The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever catches one Rak‘ah before sunrise, he has caught the Fajr prayer, and whoever catches one Rak‘ah of the ‘Asr prayer before sunset, he has caught the ‘Asr prayer."

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever catches one Rak‘ah before sunrise, he has caught the Fajr prayer, and whoever catches one Rak‘ah of the ‘Asr prayer before sunset, he has caught the ‘Asr prayer."

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever catches one Rak‘ah before sunrise, he has caught the Fajr prayer, and whoever catches one Rak‘ah of the ‘Asr prayer before sunset, he has caught the ‘Asr prayer."

Ibn Shihāb reported that ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz once delayed the ‘Asr prayer a little. ‘Urwah said to him: "Verily, Jibrīl came down and led the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) in prayer." ‘Umar said: "Watch what you are saying ‘Urwah!" He said: "I heard Bashīr ibn Abi Mas‘ūd say: 'I heard Abu Mas‘ūd say: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: 'Jibrīl 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 off five prayers on his fingers.''"

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The time for the Zhuhr prayer starts when the sun has passed its zenith and a man's shadow is equal in length to his height, until the time for the ‘Asr prayer comes. The time for the ‘Asr lasts until the sun turns yellow. The time for the Maghrib prayer lasts so long as the dusk is not gone. The time for the ‘Ishā' prayer lasts until midnight. The time for the Fajr prayer lasts from the break of dawn so long as the sun has not risen. When the sun rises, stop praying, for it rises between two horns of a devil."

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar, Abu Hurayrah, and Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the heat is intense, delay the prayer until it becomes fairly cool, for intense heat is from the boiling and breathing of Hellfire."

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar, Abu Hurayrah, and Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the heat is intense, delay the prayer until it becomes fairly cool, for intense heat is from the boiling and breathing of Hellfire."

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar, Abu Hurayrah, and Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the heat is intense, delay the prayer until it becomes fairly cool, for intense heat is from the boiling and breathing of Hellfire."

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar, Abu Hurayrah, and Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the heat is intense, delay the prayer until it becomes fairly cool, for intense heat is from the boiling and breathing of Hellfire."

‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar, Abu Hurayrah, and Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the heat is intense, delay the prayer until it becomes fairly cool, for intense heat is from the boiling and breathing of Hellfire."

Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb came cursing the disbelievers of Quraysh after the sun had set on the Day of the Trench, and he said: "O Messenger of Allah, I could not offer the ‘Asr prayer till the sun had set." The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "By Allah! I have not yet prayed it either." So we went to But-hān, and he performed ablution and so did we, and then he offered the ‘Asr prayer after the sun had set and then followed it with the Maghrib prayer.

Jarīr ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We were in the presence of the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) when he looked at the moon when it was full, and he said: "You will see your Lord as you see this moon, you will not have any difficulty in seeing Him. So if you are able to not be overcome in observing a prayer before sunrise (the Fajr) and a prayer before sunset (the ‘Asr), then do so." Then, he recited: "{And glorify the praise of your Lord before sunrise and before sunset.}"

Abu Zuhayr ‘Umārah ibn Ru’aybah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "He who prays before sunrise and before sunset will not enter Hellfire."

Abu Mūsa al-Ash‘ari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whoever prays the Bardayn (Fajr and ‘Asr prayers) will enter Paradise."

Rāfi‘ ibn Khadīj al-Anṣāri al-Awsi (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: We used to pray the Maghrib prayer with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and when one of us left he could still see where his arrow landed.

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) delayed the ‘Ishā' prayer, which is called the ‘Atamah, one night. He did not come out till ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb said: "The women and children had gone to sleep." [In another narration: Until most of the night had elapsed]. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) came out and said to the people in the mosque: "None among the inhabitants of earth except you are waiting for it." [In another narration: This is the best time to perform it, had it not been difficult for my Ummah.] This happened before the spread of Islam. Ibn Shihāb said: "It was reported to me that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘It was not appropriate for you to press the Messenger of Allah to come to prayer’, alluding to ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb when he gave his loud notification.”

‘Ā’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer the Fajr prayer while some women from among the believers, wrapped in their garments, would attend the prayer with him. Then they would return to their homes, and no one would recognize them because of the darkness.

Jābir ibn ‘Abdullāh al-Ansāri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer the Zhuhr prayer at the time of intense heat, and the ‘Asr prayer at the time when the sun was clear, and the Maghrib prayer when its time was due, and as for the ‘Ishā' prayer, he would sometimes hasten to offer it when he saw them already gathered, and at other times he would delay it when they had not gathered yet. As for the Fajr prayer, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) used to offer it at the time when darkness at the end of the night mixed with the faint light of the morning.

Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) say: "The congregational prayer surpasses the prayer of any one of you alone by twenty-five times. And the angels of the night and the angels of the day gather at the Fajr prayer." Then Abu Hurayrah said: Recite, if you wish: {The recitation of dawn is ever witnessed [by the angels].} [Al-Isra: 78]