When Does the Time for Dhuhr and Asr Prayers End?

Question

A detailed explanation of the timings for the Dhuhr and Asr prayers according to Islamic jurisprudence. [AR_ID:5576]

Answer 1

Peace be upon you.

Ayatollah Khamenei (may Allah protect him):

- The time for Dhuhr prayer begins at noon (when the sun passes its zenith) and lasts until there is enough time to perform the Asr prayer before sunset.

- The time for Asr prayer starts after the time for Dhuhr has passed and continues until sunset, specifically before the red twilight that marks the entrance of Maghrib prayer.

- Each of the Dhuhr and Asr prayers has a specific time and a shared time. The specific time for Dhuhr is the duration from the beginning of Dhuhr, while the specific time for Asr is the duration before sunset. The time remaining between the specific times for Dhuhr and Asr is shared between both prayers.

- If one has enough time to perform even one rak'ah, they must pray with the intention of performance, but it is not permissible to deliberately delay the prayer until that time.

- If there is enough time before sunset to perform five rak'ahs, one must pray both Dhuhr and Asr. If there is less time than that, one must perform Asr and make up Dhuhr later.

- If a person mistakenly or forgetfully performs Asr before Dhuhr or Isha before Maghrib, and realizes after completing the prayer, their prayer is valid.

- If one begins the Asr prayer thinking they have already performed Dhuhr, and then realizes during the prayer that they have not performed Dhuhr, if they are in the shared time between Dhuhr and Asr, they must immediately change their intention to Dhuhr and complete it, then perform Asr. If they are in the specific time for Dhuhr, it is obligatory to change their intention to Dhuhr and complete it, then perform both prayers (Dhuhr and Asr) in order.

Source: A Treatise on Prayer and Fasting - Prayer - The Time for Dhuhr and Asr Prayers + Rules of Prayer Times - M24 + M25 + Order Between Prayers - M27 + M28 + Special Inquiry.

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Ayatollah Sistani (may Allah protect him):

- The time for Dhuhr prayer begins at noon (when the sun passes its zenith) and lasts until there is enough time to perform the Asr prayer before sunset.

- The time for Asr prayer starts after the time for Dhuhr has passed and continues until sunset, and it is strongly recommended not to delay the two Dhuhr prayers until the sun sets.

- Each of the Dhuhr and Asr prayers has a specific time and a shared time. The specific time for Dhuhr is the duration from the beginning of Dhuhr, while the specific time for Asr is the duration before sunset. The time remaining between the specific times for Dhuhr and Asr is shared between both prayers.

- If the specific time for Asr has entered and the individual has not prayed Dhuhr, the Dhuhr prayer becomes a make-up prayer, and they must perform the Asr prayer at that time.

- The specificity of Dhuhr at the beginning of the time means that the Asr prayer is not valid if performed deliberately without having performed Dhuhr correctly beforehand. If one prays Dhuhr before the zenith believing the time has entered, and the time enters before completing it, their prayer is valid, and they may perform Asr afterward without needing to delay it until four rak'ahs have passed from the beginning of the zenith. Similarly, if one mistakenly prays Asr during the specific time for Dhuhr, their Asr is valid, and they should perform Dhuhr afterward, although it is recommended to consider it Dhuhr and then perform four rak'ahs with the intention of fulfilling the obligation for both Dhuhr and Asr.

Likewise, if one prays Asr in the shared time before Dhuhr mistakenly, whether they remember during the specific time for Asr or in the shared time, and if the shared time is narrowed due to an unexpected event like menstruation, they must perform Dhuhr. From what has been mentioned, the specificity of Maghrib at the beginning of the time becomes clear.

- If one is certain of the time entering or has verified it through a reliable means and prays, then realizes that it was before the time, they must repeat the prayer. However, if they know that the time has entered while in prayer, their prayer is considered valid, although it is recommended to repeat it. If one prays while unaware and realizes the time has entered during the prayer, their prayer is invalid; however, if they realize it has entered before the prayer, it suffices, as does praying in anticipation of the time entering. If one prays and then doubts whether the time has entered, they are not required to repeat the prayer, although it is recommended to do so.

Source:

Minhaj al-Salihin - Vol. 1 - Times of Obligatory and Supererogatory Prayers + Rules of Times and Order Between Prayers - M508 + Selected Issues from 188 to 1195

May you be successful in all good.