#431: Observing Nawāfil Salāt after Salātu Al-Asr

QUESTION

” As salaam alaikum
Question:
May Allah azza wa jal increase you in knowledge
Could you please explain the Islamic position pertaining to Nawafil after Asr prayer”

ANSWER

Wa alaykum salam warahmatullaah wabarakaatuh

Alhamdulillaah, it has come in a hadith that was recorded by both Imaam Al-Bukhaari and Imaam Muslim in the Sahihayn from Abu Hurayrah – radiyallaahu ‘anhu – that the Rasūl – salallaahu alayhi wasallam – prohibited from observing Nawaafil after ‘asr until the sun is set and after Subh until the sun has risen.”

For this reason, some of the Ulamā hold that observing Nawaafil raka’aat after ‘Asr was not permissible.

However there is a Hadīth in which the Rasūl – salallaahu ‘alayhi wasallam – himself observed nawaafil after ‘asr. This was narrated by Ummu As-Salamah – radiyallaahu anha – in the Sahihayn that the Rasūl – salallaahu alayhi wasallam – said:

“A people from Bani ‘Abdul Qays visited me and I was occupied from the two raka’aat that come after dhuhr. They are the ones I just observed.”

And it is known that the Rawaatib (superogatory salaat) that is attached to Asr is observes before if as it has come in the Hadith of Umm Habibah as 2 raka’aat before asr as was recorded by An-Nasa’i, and four raka’aat as was narrated by Ibn Umar:

“May Allāh be merciful to he who observes 4 raka’aat”

This was recorded by Imaam Ahmad and At-Tirmidhi.

However, other Ahaadith have specified the exact period between Asr and maghrib when the Salaat is forbidden.

In the Hadīth narrated by ‘Ali – radiyallaahu ‘an hu – the Rasūl – salallaahu alayhi wasallam – said:

“Do not observe salaat after ‘asr unless if the sun is still high in the sky”

Graded Sahih by Al-Albaani in ‘As-Silsilatu As-Sahihah’

And in the Hadīth of Anas Ibn Maalik, the Rasūl – salallaahu alayhi wasallam – said:

“Do not observe Salāt at the time of the sun’s rising nor at its setting time. For indeed it rises and sets on the horns of the Shaytaan. So, observe the Salaat between those periods as you like.”

For this reason, the Stallion Imams of Fiqh say that while it is not Sunnah to observe any raka’aat after Asr, there is nothing to make it haraam until the sun is about to set in which case it is totally forbidden.

Allāhu A’alam

Bārakallāhu Fīkum
Jazākumullāhu Khayran.

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