We need to start with a little clarification. In English, the word "prayer" is used for every supplication to Allah. With this understanding of prayer in mind, we must say that prayer is never forbidden. We may beseech our Lord at all times under all circumstances. Allah always hears us.

When we speak about the times prayer is forbidden, we are speaking about the formal prayers that are prescribed to be carried out in a particular manner: with standing, bowing, prostrations, and sitting – each movement with its prescribed recitations.

In Arabic, the word for supplication is du`â while the word fro formal prayers is salâh. In English, the world "prayer" is used for both.

A Muslim may voluntarily offer formal prayers – above an beyond the five obligatory prescribed daily prayers – when he or she likes. However, there are certain times of day when offering such prayers is forbidden.

These times are, broadly speaking, three.

1. From dawn until the Sun has risen and ascended in the sky the height of a spear.

Scholars differ regarding what is meant by "after dawn". Hanbalî scholars are of the opinion that all voluntary prayers are forbidden from the time of dawn – in other words, from the time of the adhân for the Fajr prayer – except for the two Sunnah units associated with the Fajr prayer.

Other scholars disagree. They are of the opinion that voluntary prayers are only becomes prohibited after a person offers the obligatory Fajr prayer. A person may offer as many voluntary prayers as he or she likes after the adhân for Fajr but before offering the Fajr prayer. This opinion seems more likely to be the correct one.

In any event, it is better to suffice with the two-unit Sunnah prayer for Fajr and avoid offering extra voluntary prayers before the obligatory Fajr prayer, because that is in conformity with the Prophet's practice. He would only offer two brief units of prayer after the adhân for Fajr before offering the obligatory Fajr prayer. He never prayed more than that during this period of time.

As for how long it takes after sunrise for the Sun to ascend to the height of a spear, it is roughly 12 minutes to a quarter of an hour after sunrise.

2. From the time the Sun reaches its zenith in the sky until it begins its descent.

When the Sun reaches its maximum height for the day, the shadows it causes objects to cast will be at their shortest. When the Sun begins its westward descent, these shadows will begin to increase again. This period of time is quite brief. It does not exceed around ten minutes before the time of the Zuhr prayer.

3. From after the `Asr prayer until the Sun has set.

There is agreement in this case that voluntary prayer is only forbidden for a person after that person has offered the obligatory `Asr prayer. A person may offer as many voluntary prayers as he or she likes after the adhân for `Asr but before offering the obligatory `Asr prayer.

The Evidence

`Umar relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) "prohibited formal prayers after the dawn prayer up until the time that the Sun had risen, and after `Asr until the Sun has set." [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (547) and Sahîh Muslim (1367)]

Abû Sa`îd al-Khudrî relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There is no prayer after the dawn prayer until the Sun has risen well into the sky, nor after `Asr until the Sun has disappeared." [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (551)]

When the edge of the Sun first appears, leave off offering prayers until it has risen in the sky. Wneh the Sun's edge disappears, leave off offering prayer until it is fully set." [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (548) and Sahîh Muslim (1371)]

`Uqbah b. `Âmir al-Juhanî said: "Allah's Messenger prohibited us form offering prayers and from burying our dead during three time periods: from when the sun rises until it is fully risen, from when it reaches its zenith until it begins to decline, and from the time it begins to set until it is fully set." [Sahîh Muslim (1373)]

Voluntary Prayers with Reasons that Precede Them

There are some voluntary formal prayers that are prescribed for particular reasons or on particular occasions. These reasons can occur during one of the timeframes wherein prayer is forbidden. These include the eclipse prayer, the two units to be offered after circumambulating the Ka`bah, the two units to be offered upon entering the mosque, and the units offered after performing one's ablutions.

Scholars differ regarding whether these formal voluntary prayers may be offered at the times when voluntary prayer is forbidden. The strongest view is that these prayers are permitted on the strength of the reason that they are prescribed for. The prohibition is for offering general voluntary prayers that are not preceded by a reason that is prescribed for them by the Sunnah.

Sheikh Abdullah Ibn Umar Al-Suhaybani