Have you been trying to figure out the times of the five daily prayers? Or maybe you just want to know how the time is calculated without using a clock.
This post is the second part of the series, you can read the first part here:
https://muslim-news.com/times-of-the-five-daily-prayers-part-1/
Where you will understand the basics thing on how to know the time for the five times daily prayers.
Times Of The Five Daily Prayers cont.
As I said, the time for Zuhr has been explained in the first part. So don’t forget to take a look at it.
The Time Of ‘Asr
In the Hadith explain in the first part. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “The time for ‘Asr lasts until the sun turns yellow.”
And we also know that the time for ‘Asr begins when the time for Zuhr ends.
This means when the length of an object’s shadow becomes equal to the length of the object itself.
To explain even clearer…
There are two times for the end of ‘Asr
The Preferred Time For ‘Asr: this lasts from the beginning of the time for ‘Asr until the sun begins to turn yellow. The proof is from the Prophet (PBUH) who said: “The time for ‘Asr lasts until the sun turns yellow.”
The Time Of Necessity For ‘Asr: In a narration from al-Bukhari, 579 and Muslim, 608. The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever catches up with one rak’ah of ‘Asr before the sun sets has caught up with ‘Asr.” This time lasts from the time the sun turns yellow until sunset.
If it’s still not clear, this is…
What You Should Understand By The Time Of Necessity?
Necessity as used in the expression above refers to when a person is distracted from praying ‘Asr by some essential and unavoidable work, for instance, dressing wounds.
And then he is able to pray before the sun turns yellow but it is difficult, then he prays just before sunset.
In this case, he has prayed on time and has not sinned, because this is the time of necessity.
That says, if a person is forced to delay the prayer, there is no sin so long as he prays before the sunsets.
How to know The Time of Maghrib
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “The time for Maghrib lasts until the twilight has faded”
This means the time for Maghrib starts immediately after the time for ‘Asr ends.
The time when the sun sets until the twilight or red afterglow has faded.
So, the time for Maghrib ends and the time for ‘Isha’ begins when the red twilight faded from the sky.
The Time Maghrib End
When the red twilight has disappeared from the horizon, the time for Maghrib has ended.
Understanding The time of ‘Isha Without Clock
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The time for ‘Isha’ lasts until midnight.”
So the time for ‘Isha’ begins immediately after the time for Maghrib ends. That’s when the red twilight disappears from the sky and ‘Isha’s time ends until midnight.
But how will you know the time for midnight?
How To calculate The Midnight
To calculate midnight’s time, first, calculate the time between sunset and the break of true dawn (when Fajr begins) then divide it in half. You should get the end of the time for praying ‘Isha’ – midnight.
For example, if the sun sets at 5 p.m., and Fajr begins at 5 a.m. then midnight should be 11 p.m.
Knowing The time of Fajr
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “The time for Subh (Fajr) prayer lasts from the beginning of the pre-dawn so long as the sun has not yet started to rise. When the sun starts to rise then stop praying, for it rises between the two horns of the Shaytan.”
When The Time If Fajr Begins
It begins with the “second dawn” (al-fajr al-thani) and ends when the sun starts to rise.
So, what is the second dawn?
The “second dawn” is the brightness that appears along the horizon in the east and extends north to south. However, the “first dawn” (al-fajr al-awwal) occurs approximately one hour before the second dawn.
But, how can you differentiate between the two dawn?
The “first dawn” bright light extends from east to west.
But The “second dawn” comes from north to south.
The “first dawn” is always followed by darkness. Which lasts the bright light for a short time, then the sky went dark.
However, the “second dawn” is followed the light increases. And it is light until the sunrise.
In case you don’t understand this clearly, feel free to ask your question in the comments section and read al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 2/107.
Conclusion
From part 1 of the series on the times of the five daily prayers to this second article. You should have now understood how to get the time of the daily five times prayer without any clock.
That’s said, it is worth mentioning that you can use the clock for the time of prayer, however, you have to make sure it calculates according to the movement of the sun.
Because that’s what the Prophet (PBUH) explains in the Hadith and that’s what they have been using before the real click was invented.
May Allah answer our prayers.
And only He knows best.
Alhamdulilah. Very good hadis. May Allah bless.