6/15. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 523 — Prayer Times Between Two Limits
The End Of The Time For Maghrib
Hadith About Prayer Times Being Between Two Limits
Sunan an-Nasai : 523
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 523
أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ، - وَاللَّفْظُ لَهُ - قَالاَ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو دَاوُدَ، عَنْ بَدْرِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ، قَالَ إِمْلاَءً عَلَىَّ حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي مُوسَى، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ أَتَى النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَائِلٌ يَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ مَوَاقِيتِ الصَّلاَةِ فَلَمْ يَرُدَّ عَلَيْهِ شَيْئًا فَأَمَرَ بِلاَلاً فَأَقَامَ بِالْفَجْرِ حِينَ انْشَقَّ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ فَأَقَامَ بِالظُّهْرِ حِينَ زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ وَالْقَائِلُ يَقُولُ انْتَصَفَ النَّهَارُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ فَأَقَامَ بِالْعَصْرِ وَالشَّمْسُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ فَأَقَامَ بِالْمَغْرِبِ حِينَ غَرَبَتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ أَمَرَهُ فَأَقَامَ بِالْعِشَاءِ حِينَ غَابَ الشَّفَقُ ثُمَّ أَخَّرَ الْفَجْرَ مِنَ الْغَدِ حِينَ انْصَرَفَ وَالْقَائِلُ يَقُولُ طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ أَخَّرَ الظُّهْرَ إِلَى قَرِيبٍ مِنْ وَقْتِ الْعَصْرِ بِالأَمْسِ ثُمَّ أَخَّرَ الْعَصْرَ حَتَّى انْصَرَفَ وَالْقَائِلُ يَقُولُ احْمَرَّتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ أَخَّرَ الْمَغْرِبَ حَتَّى كَانَ عِنْدَ سُقُوطِ الشَّفَقِ ثُمَّ أَخَّرَ الْعِشَاءَ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ ثُمَّ قَالَ " الْوَقْتُ فِيمَا بَيْنَ هَذَيْنِ " .
Abu Bakr bin Abi Musa Narrated from:
Abu Bakr bin Abi Musa narrated that his father said: "A man came to the Prophet (ﷺ) asking him about the times of prayer, and he did not answer him. He told Bilal to say the Iqamah at dawn broke, then he told him to say the Iqamah for Zuhr when the sun had passed its zenith and a person would say: 'It is the middle of the day,' but he (the Prophet (ﷺ)) knew better. Then he told him to say the Iqamah for 'Asr when the sun was still high. Then he told him to say the Iqamah for Maghrib when the sun had set. Then he told him to say the Iqamah for 'Isha' when the twilight had disappeared.Then the next day he told him to say the Iqamah for Fajr, at a time such that when after he had finished one would say: 'The sun has risen.' Then he delayed Zuhr until it was nearly the time of 'Asr compared to the day before. Then he delayed 'Asr, to a time such that when he finished one would say: 'The su has turned red.' Then he delayed Maghrib until the twilight was about to disappear. Then he delayed 'Isha' until one-third of the night had passed. Then he said: 'The time (for prayer) is between these times.'"
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 523In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 30English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 524
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 523
This Hadith explains the prayer times through action, not only words. A man asked the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) about the times of prayer, and instead of answering right away, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) showed the times across two days. On the first day, the prayers were offered near the earlier times: Fajr when dawn broke, Zuhr after the sun passed its zenith, Asr while the sun was still high, Maghrib at sunset, and Isha after twilight disappeared. On the next day, some prayers were delayed within their valid range. At the end, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said that the time for prayer is between these times. This is a key Hadith for anyone searching for prayer time limits in Islam, early and late prayer times, and daily Salah schedule Hadith.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) taught prayer times by practical demonstration.
- Prayer times have a beginning and an ending limit.
- Maghrib is connected to sunset and Isha to the disappearance of twilight.
- Learning through practice can make religious guidance clearer.
