Desirable and undesirable salah times

Desirable times

• Fajr Saläh is when light has spread before sunset.
• Zuhr
  • In summer, it is desirable to delay.
  • in winter, it is desirable to perform early.
    • Unless if the sky is cloudy, then it is desirable to delay till it becomes certain that the sun has moved down from the zenith.
• Asr It is desirable to delay Âsr as long as the sun does not change its color.
  • On a cloudy day, it is desirable to perform Âsr Saläh early.
• Maghrib It is desirable to perform early.
  • On a cloudy evening, delaying is desirable.
• Isha It is desirable to delay Îshä Saläh up to one-third of the night.
• Witr for a person who is confident of getting up at the near-end of the night, it is desirable to delay up to that time.

Times when salah is not permissible (fard, wajib or qada)

1. When the sun is rising (until 15 to 20 minutes)
2. When the sun is at it’s peak (zenith)
3. When the sun is setting
   • (only exception is the delayed Asr salah, where the obligation remains (NOT qada)) Some exceptions
   • Burial of deceased person, valid but disliked
   • Prostration of recitation, though disliked
   • Supererogatory prayer valid, but should be avoided (check this with Teacher*)

Times when supererogatory (nawafil) Salähs are avoidable

1. After Fajr times enters
   • 2 uniit at home, and no tahiyatul masjid
2. After Fajr salah but before the sunrises
3. After Asr, before the sun sets
   • (but can perform Qada of missed prayers of that day)
4. At the time of the salah call (iqamah), unless it’s the 2 units of sunnah of Fajr
   • 2 conditions for this exception:
     1. distant side of the mosque or courtyard
     2. with certainty that they can catch the jamaat before it finishes
5. When the Imam appears or stands to ascend the pulpit for Jumuah
6. Before Id salah (neither at home nor the idgah/mosque) - permissible to pray two rakaat after
7. If there is little time left for obligatory salah
8. When a meal is laid before a hungry person and craves the food (for e.g. in Ramadan)
9. When one is finding it difficult to stop the urge to go the toilet
10. When something appears and engages his heart and interferes in his devoutness
11. Between Zuhr and Asr in Arafah
12. Between Maghrib and Esha in Muzdalifah

Combining salah

• Combining two salahs is not permissible
• Except, for Hajj, when it is compulsory to combine Zuhr and Asr and Maghrin and Isha (at Muzdalifah).

Resources

• Book: Al-Fiqh al-Muyassar by Shafiq al-Rahman al-Nadwi
• Video:
  • Salaat Times | Al Fiqh Al Muyassar | Shaykh Khazen Zaoud
  • Times when Salaat is Disliked | Al Fiqh Al Muyassar | Shaykh Khazen Zaoud