The Zawal Time & Salah: (In the Light Of Quran & Hadith)

The Zawal Time & Salah: (In the Light Of Quran & Hadith)
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In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

When the term ‘zawaal’ is used in Islamic ‘fiqh’ terminology, it means the exact time when the sun is at its absolute zenith or meridian at mid-day.Once a day everyday at mid-day, the sun reaches its zenith or its meridian.

Amr ibn 'Abbas related that he said, "O Prophet of Allah (saws), inform me about the prayer (times)." He said, "Pray the morning (fajr) prayer, and then abstain from prayer until sunrise and the sun has completely risen, for it rises between the horns of Shaitaan. That is when the unbelievers prostrate to it. Then pray (nawafil), as your prayer will be witnessed and attended to until the shadow of a spear becomes less than its length. At that time stop praying, for at that time (zawaal) the Hell-Fire is fed with fuel. When the shade comes, you may pray (dhuhr), for your prayer will be witnessed and attended (to by Angels) until you pray the afternoon (Asr) prayer. Then abstain from praying until the sun sets, for its sets between the horns of Shaitaan, and that is when the unbelievers make prostrations to it." (Related by Ahmad and Muslim.)

Abu Huraira reported that Allah's Messenge (SAW) said, "There is for every Salah, its initial and final time. The initial time for Zuhr is when the sun declines and its final time is when Asr commences. The initial time of Asr is when it sets in till when the sun turns yellow. The initial time of Maghrib is with sunset and its last is when redness on the horizons disappears. The initial time of Isha is from then and its final time is at midnight. The initial time of Fajr is from true dawn till sunrise."

The Messenger of Allah (saws) forbade the believers from offering any ‘salaah’ after the pre-dawn ‘fajr’ prayer untill the sun has completely risen above the horizon, and when the sun is at or near its meridian (zawaal), and after the afternoon (Asr) prayer until the sun has completely set.

The reason the Messenger of Allah (saws) forbade the believers to pray at ‘zawaal’ or near exact mid-point of the sun, is that at this very time, the Hell Fire is fed with fuel. This is the knowledge of the unseen that Allah Subhanah revealed to His Prophet (saws), and he (saws) taught it to the believers. Thus, for a believer, who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day, it is his duty to obey the Messenger of Allah (saws) in every act of his life.

Some More Hadith on Salah:

Ibn Abbas that the Prophet (SAW) said, "Jibril led me in Salah twice near Bayt Allah. The first time, we offered the Salah of Zuhr when the shadow was like the thong of a shoe. Then, we offered Asr when the shadow of everything was equal to it, and maghrib after sunset when the fasting man takes iftar (breaks his fast), and Isha when the twilight disappeared, and fajr when one who fasts is forbidden food and drink. The second time, we offerred Zuhr when the shadow of everything was like it in length at the time of Asr on the previous day. Then we offered the Asr when the shadow of everything was twice as long. We prayed Maghrib at the same time as the previous day; we prayed Isha when one-third of the night was over and Fajr when the earth was well-lit. Then Jibril turned to me and said; "0 Muhammad! This was the time observed by Prophets (SAW) before you, and the time (of five Salah) is between these two times." [Ahmed 3081, Abu Dawud 393]

Jabir bin Abdullah reported from Allah's Messenger (SAW) said, "Jibril led me in Salah." And he mentioned a Hadith of the same purport as Sayyidina Abbas (RA)(Hadith #149), saying (about Zuhr) "at the time of Asr yesterday." [Ahmed 14545, Nisai 522]

Sulayman ibn Buraida reported from his father (Buraidah (RA). He said someone came to the Prophet (SAW) and asked him about the times of salah. He said, "Stay with us, Insha-Allah."Then he commanded Sayyidina Bilal (RA) and he called the Iqamah at the time of rise of dawn. Then he commanded Sayyidina Bilal (RA) and he gave the Iqamah at the declination of the sun and (they) offered the Zuhr Salah. Then he commanded him (Bilal) and he called the iqamah and (they) offered the asr while the sun was high and bright. Then when the sun set, he gave the command for Maghrib. Then he gave the command for Isha and he called the iqamah when the twilight had disappeared. Then, the next day, he gave the command and the fair was offered in a good light. Then he commanded for the Zuhr and they offered it when the extreme heat had cooled down. Then he gave the command for the Asr and he gave the iqamah when the sun's time was more delayed than the previous day. Then he gave the command for Maghrib and (they) offered it a little before twilight disappeared. Then he gave the command for Isha and he called its iqamah when a third of the night had passed. Then the Prophet (SAW) asked, "Where is he who had asked about the times of Salah?" He said, "Here am I!" So, he said, "The times of Salah are between these two times." [Ahmed 23016, Nisai 515, Ibn e Majah 667, Muslim 613]

It is mustahabb to pray naafil prayers at all times, except at the times when praying is not allowed. These times are from after Fajr prayer until the sun has risen to the height of a spear; from noon time until after the sun has passed its zenith, which is at mid-day for about five minutes before the sun reaches its zenith; and from after ‘Asr prayer until the sun sets. What is meant is the prayer which each person does by himself; once he has prayed ‘Asr it becomes haraam for him to pray until the sun has set, except in specific cases, when it is not haraam.

