Salaah before the time enters

Question

(#066)

Hope you doing well. Can a person pray any salaat before time starts? 

Answer

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته

حامدا و مصليا و مسلما

Muhtaram

We acknowledge receipt of your query and our reply follows herewith: 

It is not permissible to perform ones Salaah before its time. Regarding the combining of two Salaahs in one time there are two methods of this, which are:

(1) Jama’ Haqeeqi- which is combining of two Salaats by reading both in the time of one. For example, to perform Zuhr and Asr during the time of Zuhr.

(2) Jama’ Soorie- which is combining two Salaats by performing the first one close to the end of it’s time and then performing the next Salaat at the very beginning of its time. For example, the time of Zuhr ends and Asr begins at 3:45pm, so a person performs Zuhr Salaat at 3:30pm and then performs Asr Salaat at 3:50pm. This method (no.2) is permissible according to Imam Abu Hanifa rahmatullahi alaih. Jama’ Haqeeqi is not permissible according to Imam Abu Hanifa rahmatullahi alaih. The Mazhab of Imam Abu Hanifa rahmatullahi alaih is substantiated by the Qur’aan and Ahaadeeth of Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam, which follows hereunder:-

1. Allah Ta’aala says: “Verily Salaat is compulsory upon the believers in its stipulated times.” 

1. It is reported in Nasaai with an authentic chain of narrators that Abdullah radhiallahu anhu said that Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam used to perform Salaat in it’s fixed times except in Muzdalifa and Arafat. (Aathaarus Sunan vol.2 pg.72) This Hadeeth proves that only on two occasions is one allowed to combine two Salaats (Jamaa’ Haqeeqi), which the Hanafi Mazhab also sanction. Other than that, Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam did not combine two Salaats in one time.

1. Imam Tahawi, Ahmad and Haakim rahmatullahi alaihim narrate on the authority of Aisha radhiallahu anha that Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam used to delay Zuhr and perform Asr early and he used to delay Maghrib and perform Esha early whilst travelling. (Aathaarus Sunan vol.2 pg.73) This Hadeeth is a clear proof that Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam used to combine two Salaat by performing close to each other but in their own times, that’s why Aisha radhiallahu anha used the words ‘delay and perform early’ and not the word ‘combine’.

1. Imam Abu Dawood and Daar Qutni rahmatullahi alaihima report on the authority of Naafi’ and Abdullah bin Waaqid rahmatullahi alaihima that the Muazzin of Abdullah bin Umar radhiallahu anhu told him that it is time for Salaat (whilst they were travelling). Abdullah bin Umar radhiallahu anhu replied: “Continue travelling”, until just before the end of dusk. That’s when Ibne Umar radhiallahu anhu stopped and performed Maghrib Salat. He then waited till the end of dusk and then performed Esha Salaat. Thereafter He said: “When Rasulullah sallallahu alaihi wasallam used to be in a hurry he used to do as I did….” (IBID)

These are clear proofs to substantiate the opinion of Imam Abu Hanifa rahmatullahi alaih that every Salaat has to be read in it’s time, and that at times of necessity two Salaats could be combined in the form of Jama’ Soorie as has been explained above. 

And Allah Ta’ala knows best

Muhammad Irshad Motara

1^st Shabaan 1434

10^th June 2013

Checked and approved by:

(Mufti) Musayab Sahib