Answered by: Maulana Muhammad Imad Ali
Question
What is Zawaal time? What time till what time not allowed, before Zuhr?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer
Zawal means the time when the sun moves away from its peak and this is when Zuhr time starts. Istiwa is when the sun is at its highest peak at noon and that is when to read Salah is impermissible. (Raddul Muhtar p.31 v.2)
To calculate Istiwa it is half of the time between Sunrise and Sunset. The time when the Sun is at its peak is for a momentary period; therefore it is difficult to pinpoint the exact moment. Hence, the jurists out of caution have said five minutes before and five minutes after Istiwa time one should refrain from reading any salah. (Aapke Masaail p. 144 v. 2)
Only Allah knows best.
Written by Maulana Muhammad Imad Ali
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham