Prayer is the second pillar of Islam, and every Muslim must perform the five prayers at their appointed times. However, with the increasing burdens of life and responsibilities, some people are delayed in performing the prayer. In this article, we explore: can i pray zuhr 10 minutes before asr? and is it permissible to delay Dhuhr prayer?
Is it permissible to pray Zuhr just 10 minutes before Asr?
Some ask: Can i pray zuhr 10 minutes before asr? According to what most scholars have stated, it is permissible to delay the Dhuhr prayer if there is a valid excuse, such as sickness, travel, or other genuine reasons, and there is no harm in that. However, delaying the prayer without a valid excuse is discouraged in Islam, as it goes against the recommendation of performing prayers at their prescribed times.
Allah SWT has emphasized the importance of performing prayers on time, and the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) urged his followers to do so without unnecessary delays. Therefore, if there is no valid excuse, it is best to pray Dhuhr within its designated time frame, as this is more rewarding and aligns with the teachings of Islam.
(إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ كَانَتْ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ كِتَابًا مَوْقُوتًا) [النساء: 103]
Inna aṣ-ṣalāta kānat ʿala al-mu’minīna kitāban mawqūtā.
“Indeed, prayer has been prescribed upon the believers a decree of specified times.”
However, you may pray Dhuhr ten minutes before Asr if there is a valid excuse, such as illness, that prevents the individual from performing the prayer on time. However, if the Dhuhr prayer is delayed until the end of its designated time without a valid excuse, it is considered sinful, as delaying it without a legitimate reason goes against the Islamic teachings of punctuality in prayer.
Therefore, they may combine the two prayers, delaying the first one and praying it with the following prayer using one wudu. This is allowed for those with valid reasons, such as travelers, to make things easier and alleviate hardship for them. This ruling is supported by the saying of Allah SWT:
(مَا يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ لِيَجْعَلَ عَلَيْكُم مِّنْ حَرَجٍ) [المائدة: 6]
Mā yurīdu Allāhu liyajʿala ʿalaykum min ḥarajin.
“Allah does not intend to make difficulty for you.”.”
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What is the timeframe for Zuhr prayer?
The time for Dhuhr prayer begins when the sun passes its zenith and starts to incline towards the west, as mentioned in the hadith of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him:
“وقت الظهر إذا زالت الشمس وكان ظل الرجل كطوله، ما لم يحضر العصر”
“The time for Dhuhr is when the sun has passed its zenith and a man’s shadow is equal to his length, until the time for Asr arrives.”
What happens if I pray Zuhr right before Asr?
There is no objection to performing Dhuhr prayer right before Asr, but if there is a legitimate excuse, such as forgetfulness or sleep. However, if it is without excuse, and he prays Dhuhr at the time of prohibition, which is right before Asr and is usually not enough time to perform the prayer, the individual will be sinful for that, and he must repent, seek forgiveness, and perform the prayer at its appointed time.
Are there any consequences for delaying Zuhr until close to Asr?
Yes, if a person delays Dhuhr prayer until it is close to the time for Asr, then he is sinful, he must repent and return to Allah. The scholars have agreed that if a person deliberately delays the prayer, that is a great sin, based on the saying of the Prophet, PBUH:
“بين الرجل وبين الكفر والشرك ترك الصلاة”
“Between a man and disbelief and polytheism is the abandonment of prayer”
and Allah’s saying:
فَوَيْلٌ لِلْمُصَلِّينَ * الَّذِينَ هُمْ عَنْ صَلَاتِهِمْ سَاهُونَ
Fawaylun lil-muṣallīn, al-ladhīna hum ʿan ṣalātihim sāhūn.
“Woe to those who pray, but are heedless of their prayer.”
how many times a day do Islam pray? A Muslim prays five prayers every day and night, and each prayer has a specific time that must be adhered to, and not delayed so that he does not sin.
What if I miss the Zuhr prayer altogether?
