When and where is it reprehensible to perform prayer? A- It is reprehensible to perform prayer at three times, as follows: • When the sun begins to rise until it is fully up. • When the sun is at its zenith at midday until it passes over meridian. • When the sun is about to set until the full sunset. It is detestable to perform prayer at any of these times because the sun worshippers worship it during them; so Muslims are forbidden to perform prayer at these times lest they may be seen doing something that the polytheists do. There are other times at which it is detestable to perform voluntary prayers, as follows: After performing the obligatory prayer of the Asr (Afternoon) and after performing the obligatory prayer of the Fajr (Dawn). As it is detestable for the Muslim to perform prayer at certain times, it is also detestable for him to perform it at certain places. This detestability may be either because these places are dirty, such as bathrooms and dunghills, or because it is dangerous to perform prayer therein, such as the pens of camels, as camels often bolt and may tread on the person performing the prayer in their enclosure. The detestability in question may moreover be due to the sanctity of the place, such as the roof of the Ka'ba. Q- What is the Shariah ruling concerning the performance of prayer after the Fajr (Dawn) and the Asr (Afternoon) Prayers? A- The majority of scholars maintain that it is permissible to “make up for” a missed prayer at these times because the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “He who sleeps without performing a prayer or forgets it, should perform it when he remembers it, for that is considered its due time.” On the other hand, some of the Companions including Ali, Abu Huraira and Omar (may Allah be pleased with them) view that it is not recommended to perform voluntary prayers at these two times. Malik and Abu Hanifah adopt the same opinion while ‘Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) says it is permissible to perform a prayer that has some legal purpose such as the prayer that is to be performed after ablution as an act of Sunnah. As for the Hanbalis, they say it is prohibited to perform a voluntary prayer (Nafl) at these two times. – Extracted from 500 Questions and Answers on Islamic Jurisprudence, complied and translated by Muhammad Abdul
