6/35. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 572 — Best Time for Remembrance and Prayer
The Prohibition Of Praying After 'Asr
Closest Time to Allah and Forbidden Prayer Times Hadith
Sunan an-Nasai : 572
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 572
أَخْبَرَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ مَنْصُورٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا آدَمُ بْنُ أَبِي إِيَاسٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ بْنُ سَعْدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاوِيَةُ بْنُ صَالِحٍ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَبُو يَحْيَى، سُلَيْمُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ وَضَمْرَةُ بْنُ حَبِيبٍ وَأَبُو طَلْحَةَ نُعَيْمُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ قَالُوا سَمِعْنَا أَبَا أُمَامَةَ الْبَاهِلِيَّ، يَقُولُ سَمِعْتُ عَمْرَو بْنَ عَبَسَةَ، يَقُولُ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ مِنْ سَاعَةٍ أَقْرَبُ مِنَ الأُخْرَى أَوْ هَلْ مِنْ سَاعَةٍ يُبْتَغَى ذِكْرُهَا قَالَ " نَعَمْ إِنَّ أَقْرَبَ مَا يَكُونُ الرَّبُّ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنَ الْعَبْدِ جَوْفُ اللَّيْلِ الآخِرِ فَإِنِ اسْتَطَعْتَ أَنْ تَكُونَ مِمَّنْ يَذْكُرُ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي تِلْكَ السَّاعَةِ فَكُنْ فَإِنَّ الصَّلاَةَ مَحْضُورَةٌ مَشْهُودَةٌ إِلَى طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ فَإِنَّهَا تَطْلُعُ بَيْنَ قَرْنَىِ الشَّيْطَانِ وَهِيَ سَاعَةُ صَلاَةِ الْكُفَّارِ فَدَعِ الصَّلاَةَ حَتَّى تَرْتَفِعَ قِيدَ رُمْحٍ وَيَذْهَبَ شُعَاعُهَا ثُمَّ الصَّلاَةُ مَحْضُورَةٌ مَشْهُودَةٌ حَتَّى تَعْتَدِلَ الشَّمْسُ اعْتِدَالَ الرُّمْحِ بِنِصْفِ النَّهَارِ فَإِنَّهَا سَاعَةٌ تُفْتَحُ فِيهَا أَبْوَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَتُسْجَرُ فَدَعِ الصَّلاَةَ حَتَّى يَفِيءَ الْفَىْءُ ثُمَّ الصَّلاَةُ مَحْضُورَةٌ مَشْهُودَةٌ حَتَّى تَغِيبَ الشَّمْسُ فَإِنَّهَا تَغِيبُ بَيْنَ قَرْنَىْ شَيْطَانٍ وَهِيَ صَلاَةُ الْكُفَّارِ " .
Abu Yahya Sulaim bin 'Amir, Damrah bin Habib and Abu Talhah Nu'aim bin Ziyad Narrated from:
We heard Abu Umamah Al-Bahili say: 'I heard 'Amrah bin 'Abasah say: I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, is there any moment which brings one close to Allah than another, or any moment that should be sought out for remembering Allah?He said: 'Yes, the closest that the Lord is to His slave is in the last part of the night, so if you can be among those who remember Allah at that time, then do so. For prayer is attended and witnessed (by the angels) until the sun rises, then it rises between the two horns of the Shaitan, that is the time when the disbelievers pray, so do not pray until the sun had risen to the height of a spear and its rays have disappeared. Then prayer is attended and witness (by the angels) until the sun is directly overhead at midday, and that is the time when the gates of Hell are opened and it is stoked up. So do not pray until the shadows appear. Then prayer is attended and witnessed (by angels) until the sun sets, and it sets between the horns of a Shaitan, and that is the time when the disbelievers pray.'
Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 572In-book reference : Book 6, Hadith 79English translation : Vol. 1, Book 6, Hadith 573
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 572
This hadith gives a rich answer to a question about which moment brings one close to Allah and which moment should be sought for remembering Him. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said the closest that the Lord is to His slave is in the last part of the night, so a person who can be among those who remember Allah then should do so. The hadith also says prayer is attended and witnessed until sunrise, then prayer should be left until the sun rises to the height of a spear and its rays disappear. It also mentions avoiding prayer when the sun is directly overhead at midday until shadows appear, and avoiding prayer as the sun sets. This text combines remembrance, witnessed prayer, and forbidden prayer times in one report.
What we learn from this hadith
- The last part of the night is named as a special time for remembering Allah.
- Prayer is described as attended and witnessed before sunrise, before midday, and before sunset.
- Prayer should be avoided around sunrise until the sun rises to the height of a spear.
- Prayer should be avoided at direct midday and while the sun is setting.
