prayer when the sun had passed the meridian. Sometimes he would delay it when it was sever heat ; and I witnessed that he prayer the 'Asr prayer when the sun was high and bright before the yellowness had overcome it; then a man could go off after the prayer and reach Dhu'l-Hulaifah before the sunset, and he would pray Maghrib when the sun had set ; and he would pray the 'Isha prayer when darkness prevailed over the horizon; sometime he would delay it until the people assembled; and once he prayer the fair prayer in the darkness of dawn and at another time he prayed it when it became fairly light; but later on he continued to pray in the darkness of dawn until his death; he never prayed it again in the light of the dawn."

Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been transmitted from al-Zuhri by Ma'mar, Malik, Ibn 'Uyainah, Shu'aib b. Abi Hamzah, and al-Laith b. Sa'd and others; but they did not mention the time in which he (the Prophet) had prayer, nor did they explain it. And similarly it has been narrated by Hisham b. 'Urwah and Habib b. Abu Mazruq from 'Urwah like the report of Ma'mar and his companions. But Habib did not make a mention of Bashir. And Wahb b. Kaisan reported on the authority of Jabir from the Prophet ﷺ the time of the Maghrib prayer. He said: "Next day he (Gabriel) came to him at the time of the Maghrib prayer when the sun had already set. (He came both days) at the same time."

Abu Dawud said: Similarly, this tradition has been transmitted by Abu Hurairah from the Prophet ﷺ. He said: "Then he (Gabriel) led me in the sunset prayer next day at the same time."

Similarly, this tradition has been narrated through a different chain by 'Abd Allah b. 'Amr b. al-'As, through a chain from Hassan b. 'Atiyyah, from 'Amr b. Shu'aib, from his father, on the authority from the Prophet ﷺ.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ الْمُرَادِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ أُسَامَةَ بْنِ زَيْدٍ اللَّيْثِيِّ، أَنَّ ابْنَ شِهَابٍ، أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ كَانَ قَاعِدًا عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ فَأَخَّرَ الْعَصْرَ شَيْئًا فَقَالَ لَهُ عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ أَمَا إِنَّ جِبْرِيلَ ﷺ قَدْ أَخْبَرَ مُحَمَّدًا ﷺ بِوَقْتِ الصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عُمَرُ اعْلَمْ مَا تَقُولُ . فَقَالَ عُرْوَةُ سَمِعْتُ بَشِيرَ بْنَ أَبِي مَسْعُودٍ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا مَسْعُودٍ الأَنْصَارِيَّ يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ " نَزَلَ جِبْرِيلُ ﷺ فَأَخْبَرَنِي بِوَقْتِ الصَّلاَةِ فَصَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ صَلَّيْتُ مَعَهُ " . يَحْسُبُ بِأَصَابِعِهِ خَمْسَ صَلَوَاتٍ فَرَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ صَلَّى الظُّهْرَ حِينَ تَزُولُ الشَّمْسُ وَرُبَّمَا أَخَّرَهَا حِينَ يَشْتَدُّ الْحَرُّ وَرَأَيْتُهُ يُصَلِّي الْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ بَيْضَاءُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَدْخُلَهَا الصُّفْرَةُ فَيَنْصَرِفُ الرَّجُلُ مِنَ الصَّلاَةِ فَيَأْتِي ذَا الْحُلَيْفَةِ قَبْلَ غُرُوبِ الشَّمْسِ وَيُصَلِّي الْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ تَسْقُطُ الشَّمْسُ وَيُصَلِّي الْعِشَاءَ حِينَ يَسْوَدُّ الأُفُقُ وَرُبَّمَا أَخَّرَهَا حَتَّى يَجْتَمِعَ النَّاسُ وَصَلَّى الصُّبْحَ مَرَّةً بِغَلَسٍ ثُمَّ صَلَّى مَرَّةً أُخْرَى فَأَسْفَرَ بِهَا ثُمَّ كَانَتْ صَلاَتُهُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ التَّغْلِيسَ حَتَّى مَاتَ وَلَمْ يَعُدْ إِلَى أَنْ يُسْفِرَ . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَرَوَى هَذَا الْحَدِيثَ عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ مَعْمَرٌ وَمَالِكٌ وَابْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ وَشُعَيْبُ بْنُ أَبِي حَمْزَةَ وَاللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ وَغَيْرُهُمْ لَمْ يَذْكُرُوا الْوَقْتَ الَّذِي صَلَّى فِيهِ وَلَمْ يُفَسِّرُوهُ وَكَذَلِكَ أَيْضًا رَوَاهُ هِشَامُ بْنُ عُرْوَةَ وَحَبِيبُ بْنُ أَبِي مَرْزُوقٍ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ نَحْوَ رِوَايَةِ مَعْمَرٍ وَأَصْحَابِهِ إِلاَّ أَنَّ حَبِيبًا لَمْ يَذْكُرْ بَشِيرًا وَرَوَى وَهْبُ بْنُ كَيْسَانَ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ وَقْتَ الْمَغْرِبِ قَالَ ثُمَّ جَاءَهُ لِلْمَغْرِبِ حِينَ غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ - يَعْنِي مِنَ الْغَدِ - وَقْتًا وَاحِدًا . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَكَذَلِكَ رُوِيَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى بِيَ الْمَغْرِبَ يَعْنِي مِنَ الْغَدِ وَقْتًا وَاحِدًا وَكَذَلِكَ رُوِيَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْعَاصِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ حَسَّانَ بْنِ عَطِيَّةَ عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ شُعَيْبٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ جَدِّهِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ .

