The Times Of As-Salat

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 .