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

Muhammad ibn Ya’qub narrated from Ali ibn Ibrahim, from Muhammad ibn ‘Isa, from Yunus, from Yazid ibn Khalifah, who said: I said to Abu Abdillah عليه السلام: “Indeed, ‘Umar ibn Hanzalah came to us with a timing from you.” So Abu Abdillah عليه السلام said: “Then he does not lie upon us.” I (narrator) said: “He (ibn Hanzalah) mentioned that you said: ‘Verily, the first prayer that Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Exalted, made obligatory upon His Prophet, may Allah سبحانه وتعالى bless him and his family, was Dhuhr, and it is the saying of Allah سبحانه وتعالى, the Mighty and Majestic: ‘Establish the prayer at the declining of the sun’ (Surah Isra 17:78). So when the sun passes the meridian, nothing prevents you (from praying) except your tasbih (supererogatory prayer), and you remain in the time of Dhuhr until the shadow becomes one forearm’s length, and that is the end of the time. Then when the shadow becomes one forearm, the time of ‘Asr enters, and you remain in the time of ‘Asr until the shadow becomes two forearms, and that is the evening.” Imam عليه السلام said: “He (ibn Hanzalah) has spoken the truth.”