What are the forbidden times to pray?
The forbidden times to pray are: after Fajr until the sun has risen a little, when the sun is at its highest point just before Dhuhr, and after Asr until sunset. They apply to extra (voluntary) prayers. Your five daily prayers and missed obligatory prayers are not banned in these times according to most scholars.
What the hadiths say
The Prophet ﷺ said there is no prayer after the Fajr prayer until the sun rises, and no prayer after the Asr prayer until the sun sets (Sahih al-Bukhari 586). Uqbah ibn Amir reported three more moments in which the Prophet ﷺ forbade praying or burying the dead: as the sun is rising until it is fully up, when it stands at its highest point until it passes the meridian, and as it is setting until it has set (Sahih Muslim 831). The wisdom given is to avoid any resemblance to sun-worshippers, who bow to it at rising and setting.
The five windows in practice
- After praying Fajr until sunrise.
- Sunrise: from the moment the sun appears until about 15 minutes after.
- Zenith: a few minutes (roughly 5 to 10) before Dhuhr begins.
- After praying Asr until the sun turns yellow.
- Sunset: from when the sun turns yellow until it has fully set.
Note that the first and fourth windows start after you have prayed Fajr or Asr, not from the clock time.
What is still allowed
Most scholars agree you may make up an obligatory prayer you missed at any time, because the Prophet ﷺ said whoever forgets a prayer should pray it when he remembers (Sahih al-Bukhari 597). Beyond that, the schools differ:
- Shafi'i and many Hanbali scholars: prayers with a specific reason are allowed, like two rakahs on entering a mosque, two rakahs after wudu, or the funeral prayer.
- Hanafi: stricter. Nothing at all, not even a missed prayer, at the three moments of sunrise, zenith and sunset, though missed prayers are fine after Fajr and Asr.
- Maliki: voluntary prayers are not allowed at sunrise and sunset and are disliked in the other windows.
Dhikr, dua and Quran are always fine
The ban is only on prayer. The times after Fajr and after Asr are actually some of the best moments for remembrance, the morning and evening adhkar, and dua. See What are the best times to make dua? and Should dhikr be said out loud or silently?
This is also why the Eid prayer is held a little after sunrise, not at sunrise itself. See How do I pray the Eid prayer?
- No voluntary prayer after Fajr until the sun is up, at zenith, or after Asr until sunset.
- Missed obligatory prayers may be made up (Hanafis exclude the three exact moments).
- Shafi'is allow prayers with a reason, like entering the mosque.
- Dhikr, dua and Quran recitation are allowed anytime.
People also ask
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