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Prayer Times

Prohibited Times for Prayer in Islam: When They Begin and What Is Permitted

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. May Allah's peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prohibited prayer during particular times of the day, but this does not mean that every prayer is prohibited during them. An obligatory prayer is not the same as a voluntary prayer, a prayer connected to a cause is not the same as unrestricted voluntary prayer, and three of these periods carry a stricter prohibition than the others.

It is therefore not enough to memorize the phrase “a prohibited time.” A Muslim needs to know when each period begins and ends, which prayers are included, and what the evidence exempts.

Foundational Hadiths

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

«لَا صَلَاةَ بَعْدَ صَلَاةِ الصُّبْحِ حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ، وَلَا صَلَاةَ بَعْدَ صَلَاةِ العَصْرِ حَتَّى تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ».“There is no prayer after the Fajr prayer until the sun rises, and no prayer after the Asr prayer until the sun sets.”

Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Uqbah ibn Amir, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

«ثَلَاثُ سَاعَاتٍ كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَنْهَانَا أَنْ نُصَلِّيَ فِيهِنَّ، أَوْ أَنْ نَقْبُرَ فِيهِنَّ مَوْتَانَا: حِينَ تَطْلُعُ الشَّمْسُ بَازِغَةً حَتَّى تَرْتَفِعَ، وَحِينَ يَقُومُ قَائِمُ الظَّهِيرَةِ حَتَّى تَمِيلَ الشَّمْسُ، وَحِينَ تَضَيَّفُ الشَّمْسُ لِلْغُرُوبِ حَتَّى تَغْرُبَ».“There were three times when the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, forbade us to pray or bury our dead: when the sun begins to rise until it has risen, when it is directly overhead at midday until it declines, and when it inclines toward setting until it has set.”

Narrated by Muslim.

The hadiths establish two extended periods after Fajr and Asr and three short periods during which the prohibition is stricter.

Wisdom Behind the Prohibition

A Muslim follows the command of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, whether or not every wisdom is known. The Sunnah nevertheless explains some wisdom. In the hadith of Amr ibn Abasah, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet prohibited prayer at sunrise and sunset and mentioned that the sun rises and sets between the two horns of a devil, when disbelievers prostrate to it. Narrated by Muslim.

This distances Muslims from resembling sun worshippers at the times of their worship and protects tawheed. It also trains the Muslim to understand that worship is not performed merely whenever one desires, but in the manner and at the time legislated by Allah.

The Five Prohibited Periods

Five prohibited periods are commonly listed by separating the two extended periods and the stricter periods within them:

1
After Fajr prayer until the sun begins to rise: This begins once the obligatory Fajr prayer has been performed and continues until the disc of the sun begins to appear. An unrestricted voluntary prayer without a specific cause is not initiated then.
Between true dawn and the obligatory prayer, the prescribed prayer is the Sunnah of Fajr; unrestricted voluntary prayer is not initiated. Someone entering the masjid after having prayed the Sunnah at home performs Tahiyyat al-Masjid because it is connected to a cause.
2
While the sun is rising until it has risen: This is one of the three stricter periods. Duha does not begin when the sun's disc first appears. Wait until the sun has completely risen and gained height.
In practical terms, this is normally around fifteen to twenty minutes after the published sunrise time, depending on location, season, and calendar accuracy. This is an approximate practical guideline, not a fixed religious duration; the relevant sign is the sun's elevation. Once it has risen, the prohibition ends and the time for Duha Prayer begins.
3
When the sun is directly overhead before Dhuhr: This is a short period before Dhuhr begins, when the sun is at the center of the sky before declining westward. Once it declines, Dhuhr begins and the prohibition ends.
One fixed number of minutes cannot apply to every country and season. Someone unable to recognize the sign should cautiously stop unrestricted voluntary prayer during the few minutes before the published Dhuhr time and resume when Dhuhr enters.
4
After the obligatory Asr prayer until near sunset: Once a Muslim performs Asr, the prohibited period begins, even if the time is still early. The prohibition on unrestricted voluntary prayer continues until sunset approaches.
The determining factor is performing Asr, not merely the entrance of its time. Someone who has not yet prayed Asr is not within the prohibition connected to being after the prayer, while remaining obligated to preserve Asr in its time and not delay it.
5
When the sun inclines toward setting until it disappears: This is the third stricter period. It occurs when the sun approaches the horizon and inclines toward setting until its entire disc disappears. Once the sun has set and Maghrib begins, the prohibition ends.
This must not be understood as permitting the deliberate delay of Asr until the sun yellows and approaches the horizon. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, condemned the person who watches the sun until it is between the horns of a devil and then pecks out four rak'ahs of Asr, remembering Allah only a little. Narrated by Muslim.

