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Reading Asr Salah at Mithl Awal

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by DarulIftaBirmingham

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

 Answer

From the aforementioned question we can deduce that the question you’re asking is that in some mosques the Asr Salah and Isha Salah in particular starts earlier than those mosques who follow the Hanafi Fiqh.

The differences between Imam Abu Hanifa (RA) & other Schools of thought in regards to the beginning of Asr Salah is based on their respective interpretations of the Quran and Hadith of the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam.

There were differences also between the companions of the Prophet on the beginning of Asr Salah thus, one should not assume these differences as something wrong or deviated.

There are many hadiths which prove both Imam Abu Hanifa (RA) & other schools of thought on this issue:

1. Abdullah Bin Rafii Radiallahu Anhu asked Saaiduna Abu Hurayrah Radiallahu Anhu regarding the times of prayers. Saaiduna Abu Hurairah Radiallahu Anhu replied, “I will tell you: When the length of your shadow (from the sun) is equal to your height then perform the Zuhr salah. When the length of your shadow becomes twice your height, perform the Asr salah…’ (Muatta Malik p.5)

2. Saaiduna Abdullah Ibn Abbas Radiallahu anhu narrates that The Prophet of Allah Salallahu Alahi Wasalam said: Jibraael Alayhi Wasalam led me in prayer at the House (i.e. the Ka’bah). He prayed the noon prayer (Zuhr) with me when the sun had passed the meridian to the extent of the thong of a sandal; he prayed the afternoon prayer (Asr) with me when the shadow of everything was as long as itself; he prayed the sunset prayer (Maghrib) with me when one who is fasting breaks the fast; he prayed the night prayer (Ishaa) with me when the twilight had ended; and he prayed the dawn prayer (Fajr) with me when food and drink become forbidden to one who is keeping the fast. On the following day he prayed the noon prayer with me when his shadow was as long as himself; he prayed the afternoon prayer with me when his shadow was twice as long as himself; he prayed the sunset prayer at the time when one who is fasting breaks the fast; he prayed the night prayer with me when about the third of the night had passed; and he prayed the dawn prayer with me when there was a fair amount of light. Then turning to me he said: Muhammad, this is the time observed by the Prophets before you, and the time is anywhere between two times.’ (Sunan Tirmizi p.38 v.1)

With regards to your question you should perform you’re Asr Salah according to the timetables of the Hanafi mosque. However, in certain circumstances leeway exists to perform the Asr Salah earlier, for example, if a person is about to undergo a journey or in Masjid Al Haraam (They read the Asr Salah early).

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham.

This answer was collected from DarulIftaBirmingham.co.uk, which is run under the supervision of Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah from the United Kingdom.