Chapter on Times of Prayer and Sign of Each of Its Times

That which was narrated by Al-Husayn ibn Sa’id, from Muhammad ibn Sinan, from Ibn Miskan, from Zurarah, from Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, who said: I asked Him عليه السلام about the time of Dhuhr and Imam عليه السلام said: “One forearm's length (of shadow) from the sun's zenith; and the time of ‘Asr is one forearm's length from the time of Dhuhr, so that makes four forearms from the sun’s zenith. And Zurarah said: “Abu Ja’far عليه السلام, said to me when I asked Him عليه السلام about that: “The wall of the mosque of the Messenger of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, was a man's height, and when the shadow from it extended one forearm, he would pray Dhuhr, and when the shadow extended two forearms, he would pray ‘Asr.” Then Imam عليه السلام said: "Do you know why one forearm and two forearms were appointed?" I said: “Why was that set?” Imam عليه السلام said: “Because of the supererogatory prayers. For you are allowed to perform supererogatory prayers from the sun’s zenith until the shadow reaches one forearm in length; and when your shadow reaches one forearm from the zenith, you begin with the obligatory prayer and leave the supererogatory prayer.” Ibn Miskan said: “And Sulayman ibn Khalid and Abu Basir al-Muradi and Husayn, the one with the caps, and Ibn Abi Ya’fur, and others whom I cannot enumerate, also narrated to me regarding the one forearm and the two forearms.” And in this narration, there is a clear indication of what we have based this chapter upon, that these times were designated for the purpose of offering the supererogatory prayers.