Two Extended Periods and Three Stricter Periods

The two extended periods are:

  1. After Fajr prayer until the sun has risen.
  2. After Asr prayer until sunset.

Within those periods, together with the zenith, are three short periods during which there is a specific prohibition concerning the funeral prayer and burial:

  1. While the sun is rising until it has risen.
  2. When it is directly overhead until it declines.
  3. When it inclines toward setting until it disappears.

A cause-based prayer may therefore be permitted after Fajr or Asr, while the funeral prayer and burial become prohibited when one of the three stricter periods begins. This distinction reconciles the texts instead of assigning the same ruling to every part of a prohibited period.

What Does the Prohibition Include?

The Basic Rule: Unrestricted Voluntary Prayer

The prohibition primarily concerns unrestricted voluntary prayer: a voluntary prayer initiated without a specific established cause and without being a timed Sunnah for which making it up has been established.

A Muslim therefore does not begin two rak'ahs after Fajr or Asr merely from a general desire to pray voluntarily, nor single out sunrise or sunset with a prayer Allah did not legislate. Obligatory prayers and some prayers connected to an established cause have different rulings.

The prohibited time does not prevent Quran recitation, dhikr, dua, or sending salah upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. The prohibition concerns the prayers addressed by the evidence, not every form of worship.

A Current Obligatory Prayer Is Not Delayed

A prohibited time does not remove a current obligation or permit delaying it. Someone who has not prayed Asr until little time remains must pray it before sunset and must repent if it was delayed without an excuse.

«مَنْ أَدْرَكَ رَكْعَةً مِنَ العَصْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ فَقَدْ أَدْرَكَ العَصْرَ».“Whoever catches one rak'ah of Asr before the sun sets has caught Asr.”

Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Making Up a Missed Obligatory Prayer

Someone who sleeps through a prayer or forgets it must pray upon waking or remembering, even at sunrise or after Asr. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

«مَنْ نَسِيَ صَلَاةً فَلْيُصَلِّهَا إِذَا ذَكَرَهَا، لَا كَفَّارَةَ لَهَا إِلَّا ذَلِكَ».“Whoever forgets a prayer must pray it when remembering it; there is no expiation for it except that.”

Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim.

Someone who wakes after sunrise has begun does not wait for Duha time but prays Fajr upon waking. Detailed rulings are explained in Missed Prayer in Islam: How and When to Make It Up.

Prayers Connected to an Established Cause

Scholars differ about cause-based prayers during the prohibited periods. The stronger view is that a prayer whose cause occurs is prescribed when that cause exists. Examples include:

1Tahiyyat al-Masjid for a person entering the masjid and intending to sit.
2The two rak'ahs after completing tawaf.
3The two rak'ahs after wudu.
4The eclipse prayer if an eclipse occurs during a prohibited time.

This applies only to an established religious cause. An invented cause or an unestablished prayer cannot be treated the same way. Unrestricted voluntary prayer remains under the original prohibition.

Specific Prayers and Acts

Funeral Prayer and Burial

The funeral prayer may be performed during the extended period after Fajr or Asr when needed because it is connected to a cause, especially since promptly proceeding with the funeral is from the Sunnah.

Once sunrise begins, the sun is directly overhead, or the sun inclines toward setting, the funeral prayer and burial are delayed until that short period ends. The hadith of Uqbah ibn Amir, may Allah be pleased with him, is explicit regarding prayer and burial. See How to Pray the Janazah Funeral Prayer.

Making Up the Rawatib Sunnah Prayers

Someone who misses the Sunnah of Fajr may make it up after the obligatory prayer or delay it until the sun has risen. Delaying it until after the sun has risen is better if there is no fear of forgetting.

It is established that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, made up the Sunnah after Dhuhr following Asr when the delegation of Abd al-Qays occupied him. This is agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim. It was the makeup of a missed Sunnah whose cause had occurred, not unrestricted voluntary prayer after Asr and not evidence for regularly observing two rak'ahs after Asr every day.

For the Rawatib, their times, and making them up, see Rawatib Sunnah Prayers and Witr.

