From the Holy Quran and ahadith, the jurists have set – for the benefits of Muslims – various prerequisites for Salat so that it is offered in the most befitting and beautiful manner. These include five areas: timings of prayers, cleanliness, dress and clothing, facing the Qibla and the Niyyah (intention) – these have been established as the five prerequisites for Salat.
In terms of the timing of prayers, the Holy Prophet(sa) gave specific instructions.
In a Hadith of the Holy Prophet(sa), said:
عَنْ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا صَلَّيْتُمُ الْفَجْرَ فَإِنَّهُ وَقْتٌ إِلَى أَنَّ يَطْلُعَ قَرْنُ الشَّمْسِ الْأَوَّلُ ثُمَّ إِذَا صَلَّيْتُمُ الظُّهْرَ فَإِنَّهُ وَقْتٌ إِلَى أَنْ يَحْضُرَ الْعَصْرُ فَإِذَا صَلَّيْتُمُ الْعَصْرُ فَإِنَّهُ وَقْتٌ إِلَى أَنْ تَصْفَرَّ الشَّمْسُ فَإِذَا صَلَّيْتُمُ الْمَغْرِبَ فَإِنَّهُ وَقْتٌ إِلَى أَنْ يَسْقُطَ الشَّفَقُ فَإِذَا صَلَّيْتُمُ الْعِشَاءَ فَإِنَّهُ وَقْتٌ إِلَى نِصْفِ اللَّيْلِ
Hazrat Abdullah ibn Amr(ra) reported: “The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, ‘When you perform the dawn prayer, its time is until the first rising of the sun. Then, when you perform noon prayer, its time is until the presence of the afternoon. When you perform the afternoon prayer, its time is until the sun turns yellow. When you perform the sunset prayer, its time is until the twilight has disappeared. When you perform the Isha prayer, its time is until midnight.’” (Sahih Muslim)
The forbidden times to offer any prayers whatsoever are three:
- From Fajr prayer to sunrise
- When the sun is at its zenith (meridian)
- From Asr prayer until sunset
In Sahih Bukhari it is stated that the Holy Prophet(sa) said:
لاَ صَلاَةَ بَعْدَ الصُّبْحِ حَتَّى تَرْتَفِعَ الشَّمْسُ، وَلاَ صَلاَةَ بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ حَتَّى تَغِيبَ الشَّمْسُ
“There is no prayer after the morning prayer [Fajr] till the sun rises, and there is no prayer after the Asr prayer till the sun sets.”
In a narration in Sahih Muslim it is stated that the Holy Prophet(sa) said:
لَا صَلَاةَ بَعْدَ صَلَاةِ اَلْفَجْرِ
“There is no Salat after the Fajr prayer.”
The Holy Prophet(sa) regarding the sun reaching its zenith (meridian) said:
أَنَّ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ نَهَى عَنْ الصَّلَاةِ نِصْفَ النَّهَارِ حَتَّى تَزُولَ الشَّمْسُ إِلَّا يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ
“The Prophet forbade prayer at the middle of the day until the sun declined from the meridian, with the exception of Friday.” (Mishkat al-Masabih)