The time for Asr prayer begins once the time for Dhuhr (midday) prayer ends. However, the different interpretations within Islamic schools regarding when Dhuhr ends have led to varying opinions on when Asr starts. According to Imams Abu Yusuf, Imam Muhammad, and other scholars, the Dhuhr time ends when the shadow of an object, excluding its noontime shadow (fay-i zawal), reaches the same length as the object itself. This time is referred to as “Asr al-Awwal” (the first Asr time). Imam Abu Hanifa, however, holds that Dhuhr ends when the shadow of an object reaches twice its length, excluding the noontime shadow, marking the beginning of “Asr al-Thani” (the second Asr time). In Turkey, the Diyanet follows the Asr al-Awwal calculation for the prayer times.
The latest time for Asr is just before sunset. Nevertheless, delaying the prayer to the last moment is discouraged, as the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) described hastily performing the Asr prayer near sunset as resembling the practice of hypocrites. Therefore, it is recommended to perform Asr well within its allotted time. However, if it is delayed and even one rak’ah (unit) can be performed before sunset, the prayer will still be considered valid.
According to the Shafi’i school, the Asr time is divided into five sub-periods: “Virtuous,” “Optional,” “Permissible without dislike,” “Permissible with dislike,” and “Excusable.” The “Excusable” time applies when Asr and Dhuhr are combined under specific circumstances like travel or rain. Among these times, it is preferred to pray during the “Virtuous” or “Optional” time, while delaying without a valid reason until the “Permissible with dislike” period is considered improper.
Asr prayer is one of the daily prayers in Islam, and it is encouraged to perform it within its designated time without unnecessary delay. These detailed guidelines on prayer timing reflect the emphasis in Islam on fulfilling worship with care and timeliness.