Istikhara Prayer

If Istikhara can be delayed until the prohibited period ends, that is what should be done. If the matter is urgent and will be missed before the period ends, a group of scholars permit it because it is then connected to a cause that cannot be delayed.

This should not be made habitual by praying Istikhara during prohibited times when waiting is possible. Its method and dua are explained in How to Pray Istikhara.

Prostration of Recitation and Gratitude

According to the stronger view, the prostrations of recitation and gratitude do not carry the ruling of prayer. They may therefore be performed during a prohibited time when their cause occurs.

Frequently Asked Questions
Question and Answer

Should I Pray Tahiyyat al-Masjid After Fajr or Asr?

Yes. If you enter the masjid after Fajr or Asr and intend to sit, pray two light rak'ahs. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “When one of you enters the masjid, let him not sit until he has prayed two rak'ahs.” Agreed upon by al-Bukhari and Muslim. Tahiyyat al-Masjid is connected to entering, so it is not unrestricted voluntary prayer.

After true dawn but before the obligatory Fajr prayer, if you have not prayed the Sunnah of Fajr, pray it, and it suffices for Tahiyyat al-Masjid. There is no need for another separate pair.

Question and Answer

May the Two Rak'ahs After Wudu Be Prayed During a Prohibited Time?

Yes, because they are connected to a cause. However, a person should not intentionally perform wudu merely as a device to bypass the prohibition and pray during that time.

Question and Answer

Does the Prohibition Begin at the Asr Adhan or After the Prayer?

The extended prohibition begins once a Muslim has performed the obligatory Asr prayer, not merely upon hearing the adhan. Nevertheless, the obligatory prayer should not be delayed to increase voluntary prayer; one should promptly pray with the congregation.

Question and Answer

May I Pray Duha at the Published Sunrise Time?

No. The published sunrise time marks the beginning of the sun's appearance and is a prohibited period. Wait until the sun has risen approximately the height of a spear, generally estimated as fifteen to twenty minutes after sunrise while accounting for differences in location and calendar calculation.

Question and Answer

I Awoke During Sunrise and Missed Fajr. What Should I Do?

Begin praying and do not delay the obligation until the sun has risen, because making up the obligatory prayer is required upon waking. One may pray the Sunnah of Fajr and then the obligatory prayer, as established when the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and his Companions made up Fajr during travel. If one prays the obligation first and makes up the Sunnah afterward or after the sun rises, that is also permissible. Do not prolong anything in a way that delays the obligatory prayer.

Question and Answer

Is Burial Permitted After Fajr or Asr?

Burial is permitted during the extended period after Fajr or Asr. It is paused during the three short periods: while the sun is rising, when it is directly overhead before Dhuhr, and when it inclines toward setting. It resumes when that prohibited period ends.

Question and Answer

Does the Zenith Prohibition Apply on Friday?

The stronger view is that someone who comes early to the masjid on Friday may pray voluntarily until the imam appears. In the hadith of Salman al-Farisi, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, mentioned someone praying what was written and then listening when the imam came out. Narrated by al-Bukhari. He did not instruct the person to stop at the zenith. This is an exception connected to voluntary prayer before the Friday khutbah, not permission to designate the zenith for a particular prayer. Someone entering while the imam is delivering the khutbah prays two light rak'ahs of Tahiyyat al-Masjid, then sits and listens.

Question and Answer

Are Dhikr and Dua Prohibited During These Times?

No. Dhikr, Quran recitation, and dua remain prescribed. After Fajr in particular, the Sunnah includes remaining in the prayer place and remembering Allah until sunrise. The prohibition concerns the prayers included by the evidence, not every form of remembrance.

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Conclusion
A Practical Rule

Not Every Prayer Is Prohibited, and Not Every Prayer Is Permitted

Most mistakes in this subject come from two extremes. Some people pray Duha at the exact time labeled “sunrise,” even though that marks the beginning of a stricter prohibited period. Others prohibit every prayer after Fajr or Asr, thereby delaying a missed obligatory prayer or abandoning a prayer connected to a cause. Both understandings are incorrect.

After completing Fajr or Asr, do not initiate unrestricted voluntary prayer. For Duha, wait until the sun has risen. Stop unrestricted voluntary prayer at the zenith and shortly before sunset. A prayer missed because of sleep or forgetfulness is performed upon remembering, and a prayer connected to an established cause is performed in its appropriate place according to the distinctions explained above.

And Allah knows best. May Allah's peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.