Abu Musa reported:

A man asked the Prophet ﷺ [about the prayer times] but he did reply to him but he commanded Bilal, who made the announcement for the beginning of the time of the the fair prayer prayer when the dawn broke. He offered (the fair prayer) when a man (due to darkness) could not recognize the face of his companion ; or a man could not know the person who stood by his side. He then commanded Bilal who made announcement for the beginning of the time of the Zuhr prayer when the sun had passed the meridian until some said: Has the noon come ? While he (the Prophet) knew (the time) well. He the commanded Bilal who announced the beginning of the time of the 'Asr prayer when the sun was white and high. When the sunset he commanded Bilal who announced beginning of the time of the Maghrib prayer. When the twilight disappeared he commanded Bilal who announced the beginning of the Isha prayer. Next day he offered the Fajr prayer and returned until we said: Has the sun rise ? He observed the Zuhr prayer at the time he has previously observed the 'Asr prayer. He offered the 'Asr prayer at the time when the sun had become yellow or the evening had come. He offered the Maghrib prayer before the twilight had ended. He observed the Isha prayer when a third of the night had passed. He then asked: Where is the man who was asking me about the time of prayer. (Then replying to him he said): The time (of your prayer) lies within these two limits.

Abu Dawud said: Sulaiman b. Musa has narrated this tradition about the time of the Maghrib prayer from Musa from 'Ata on the authority of Jabir from the Prophet ﷺ. This version adds: He then offered the Isha prayer when a third of the night had passed, as narrated (he said the Isha prayer) when half the night had passed.

This tradition has been transmitted by Ibn Buraidah on the authority of his father from the Prophet ﷺ in a similar way.

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ دَاوُدَ، حَدَّثَنَا بَدْرُ بْنُ عُثْمَانَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنْ أَبِي مُوسَى، أَنَّ سَائِلاً، سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ ﷺ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئًا حَتَّى أَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَأَقَامَ لِلْفَجْرِ حِينَ انْشَقَّ الْفَجْرُ فَصَلَّى حِينَ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ لاَ يَعْرِفُ وَجْهَ صَاحِبِهِ أَوْ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لاَ يَعْرِفُ مَنْ إِلَى جَنْبِهِ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَأَقَامَ الظُّهْرَ حِينَ زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ حَتَّى قَالَ الْقَائِلُ انْتَصَفَ النَّهَارُ . وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَأَقَامَ الْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ بَيْضَاءُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ وَأَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَأَقَامَ الْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ غَابَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَأَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَأَقَامَ الْعِشَاءَ حِينَ غَابَ الشَّفَقُ فَلَمَّا كَانَ مِنَ الْغَدِ صَلَّى الْفَجْرَ وَانْصَرَفَ فَقُلْنَا أَطَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَأَقَامَ الظُّهْرَ فِي وَقْتِ الْعَصْرِ الَّذِي كَانَ قَبْلَهُ وَصَلَّى الْعَصْرَ وَقَدِ اصْفَرَّتِ الشَّمْسُ - أَوْ قَالَ أَمْسَى - وَصَلَّى الْمَغْرِبَ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَغِيبَ الشَّفَقُ وَصَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " أَيْنَ السَّائِلُ عَنْ وَقْتِ الصَّلاَةِ الْوَقْتُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ هَذَيْنِ " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ رَوَاهُ سُلَيْمَانُ بْنُ مُوسَى عَنْ عَطَاءٍ عَنْ جَابِرٍ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فِي الْمَغْرِبِ بِنَحْوِ هَذَا قَالَ ثُمَّ صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ قَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ إِلَى شَطْرِهِ . وَكَذَلِكَ رَوَاهُ ابْنُ بُرَيْدَةَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ .

'Abd Allah b. 'Amr reported the Prophet ﷺ as saying:
The time of the Zuhr prayer is as along as the time of the 'Asr prayer has not come; the time of the Asr prayer is as long as the sun has not become yellow ; the time of the Maghrib prayer is as long as the twilight has not ended; the time of the Isha prayer is up to midnight; and the time of the Fajr prayer is as long as the sun has not risen.

حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبِي، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، سَمِعَ أَبَا أَيُّوبَ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ أَنَّهُ قَالَ " وَقْتُ الظُّهْرِ مَا لَمْ تَحْضُرِ الْعَصْرُ وَوَقْتُ الْعَصْرِ مَا لَمْ تَصْفَرَّ الشَّمْسُ وَوَقْتُ الْمَغْرِبِ مَا لَمْ يَسْقُطْ فَوْرُ الشَّفَقِ وَوَقْتُ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ وَوَقْتُ صَلاَةِ الْفَجْرِ مَا لَمْ تَطْلُعِ الشَّمْسُ " .

Muhammad b. 'Amr b. al-Hasan reported:
We asked Jabir about the time of the prayer of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. He said: He used to offer the Zuhr prayer in the midday heat, the 'Asr prayer when the sun was bright, the Maghrib prayer when the sun had completely set, the Isha prayer early when many people were present, but late if there were few, and the Fajr prayer in the darkness (of the dawn).

حَدَّثَنَا مُسْلِمُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو، - وَهُوَ ابْنُ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ أَبِي طَالِبٍ - قَالَ - سَأَلْنَا جَابِرًا عَنْ وَقْتِ، صَلاَةِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَقَالَ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الظُّهْرَ بِالْهَاجِرَةِ وَالْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ حَيَّةٌ وَالْمَغْرِبَ إِذَا غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَالْعِشَاءَ إِذَا كَثُرَ النَّاسُ عَجَّلَ وَإِذَا قَلُّوا أَخَّرَ وَالصُّبْحَ بِغَلَسٍ .

Abu Barzah reported:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would offer the Zuhr prayer when the sun had passed the meridian; he would offer 'Asr prayer after which one of us would visit the skirts of Medina and return him while the sun was still bright; I forgot what he said about the Maghrib prayer; he did not fear postponing the Isha prayer until a third of night had passed, or he said: until the midnight had passed. He would dislike sleeping before it or talking after it. And he would offer the Fajr prayer when a man could recognize his neighbor whom he recognized well; and he would recite from sixty to a hundred verses during it.

حَدَّثَنَا حَفْصُ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ أَبِي الْمِنْهَالِ، عَنْ أَبِي بَرْزَةَ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي الظُّهْرَ إِذَا زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَيُصَلِّي الْعَصْرَ وَإِنَّ أَحَدَنَا لَيَذْهَبُ إِلَى أَقْصَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَيَرْجِعُ وَالشَّمْسُ حَيَّةٌ وَنَسِيتُ الْمَغْرِبَ وَكَانَ لاَ يُبَالِي تَأْخِيرَ الْعِشَاءِ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ . قَالَ ثُمَّ قَالَ إِلَى شَطْرِ اللَّيْلِ . قَالَ وَكَانَ يَكْرَهُ النَّوْمَ قَبْلَهَا وَالْحَدِيثَ بَعْدَهَا وَكَانَ يُصَلِّي الصُّبْحَ وَمَا يَعْرِفُ أَحَدُنَا جَلِيسَهُ الَّذِي كَانَ يَعْرِفُهُ وَكَانَ يَقْرَأُ فِيهَا مِنَ السِّتِّينَ إِلَى الْمِائَةِ .

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah:

I would offer my noon prayer with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and took a handful of gravels so that they might become cold in my hand and I placed them (before me) so that I may put my forehead on them at the time when I would prostrate. I did this due to the intensity of heat.

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ حَنْبَلٍ، وَمُسَدَّدٌ، قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبَّادُ بْنُ عَبَّادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْحَارِثِ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي الظُّهْرَ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فَآخُذُ قَبْضَةً مِنَ الْحَصَى لِتَبْرُدَ فِي كَفِّي أَضَعُهَا لِجَبْهَتِي أَسْجُدُ عَلَيْهَا لِشِدَّةِ الْحَرِّ .

Narrated Abdullah ibn Mas'ud:

The extent of the shadow when the Messenger of Allah prayed (the noon prayer) was three to five feet in summer and five to seven feet in winter.

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبِيدَةُ بْنُ حُمَيْدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي مَالِكٍ الأَشْجَعِيِّ، سَعْدِ بْنِ طَارِقٍ عَنْ كَثِيرِ بْنِ مُدْرِكٍ، عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ، أَنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ كَانَتْ قَدْرُ صَلاَةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ فِي الصَّيْفِ ثَلاَثَةَ أَقْدَامٍ إِلَى خَمْسَةِ أَقْدَامٍ وَفِي الشِّتَاءِ خَمْسَةَ أَقْدَامٍ إِلَى سَبْعَةِ أَقْدَامٍ .

Abu Dharr said:
We were in the company of the Prophet ﷺ. The mu'adhdhin intended to call for the Zuhr prayer. He said: Make it cooler. He then intended to call for prayer. He said twice or thrice: Make it cooler. We then witnessed the shadow of the mounds. He then said: The intensity of heat comes from the bubbling over of the Hell ; so when the heat is violent, offer (the Zuhr) prayer when it becomes cooler.

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ الطَّيَالِسِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو الْحَسَنِ، - قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ هُوَ مُهَاجِرٌ - قَالَ سَمِعْتُ زَيْدَ بْنَ وَهْبٍ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا ذَرٍّ، يَقُولُ كُنَّا مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ فَأَرَادَ الْمُؤَذِّنُ أَنْ يُؤَذِّنَ الظُّهْرَ فَقَالَ " أَبْرِدْ " . ثُمَّ أَرَادَ أَنْ يُؤَذِّنَ فَقَالَ " أَبْرِدْ " . مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثًا حَتَّى رَأَيْنَا فَىْءَ التُّلُولِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " إِنَّ شِدَّةَ الْحَرِّ مِنْ فَيْحِ جَهَنَّمَ فَإِذَا اشْتَدَّ الْحَرُّ فَأَبْرِدُوا بِالصَّلاَةِ " .

Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying:
When the heat is violent, offer (the Zuhr) prayer when it becomes fairly cool, for the violent heat comes from the bubbling over the Hell.

حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ خَالِدِ بْنِ مَوْهَبٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ، وَقُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الثَّقَفِيُّ، أَنَّ اللَّيْثَ، حَدَّثَهُمْ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُسَيَّبِ، وَأَبِي، سَلَمَةَ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ " إِذَا اشْتَدَّ الْحَرُّ فَأَبْرِدُوا عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ " . قَالَ ابْنُ مَوْهَبٍ " بِالصَّلاَةِ فَإِنَّ شِدَّةَ الْحَرِّ مِنْ فَيْحِ جَهَنَّمَ " .

Jabir b. Samurah reported that Bilal used to call for the noon prayer when the sun had declined.

حَدَّثَنَا مُوسَى بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ سِمَاكِ بْنِ حَرْبٍ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ سَمُرَةَ، أَنَّ بِلاَلاً، كَانَ يُؤَذِّنُ الظُّهْرَ إِذَا دَحَضَتِ الشَّمْسُ .

