Q. I went out with my husband and on returning home, I realized that there’s only about 5-10 minutes left before the actual sunset time on the chart. Is that forbidden time for performing salaah? Can I perform my salaah at that time still, or do I have to wait and make up for it later? What should a person do if forbidden time for performing salaah enters and he/she didn’t perform salaah as yet? Please specify those forbidden times and what should a person do on those occasions.
A. It is generally not proper to delay the Asr Salaah to such a time where there are only 5-10 minutes left for sunset. The Fuqaha (Jurists) have mentioned that doing this is Makrooh (reprehensible). However, Salaah Al Asr performed at this time will be valid. In your case where you did not perform Salaah as yet, then it is essential upon you to perform the Asr Salaah at that time before the sun sets. In this case, you must not wait and make up for it later.
The forbidden times for Salaah are:-
1) When the sun is rising.
2) When the sun is in its meridian.
3) When the sun is setting.
It is not permissible to perform Salaah at these timings.
If a forbidden time enters and a person did not yet perform the Salaah of that time, then he needs to wait until the forbidden time passes, and then perform the Salaah afterwards, at the earliest possible time.
And Allah knows best.
Mufti Waseem Khan