THE TIMES OF SALAAT
THE TIME FOR FAJR SALAAT
Appromixately 1 ½ hours before sunrise a dim whitish glow appears vertically in the eastern horizon. Soon after this vertical glow, a brightness appears horizontally in the eastern horizon. This horizontal glow spreads instantly along the horizon becoming larger and larger until after a short while it becomes light. The time for Fajr Salaat commences with the appearance of this horizontal glow in the eastern horizon. This time marked by the appearance of the horizontal glow is known as Fajre Awwal or Subh Sadiq (True Dawn). The time for Fajr Salaat lasts until sunrise.
THE TIME FOR ZUHR SALAAT
The time for Zuhr Salaat begins immediately after Zaw-waal or mid-day. The time of midday or Zaw-waal is calculated by dividing the hours of daylight by two, and adding the result to the time of sunrise, e.g.:
1. Example:
Sunrise 6.30 a.m.
Sunset 5.30 p.m.
i.e. Number of Daylight hours = 11 hours
Divide by two 11 ÷ 2 = 5 ½ hours
Add to Sunrise time 6.30 + 5.30 = 12.00
i.e. Zaw-waal will be at 12 p.m.
2. Example:
Sunrise 5.10 a.m.
Sunset 7.30 p.m.
i.e. Number of Daylight hours 14 hours, 20 minutes.
Divide by two 14 hrs. 20 min. ÷ 2 = 7 hrs., 10 min.
Add result to sunrise time: 5.10 + 7.10 = 12.20
i.e. Zaw-waal is at 12.20 p.m.
It is forbidden to perform Salaat at the time of Zaw-waal. After approximately five minutes (i.e. five minutes after Zaw-waal) Zuhr time commences.
The time for Zuhr Salaat lasts until the length of the shadow of an object becomes twice the size of the object plus the size of the shadow which was cast at the time of Zaw-waal.
Example:
The shadow of a yardstick at Zaw-waal was four inches. The time for Zuhr Salaat will remain until the shadow of the yardstick attains a length of two yards and four inches, i.e. twice the length of object plus shadow of Zaw-waal.
TIME FOR ASR SALAAT
Asr time begins immediately upon the expiry of Zuhr time, and lasts until sunset. However, it is Makrooh (reprehensible) to delay the performance of Asr Salaat until the sun’s rays become yellowish and dim as is the case before sunset.
TIME FOR MAGHRIB SALAAT
Immediately after sunset the time for Maghrib Salaat commences, md ft lasts until the white glow of twilight remains.
TIME FOR ISHAA’ SALAAT
The time for Ishaa Salaat begins immediately after expiry of the time of Maghrib, i.e. immediately after the white glow of twilight disappears. lshaa time lasts until Fajre Awwal or Subh Sadiq (true dawn). The moment Fajre Awwal enters, lshaa time expires.
(The terms Fajre Awwal and Subh Sadiq have already been explained under the heading: The Time for Fajr Salaat.)