Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

why cant we muslims offer any namaz after fajr and asr prayers?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Prayers after fajr and asr

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Abu Sa'eed reported that the Prophet (saws), said, "There is no prayer after the morning (fajr) prayer until the sun rises." (Related by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)

Amr ibn 'Abbas related that he said, "O Prophet of Allah (saws), inform me about the prayers." He (saws) said, "Pray the morning (fajr) prayer, and then abstain from prayer until sunrise and the sun has completely risen, for it rises between the horns of the Shaitaan; for that is when the unbelievers prostrate to it. Then pray, as your prayer will be witnessed and attended to until the shadow of a spear becomes less than its length. At that time stop praying, for at that time the hell-fire is fed with fuel. When the shade comes, you may pray (dhuhr), for your prayer will be witnessed and attended (to by Angels) until you pray the afternoon (Asr) prayer. Then abstain from praying until the sun sets, for its sets between the horns of Shaitaan, and that is when the unbelievers make prostrations to it." (Related by Ahmad and Muslim.)

Your Question: why cant we muslims offer any namaz after fajr and asr prayers?

Through the annuls of time, the sun has been an object of worship by the pagans; and they would prostrate and worship the sun at its time of rising and setting. To completely differentiate and distance themselves from the times of pagan-worship, Islam guided the believers to worship their Supreme Lord and Creator in prayer before the rising of the sun (fajr) and abstain from prostrating until after the sun had completely risen; and abstain from prayer and prostration after the ‘asr’ prayers until the sun had completely set.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan