2/5. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 413 — Do Not Delay Asr Until Yellow Sun
The Time For 'Asr Prayer
Hadith About Delaying Asr Until the Sun Turns Yellow
Sunan Abi Dawud : 413
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 413
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 صلى الله عليه وسلم 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 " .
al-Ala ibn Abd ar-Rahman Narrated from:
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.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 413In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 23English translation : Book 2, Hadith 413
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 413
This hadith gives a strong warning about a careless way of praying Asr. Anas b. Malik had prayed Asr, and the topic of praying early was mentioned. He then reported that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم described the prayer of hypocrites: a person sits watching the sun, waits until it becomes yellow and is between or on the horns of the devil, then stands and pecks four rak'ahs quickly while remembering Allah only a little. For searchers looking for prayer of hypocrites Asr hadith, the warning is clear. The problem shown in the text is delay, rushing, and little remembrance. The hadith does not discuss every late prayer case; it describes this specific careless pattern.
What we learn from this hadith
- Delaying Asr until the sun turns yellow is warned against here.
- The hadith criticizes praying quickly with little remembrance of Allah.
- The prayer described is four rak'ahs done in a rushed way.
- The text highlights the danger of careless delay in worship.