Anas b. Malik said the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say the 'Asr prayer when the sun was high and bright and living, then one would go off to al-'Awali and get there while the sun was still high.

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ بَيْضَاءُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ حَيَّةٌ وَيَذْهَبُ الذَّاهِبُ إِلَى الْعَوَالِي وَالشَّمْسُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ .

Al-Zuhri said:
Al-'Awali is situated at a distance of two miles or three (from Medina). He (the narrator) said: I think he said: or four miles.

حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ وَالْعَوَالِي عَلَى مِيلَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةٍ . قَالَ وَأَحْسَبُهُ قَالَ أَوْ أَرْبَعَةٍ .

Khaythamah said:
By the life of the sun is meant that you may find heat in it.

حَدَّثَنَا يُوسُفُ بْنُ مُوسَى، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنْ خَيْثَمَةَ، قَالَ حَيَاتُهَا أَنْ تَجِدَ، حَرَّهَا .

'Aishah said:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would offer the Zuhr prayer while the sunlight was present in her apartment before it ascended (the walls).

حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، قَالَ قَرَأْتُ عَلَى مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ عَنِ ابْنِ شِهَابٍ، قَالَ عُرْوَةُ وَلَقَدْ حَدَّثَتْنِي عَائِشَةُ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ كَانَ يُصَلِّي الْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ فِي حُجْرَتِهَا قَبْلَ أَنْ تَظْهَرَ .

Narrated Ali ibn Shayban:

We came upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in Medina. He would postpone the afternoon prayer as long as the sun remained white and clear.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْعَنْبَرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا إِبْرَاهِيمُ بْنُ أَبِي الْوَزِيرِ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَزِيدَ الْيَمَامِيُّ، حَدَّثَنِي يَزِيدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ عَلِيِّ بْنِ شَيْبَانَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ جَدِّهِ، عَلِيِّ بْنِ شَيْبَانَ قَالَ قَدِمْنَا عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ الْمَدِينَةَ فَكَانَ يُؤَخِّرُ الْعَصْرَ مَا دَامَتِ الشَّمْسُ بَيْضَاءَ نَقِيَّةً .

'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) reported the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying on the day of Battle of Khandaq (Trench). They (the unbelievers) prevented us from offering the middle prayer i.e. 'Asr prayer. May Allah fill their houses and their graves with Hell-fire.

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ زَكَرِيَّا بْنِ أَبِي زَائِدَةَ، وَيَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ حَسَّانَ، عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِيرِينَ، عَنْ عَبِيدَةَ، عَنْ عَلِيٍّ، - رضى الله عنه - أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ يَوْمَ الْخَنْدَقِ " حَبَسُونَا عَنْ صَلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ مَلأَ اللَّهُ بُيُوتَهُمْ وَقُبُورَهُمْ نَارًا " .

Abu Yunus, the freed slave of 'Aishah said:
'Aishah commanded me to write for her come passage from the Qur'an. She also added: When you reach the following verse, inform me: "Be guardian of your prayers and of the midmost prayer" (2:238). When I reached it, I informed her. She asked me to write: "Be guardians of your prayers, and of the midmost prayer, and of the 'Asr prayer, and stand up with devotion of Allah" (2:238). 'Aishah then said: I heard it from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.

حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنِ الْقَعْقَاعِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي يُونُسَ، مَوْلَى عَائِشَةَ - رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا - أَنَّهُ قَالَ أَمَرَتْنِي عَائِشَةُ أَنْ أَكْتُبَ لَهَا مُصْحَفًا وَقَالَتْ إِذَا بَلَغْتَ هَذِهِ الآيَةَ فَآذِنِّي { حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى } فَلَمَّا بَلَغْتُهَا آذَنْتُهَا فَأَمْلَتْ عَلَىَّ { حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى وَصَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ وَقُومُوا لِلَّهِ قَانِتِينَ } ثُمَّ قَالَتْ عَائِشَةُ سَمِعْتُهَا مِنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ .

Zaid b. Thabit said:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to offer the Zuhr prayer in midday heat; and no prayer was harder on the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that this one. Hence the revelation came down: "Be guardians of your prayers, and of the midmost prayer" (2:238). He (the narrator) said: There are two prayers before it and two prayers after it.