If a person misses performing Dhuhr prayer, he should pray it whenever he remembers it, and there is no harm in that. One should not be negligent in performing the prayers on time, due to the saying of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:
.”العهد الذي بيننا وبينهم الصلاة، فمن تركها فقد كفر”
“The covenant that is between us and them is prayer, so whoever abandons it has disbelieved.”
Which surah to recite after zuhr prayer? There is no specific surah that is preferred to be recited after Dhuhr prayer, but it is preferred to recite Ayatul Kursi (the verse of the Throne) after every prayer because of its great virtue. It is also recommended to supplicate and seek forgiveness after every prayer.
﴿ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لَا تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ مَنْ ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلَا يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلَّا بِمَا شَاءَ وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَلاَ يَؤُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ ﴾
Allāhu lā ilāha illā huwa, al-ḥayyul-qayyūm, lā ta’khudhuhu sinatun wa-lā nawmun, lahu mā fī as-samāwāti wamā fī al-arḍ, man dhā al-ladhī yashfa’u ʿindahu illā bi-idhnihi, yaʿlamu mā bayna ayīdīhim wamā khalfahum, walā yuḥīṭūna bishay’in min ʿilmihi illā bimā shā’a, wasi’a kursīyuhu as-samāwāti wal-arḍ, walā ya’ūdūhu ḥifẓuhumā, wahuwa al-ʿaliyyu al-ʿaẓīm.
“Allah! There is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission? He knows what is before them and what will be after them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His Kursi extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.”
what are fard prayers? Allah SWT has obligated Muslims to perform five prayers every day and night, which are Fajr, Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, and Isha prayers.
Is there a specific Sunnah associated with praying Zuhr?
Yes, there is a supererogatory prayer for Dhuhr prayer, which is four rakats before Dhuhr, and two rakats after Dhuhr. This is a Sunnah of the Prophet, PBUH. The one who performs it is rewarded, and he does not sin if he does not perform it.
Which Surah to Recite After Maghrib? There is no specific surah that is recommended to be recited after Maghrib prayer, but it is recommended to recite Ayatul Kursi after every prayer. It is also recommended to increase in supplications and remembrance of Allah. It has been narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to repeat this saying ten times after every prayer:
لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد يحيي ويميت وهو على كل شيء قدير”
Lā ilāha illā Allāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lahu, lahu al-mulku walahu al-ḥamdu yuḥyī wa-yumītu wa-huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr.
“There is no Allah but Allah alone, without partner. To Him belongs the dominion, and to Him belongs the praise. He gives life and causes death, and He is powerful over all things.”
can i use my phone to help me pray islam? Yes, it is permissible to use a mobile phone to remind you of prayer times. There are many applications that can be easily downloaded on a phone to remind you of the times for obligatory and supererogatory prayers.
How long before Asr can I pray Zuhr?
It is preferable to perform Dhuhr prayer before Asr prayer by at least an hour, and there is no objection to that. You shouldn’t not delay it unless there is an excuse, such as sleep or forgetfulness. One must be keen to perform Dhuhr prayer on time, according to the hadith of Abdullah ibn Masoud who said:
“سَأَلْتُ النبيَّ صَلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّمَ: أيُّ العَمَلِ أحَبُّ إلى اللَّهِ؟ قالَ: الصَّلاةُ علَى وقْتِها، قالَ: ثُمَّ أيٌّ؟ قالَ: ثُمَّ برُّ الوالِدَيْنِ، قالَ: ثُمَّ أيٌّ؟ قالَ: الجِهادُ في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ، قالَ: حدَّثَني بهِنَّ، ولَوِ اسْتَزَدْتُهُ لَزادَنِي”.
“I asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: ‘Which deed is most beloved to Allah?’ He said: ‘Prayer on time.’ I said: ‘Then what?’ He said: ‘Kindness to parents.’ I said: ‘Then what?’ He said: ‘Jihad in the way of Allah.’ He told me about them, and if I had asked for more, he would have given me more.”
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