Forbidden Time For Prayer In Islam

Uqbah bin Amir said, “There were three times at which Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W.) used to forbid us to pray or bury our dead.

1. When the sun began to rise until it was fully up.

2. When the sun was its height at midday till it passed the meridian.

3. When the sun drew near to setting till it had set.”

Forbidden Time For Nafl Prayer

1. Abu Sa’eed al Khudree (R.A.) reported Allah’s Messenger (S.A.W.) as saying, “No prayer is to be said after the Fajr prayer until the sun rises, or after the Asr prayer until the sun sets.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

Only nafl prayer is forbidden at these times but a missed fard prayer can be offered. Most of the ulamas of the Muslim Ummah allowed the offering of missed fard prayer after Fajr and Asr because of the following Hadith.

Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said, “who has forgotten the prayer he should pray it whenever he remembers it.” (Bukhari & Muslim)

2. A nafl prayer cannot be offered once the iqamat for fard prayer has been said. Abu Hurairah narrated that the messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said, “When the iqamat has been said, then, there is no prayer valid (Nafl or sunnat) except the Fard prayer for which the iqamat was said.” (Ahmad & Muslim)

It is seen in practice that many people continue with sunnat prayer even though the iqamat has been said for the fard prayer especially in the Fajr prayer. They feel that the 2 rakat sunnat of Fajr can only be offered before the Fard.

This practice is against congregation philosophy, discipline of jama’at, and a clear violation of Hadith. They should offer 2 rakat sunnat of Fajr immediately after the Fard or after sunrise.