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنِي عَمْرُو بْنُ أَبِي حَكِيمٍ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ الزِّبْرِقَانَ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ عُرْوَةَ بْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، قَالَ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّي الظُّهْرَ بِالْهَاجِرَةِ وَلَمْ يَكُنْ يُصَلِّي صَلاَةً أَشَدَّ عَلَى أَصْحَابِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ﷺ مِنْهَا فَنَزَلَتْ { حَافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَوَاتِ وَالصَّلاَةِ الْوُسْطَى } وَقَالَ " إِنَّ قَبْلَهَا صَلاَتَيْنِ وَبَعْدَهَا صَلاَتَيْنِ " .

Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying:
If anyone says a rak'ah of the 'Asr prayer before sunset, he has observed (the 'Asr prayer), and if anyone performs a rak'ah of the Fajr prayer, he has observed (the Fajr prayer).

حَدَّثَنَا الْحَسَنُ بْنُ الرَّبِيعِ، حَدَّثَنِي ابْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ طَاوُسٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ " مَنْ أَدْرَكَ مِنَ الْعَصْرِ رَكْعَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ وَمَنْ أَدْرَكَ مِنَ الْفَجْرِ رَكْعَةً قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ " .

'Ala b. 'Abd al-Rahman said:
We came upon Anas b. Malik after the Zuhr prayer. He stood for saying the 'Asr prayer. When he became free from praying, we mentioned to him about observing prayer in its early period or he himself mentioned it. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: This is how hypocrites pray, this is how hypocrites pray, this is how hypocrites pray: He sits (watching the sun), and when it becomes yellow and is between the horns of the devil, or is on the horns of the devil, he rises and prays for rak'ahs quickly, remembering Allah only seldom during them.

حَدَّثَنَا الْقَعْنَبِيُّ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، أَنَّهُ قَالَ دَخَلْنَا عَلَى أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ بَعْدَ الظُّهْرِ فَقَامَ يُصَلِّي الْعَصْرَ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ مِنْ صَلاَتِهِ ذَكَرْنَا تَعْجِيلَ الصَّلاَةِ أَوْ ذَكَرَهَا فَقَالَ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ " تِلْكَ صَلاَةُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ تِلْكَ صَلاَةُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ تِلْكَ صَلاَةُ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يَجْلِسُ أَحَدُهُمْ حَتَّى إِذَا اصْفَرَّتِ الشَّمْسُ فَكَانَتْ بَيْنَ قَرْنَىْ شَيْطَانٍ أَوْ عَلَى قَرْنَىِ الشَّيْطَانِ قَامَ فَنَقَرَ أَرْبَعًا لاَ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ فِيهَا إِلاَّ قَلِيلاً " .

Ibn 'Umar reported the Messenger of Allah ﷺ as saying:

Anyone who loses his 'Asr prayer is like a person whose family has perished and whose property has been plundered.

Abu Dawud said: 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar narrated the word utira (instead of wutira, meaning perished). The dispute on this point goes back to Ayyub. Al-Zuhri reported from Salim on the authority of this father from the Prophet ﷺ the word 'wutira'.

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْلَمَةَ، عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ قَالَ " الَّذِي تَفُوتُهُ صَلاَةُ الْعَصْرِ فَكَأَنَّمَا وُتِرَ أَهْلَهُ وَمَالَهُ " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ وَقَالَ عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ " أُتِرَ " . وَاخْتُلِفَ عَلَى أَيُّوبَ فِيهِ وَقَالَ الزُّهْرِيُّ عَنْ سَالِمٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ قَالَ " وُتِرَ " .

Al-Awza'i said:
Delaying the 'Asr prayer means that the sunshine becomes yellow on the earth.

حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا الْوَلِيدُ، قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو عَمْرٍو يَعْنِي الأَوْزَاعِيَّ وَذَلِكَ أَنْ تَرَى، مَا عَلَى الأَرْضِ مِنَ الشَّمْسِ صَفْرَاءَ .

Anas b. Malik said:
We used to offer the Maghrib prayer with the Prophet ﷺ and then shoot arrows, one of us could see the place where arrow would fall.

حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ شَبِيبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادٌ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ الْبُنَانِيِّ، عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ، قَالَ كُنَّا نُصَلِّي الْمَغْرِبَ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ ﷺ ثُمَّ نَرْمِي فَيَرَى أَحَدُنَا مَوْضِعَ نَبْلِهِ .

Salamah b. al-Akwa' said:
The Prophet ﷺ used to say the Maghrib prayer immediately after the sun had set when its upper side would disappear.

حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَلِيٍّ، عَنْ صَفْوَانَ بْنِ عِيسَى، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ أَبِي عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ سَلَمَةَ بْنِ الأَكْوَعِ، قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يُصَلِّي الْمَغْرِبَ سَاعَةَ تَغْرُبُ الشَّمْسُ إِذَا غَابَ حَاجِبُهَا .

Narrated AbuAyyub:

Marthad ibn Abdullah said: When AbuAyyub came upon us to fight the infidels and in those days Uqbah ibn Amir was the Governor of Egypt, he (Uqbah) delayed the sunset prayer. Hence AbuAyyub stood and said: What kind of prayer is this, Uqbah? He said: We were busy. He said: Did you not hear the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: My community will remain well, or he said: will remain on its natural condition, so long as it would not delay the evening prayer until the stars shine brightly just like a network.

حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ، حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ زُرَيْعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنِي يَزِيدُ بْنُ أَبِي حَبِيبٍ، عَنْ مَرْثَدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ لَمَّا قَدِمَ عَلَيْنَا أَبُو أَيُّوبَ غَازِيًا وَعُقْبَةُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَى مِصْرَ فَأَخَّرَ الْمَغْرِبَ فَقَامَ إِلَيْهِ أَبُو أَيُّوبَ فَقَالَ لَهُ مَا هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةُ يَا عُقْبَةُ فَقَالَ شُغِلْنَا . قَالَ أَمَا سَمِعْتَ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ يَقُولُ " لاَ تَزَالُ أُمَّتِي بِخَيْرٍ - أَوْ قَالَ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ - مَا لَمْ يُؤَخِّرُوا الْمَغْرِبَ إِلَى أَنْ تَشْتَبِكَ النُّجُومُ " .

Narrated An-Nu'man ibn Bashir:

I am the one who is best informed of the time of this prayer, i.e. the night prayer. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to offer it at the hour when the moon went down on its third night.

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو عَوَانَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي بِشْرٍ، عَنْ بَشِيرِ بْنِ ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ سَالِمٍ، عَنِ النُّعْمَانِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ، قَالَ أَنَا أَعْلَمُ النَّاسِ، بِوَقْتِ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةِ صَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ الآخِرَةِ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ يُصَلِّيهَا لِسُقُوطِ الْقَمَرِ لِثَالِثَةٍ .

'Abd Allah b. 'Umar said:
We remained one night waiting for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ to offer the Isha prayer. He came out to us when one-third of the night has passed or even after it. We did not know whether anything kept him occupied or there was some other matter. When he came out, he said: Are you waiting for this prayer ? Were it not that it would impose a burden on my people, I would normally pray with them at this time. He then gave orders to the mu'adhdhin who declared that the time of the prayer had come.

حَدَّثَنَا عُثْمَانُ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا جَرِيرٌ، عَنْ مَنْصُورٍ، عَنِ الْحَكَمِ، عَنْ نَافِعٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، قَالَ مَكَثْنَا ذَاتَ لَيْلَةٍ نَنْتَظِرُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ﷺ لِصَلاَةِ الْعِشَاءِ فَخَرَجَ إِلَيْنَا حِينَ ذَهَبَ ثُلُثُ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ بَعْدَهُ فَلاَ نَدْرِي أَشَىْءٌ شَغَلَهُ أَمْ غَيْرُ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ حِينَ خَرَجَ " أَتَنْتَظِرُونَ هَذِهِ الصَّلاَةَ لَوْلاَ أَنْ تَثْقُلَ عَلَى أُمَّتِي لَصَلَّيْتُ بِهِمْ هَذِهِ السَّاعَةَ " . ثُمَّ أَمَرَ الْمُؤَذِّنَ فَأَقَامَ الصَّلاَةَ .