Fatwa 3

بوح القلم · 01-12-2008, 04:48 PM

Question: I heard that there are three forbidden times when we are not allowed to perform prayers - when the Sun is rising, when sun is at 90 degree angle, and when sun sets? Is this correct or not? Does this apply to missed prayers and Tahiyyah al-Masjid?

Answered by the Fatwa Department Research Committee - chaired by Sheikh `Abd al-Wahhâb al-Turayrî

The time of sunrise, the time when the Sun reaches its zenith, the time after a person performs the Fajr prayer up to sunrise, and the time after a person performs the `Asr prayer up to sunset are all times when voluntary prayers are prohibited. It is prohibited to offer a voluntary prayer at these times unless the prayer has a reason that precedes it.

You can pray your missed obligatory prayers at these times, since obligatory prayers and other prayers that have a reason preceding them may be prayed during these times.

If you enter a mosque at this time, you can pray Tahiyyah al-Masjid, since its reason to be prayed (entering the mosque) preceded it. Likewise, you can pray your missed Sunnah prayers for Fajr after praying the Fajr prayer.

However, you cannot pray general voluntary prayers that do not have such a reason preceeding it. This means you cannot pray the Istikhârah prayer at this time.

And Allah knows best.