What are the disliked (makruh) times for prayer?

Certain acts of worship are prohibited during specific times, which are called times of karaha (disliked times). It is narrated from Uqba ibn Amir al-Juhani: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) forbade us from praying or burying our dead during three times: from the rising of the sun until it has fully risen (the length of a spear or two), when the sun is at its zenith until it moves westward, and from when the sun begins to yellow until it sets.” (Muslim, Salat al-Musafirin, 293 [831]; see also Abu Dawud, Tatawwu‘, 298 [1277]; Jana’iz, 55 [3192])

It is not permissible to perform prayers while the sun is rising or at its zenith. During the disliked time before sunset, only the obligatory Asr prayer of that day may be performed. However, it is disliked (makruh) to delay the Asr prayer until this time without a valid excuse.

The beginning and end of these times, according to temperate regions, are as follows:

• From sunrise until about 40-50 minutes later,

• When the sun is at its zenith (from about 10 minutes before the start of Dhuhr time until Dhuhr time begins),

• Before sunset, from when the sun no longer dazzles the eyes until it sets (from about 40-50 minutes before sunset until the time for Maghrib prayer begins) (Marghinani, al-Hidaya, 1/42)

During these times of karaha, neither missed (qada) prayers nor obligatory prayers such as Witr may be performed, nor can the funeral prayer be performed for a body that was prepared before the disliked time. However, the funeral prayer for a body prepared during these times may be performed. The prostration of recitation (tilawat sajda) due to a previously recited verse cannot be performed. However, if a verse requiring prostration is recited during the disliked time, it is preferable to delay the prostration, but it may be performed during this time.

In addition, it is also disliked to perform only supererogatory (nafl) prayers during the following times:

• Except for the Sunnah of Fajr, after the time of imsak (pre-dawn) until sunrise,

• After performing the Asr prayer until sunset,

• After the time for Maghrib enters but before the obligatory prayer is performed,

• After the Friday sermon begins (when the khatib ascends the pulpit) (Marghinani, al-Hidaya, 1/42-43)

It is narrated from Abu Sa’id al-Khudri: “I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: After the (Fajr) prayer, until the sun rises, there is no (other) prayer. After the (Asr) prayer, until the sun sets, there is no (other) prayer.” (Bukhari, Mawaqit al-Salat, 31 [586]; Muslim, Salat al-Musafirin, 288 [827])

According to the Shafi’i school, it is only disliked to perform supererogatory (nafl) prayers at the times of sunrise, zenith, and sunset. However, obligatory prayers, missed (qada) prayers, regular Sunnah prayers, and prayers with a specific cause (such as Tahiyyat al-Masjid) may be performed during these times. Additionally, after Asr until sunset, performing nafl prayers is mildly disliked (tanzihan makruh). (Nawawi, Rawda, 1/192)

Source: T.C. Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu