When does the time for the Asr prayer begin and when does it end?

The beginning time for the Asr prayer depends on the end time of the Dhuhr prayer, so the difference of opinion regarding the end of Dhuhr also affects the start of Asr. According to Imam Abu Yusuf, Imam Muhammad, and the other school imams, the time for Dhuhr ends when the shadow of an object, excluding the “fey-i zawal” (the shadow at noon), becomes equal to its own length, and the time for Asr begins. This is called “asr-i awwal” (the first time of Asr). According to Imam Abu Hanifa, Dhuhr ends when the shadow of an object, excluding the “fey-i zawal,” becomes twice its own length, and Asr time begins. This is called “asr-i sani” (the second time of Asr). The Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) calendar is based on the asr-i awwal opinion.

The end time for Asr prayer is just before sunset. However, unless there is a valid excuse, it should not be delayed until this time. The Prophet (peace be upon him) described delaying the Asr prayer until the sun turns yellow and then hastily performing it as the prayer of the hypocrites. (See Muslim, Masajid, 195 [622]; Abu Dawud, Salat, 5 [413]) However, if it could not be performed earlier, it should still be performed even if the sun is about to set. (Kasani, Bada’i, 1/127; Marghinani, al-Hidaya, 1/40; Zayla’i, Tabyin, 1/80; Ibn Qudamah, al-Mughni, 1/273) Indeed, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever catches one rak‘ah of the Asr prayer before sunset has caught the whole prayer.” (Bukhari, Mawaqit al-Salat, 28 [579]; Muslim, Masajid, 163-165 [608])

According to the Shafi‘i school, the time for Asr prayer is divided into five periods: “virtuous,” “optional,” “permissible without dislike,” “permissible with dislike,” and “excuse.” The time of excuse refers to performing Asr together with Dhuhr during the Dhuhr time due to travel or rain. The other periods are as follows: the virtuous time lasts until the shadow of an object is one and a half times its length; the optional time lasts until it is twice its length; the permissible without dislike time lasts from the end of the optional time until the sun turns yellow; and the permissible with dislike time lasts from when the sun turns yellow until sunset. It is not permissible to delay Asr until the time of permissible with dislike without a valid excuse. Nevertheless, whoever manages to perform at least one rak‘ah before sunset is considered to have performed the Asr prayer. (Nawawi, al-Majmu‘, 3/27)

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