5/148. Chapter:
Sunan Ibn Majah 1251 — Best Time and Times to Stop Prayer
What was narrated concerning the times when it is disliked to perform Prayer
Best Time for Prayer and Times to Refrain: Amr bin Abasah Hadith
Sunan Ibn Majah : 1251
Sunan Ibn MajahHadith Number 1251
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، عَنْ يَعْلَى بْنِ عَطَاءٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ طَلْقٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ الْبَيْلَمَانِيِّ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ عَبَسَةَ، قَالَ أَتَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ فَقُلْتُ هَلْ مِنْ سَاعَةٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللَّهِ مِنْ أُخْرَى قَالَ " نَعَمْ. جَوْفُ اللَّيْلِ الأَوْسَطُ. فَصَلِّ مَا بَدَا لَكَ حَتَّى يَطْلُعَ الصُّبْحُ. ثُمَّ انْتَهِ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ، وَمَا دَامَتْ كَأَنَّهَا حَجَفَةٌ حَتَّى تَنْتَشِرَ. ثُمَّ صَلِّ مَا بَدَا لَكَ حَتَّى يَقُومَ الْعَمُودُ عَلَى ظِلِّهِ. ثُمَّ انْتَهِ حَتَّى تَزُولَ الشَّمْسُ فَإِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ تُسْجَرُ نِصْفَ النَّهَارِ. ثُمَّ صَلِّ مَا بَدَا لَكَ حَتَّى تُصَلِّيَ الْعَصْرَ. ثُمَّ انْتَهِ حَتَّى تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ، فَإِنَّهَا تَغْرُبُ بَيْنَ قَرْنَىِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَتَطْلُعُ بَيْنَ قَرْنَىِ الشَّيْطَانِ " .
'Amr bin 'Abasah Narrated from:
I came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: ‘Is there any time that is more beloved to Allah than another?’ He said: ‘Yes, the middle of the night, so pray as much as you want until dawn comes. Then refrain from praying until the sun has risen, and as long as it looks like a shield until it becomes apparent.Then pray as much as you want until a pole stands on its shadow (i.e., noon), then refrain from praying until it has crossed the zenith, for Hell is heated up at midday. Then pray as much as you want until you pray ‘Asr, then refrain from praying until the sun has set, for it sets between the two horns of Satan and it rises between the two horns of Satan.’”
Reference : Sunan Ibn Majah 1251In-book reference : Book 5, Hadith 449English translation : Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1251
Summary of Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith 1251
This Hadith gives a fuller map of prayer times. Amr bin Abasah asked whether one time is more beloved to Allah than another. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) answered that the middle of the night is beloved, then explained when to pray and when to stop. The report says to pray until dawn, stop until the sun rises and becomes clear, pray until noon, stop until the sun crosses the zenith, then pray until Asr, and stop until sunset. It also mentions the sun rising and setting between the two horns of Satan. People searching for best time for night prayer or forbidden prayer times will find both themes here.
What we learn from this hadith
- The middle of the night is named as a beloved time for prayer.
- The Hadith gives several times to pray and several times to refrain.
- The report connects the prayer schedule with dawn, sunrise, noon, Asr, and sunset.