Rafi bin Khadij said that he heard Allah's Messenger (SAW) say, "Offer the Fajr Salah in good light. There is more reward in that." [Ahmed 17280, Abu Dawud 424, Nisai 547]

Allah Subhanah has Himself Commanded that the believers offer their ‘fajr’ prayer before the rise of dawn; thus praying the ‘fajr’ prayer after sunrise would indeed be considered ‘qada’ or delayed beyond its appointed time.

"Indeed the Salaat is a prescribed duty that should be performed by the believers at (their) appointed times." [Al-Quran Chapter No.4 Verse No.103]

Beloved brother in Islam to intentionally miss, or neglect, or delay one’s obligatory prayers beyond its appointed time without an absolutely valid and genuine reason is not even an option in Islam, and would be absolutely unacceptable and impermissible and a grave sin in the Sight of the Lord.

So woe to those who pray [Al-Quran Chapter No.107 Verse No.4]

[But] who are heedless of their prayer [Al-Quran Chapter No.107 Verse No.5]

Whoever sleeps through or has forgotten to pray a certain prayer should pray it when he wakes up or remembers the prayer. Abu Qatadah related that sleeping through the prayer time was mentioned to the Prophet (saws) and he (saws) said, "There is no negligence in sleep, but negligence occurs while one is awake. If one of you forgets a prayer, or sleeps through its time, then he should pray it when he remembers it."

Related by an-Nasa'i and at-Tirmidhi.

Anas related that the Prophet (saws) said, "Whoever forgets a prayer should pray it when he remembers it, and there is no expiation for it save that."

Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

The reason why it (prayer at these times) is not allowed is so as to avoid any resemblance to the kuffaar who prostrate to the sun when it rises as a greeting to it and to express their joy, and they prostrate to it when it sets as a farewell to it. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was keen to put a stop to all things that may lead to shirk, or that might involve any resemblance to the mushrikeen. With regard to the prohibition on praying when the sun is near its zenith, this is because this is the time when the Fire of Hell is intensified, as was reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), so we should refrain from praying at these times.

Summarized from the fatwas of Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 1/354

Aisha said, "I did not see anyone offering the Salah of Zuhr earlier than Allah's Messenger (SAW) did, and not even (earlier) than Abu Bakr and Umar (RA)." [Ahmed 25092]

Jarir ibn Abdullah narrated that the Angel Jibrael (a.s.) came to the Messenger of Allah (saws) and said to him, "Stand and pray," and they prayed the noon (dhuhr) prayer when the sun had just passed its meridian. He then came to him (saws) for the afternoon (asr) prayer and said, "Stand and pray," and they prayed the afternoon (asr) prayer while the length of a shadow of something was similar to the length of the object. Then he came at sunset and said, "Stand and pray," and they prayed the sunset (magrib) prayer when the sun had just disappeared. Then he came at night and said, "Stand and pray" and they prayed the night (isha) prayer when the twilight had disappeared. He came again when dawn broke (and they prayed the morning (fajr) prayer). Then Jibrael (a.s.) came on the next day at noon and said (to the Messenger of Allah (saws)), "Stand and pray," and they prayed the noon (dhuhr) prayer when the length of the shadow of something was close to the length of the object. Then he came for the afternoon prayer and said, "Stand and pray," and they prayed the afternoon (asr) prayer when the shadow of something was twice as long as the length of the object. Then he came at the same time (as the previous day) for the sunset (magrib) prayer, without any change. Then he came for the night (isha) prayer after half (or a third) of the night had passed. Then he came when the sky was very yellow and said, "Stand and pray," and they prayed the morning (fajr) prayer. Then Jibrael (a.s.) said, "Between these times are the times for the prayers.

Related by Bukhari, Ahmad, an-Nasa'i and at-Tirmidhi.

In light of the above guidance, if one prays the prescribed prayer between the two specified periods, their prayer will be considered on-time; and it was the preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) to offer the prescribed obligatory prayers at its earliest times.

The time for offering obligatory ‘dhuhr’ or mid-day prayer starts when the sun has just moved west from its zenith or meridian, and ends when the time for ‘asr’ prayer starts. If one is not traveling, and one offers one’s ‘dhuhr’ prayer after the ‘asr’ time or the adhaan for ‘asr’ has begun, then indeed one’s ‘dhuhr’ prayer would be considered ‘qada’ or delayed.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.