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[ 1 ]Why do we sometimes perform Salat al-

'Asr at the Midday or Noon Time?

Question: Why is it that sometimes Salat al-'Asr(after-noon prayer) is recited during the early part ofnoon or midday after performing the Salat al-Zuhr(noon prayer) even though the time of the lateafternoon has not yet started? Also, why is it thatsometimes we recite Salat al-Zuhr right at the end ofits time even though the time of noon or midday hasfinished?

Answer: First off, it must be noted that the Salat al-Zuhr and al-'Asr and also al-Maghrib and al-'Ishaahave their own specific (Mukhtass) and common time(Mushtarik) (to perform them). The meaning ofspecific time is that in that time period, with theexception of that Salat, no other Salat can beperformed.

For example, the time it takes to perform a fourRak'at Salat from the beginning of the midday ornoon is reserved for Salat al-Zuhr and the time ittakes to perform a four Rak'at Salaat at the end ofthe day is the time reserved for Salat al-'Asr and thetime that is between these two times is the commontime of Salat al-Zuhr and Salat Al-'Asr. Also, it mustbe noted that each of these Salaat have their ownrecommended time (to perform them) such that ifthey are performed in this specific time, the reward ofthe Salaat would be much greater.

For example, the recommended time for Salat al-Zuhr is from the beginning of the time of midday ornoon until that time that the shadow of a stick (or

something like this) is equal to the length of that stick(or thing). It is at this time that the recommendedtime for Salat al-Zuhr has come to an end and thetime for Salat al-'Asr has started.

Thus, naming these two prayers with the names ofal-Zuhr and al-'Asr refers to the the recommendedtime to perform these two prayers (noon/midday foral-Zuhr and afternoon for al-'Asr) and it is not relatedto the common time that they share between oneanother.

It is not a problem for the person to recite Salat al-Asr (after Salat al-Zuhr) in the beginning of the noonor midday since he has recited his Salaat in its(permitted) time and when he makes the intentionthat he is reciting Salat al-'Asr - he means that he isreciting that Salat that from the point of view of itsspecfic time, (should be) read at the late afternoon(Asr). However, it is better that he delay this Salat(al-'Asr) until its recommended time sets in - meaningthe time of late afternoon.

The same goes fro the person who recites Salat al-Zuhr (before Salat al-'Asr) at the end of the day (lateafternoon) -since he has recited his Salaat in itscommon time and when he makes the intention thathe is reciting Salat al-Zuhr - he means that he isreciting that Salat that from the point of view of itsspecfic time, (should have been read) at midday(Zuhr).

The same rule applies for Salat al-Maghrib and al-'Ishaa from the view point of their specific andcommon and recommended times of recitation. &