In a hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ the revered Prophet has advised the believers not to abandon their Fajr and Asr prayer has mentioned just because the time has slipped away and they are at the verge of sunrise or the sunset. This Hadith is mentioned in Sahih al-Bukhari , Book 9: Times of the Prayers كتاب مواقيت الصلاة / Chapter 17: Whoever got (or was able to offer) only one Rak'a of the 'Asr prayer before sunset باب مَنْ أَدْرَكَ رَكْعَةً مِنَ الْعَصْرِ قَبْلَ الْغُرُوبِ, given herein under:
Narrated by Abū Hurayrah (رضي الله عنه):
Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "If anyone of you can get one rak`a of the `Asr prayer before sunset, he should complete his prayer. If any of you can get one rak`a of the Fajr prayer before sunrise, he should complete his prayer."
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو نُعَيْمٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا شَيْبَانُ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " إِذَا أَدْرَكَ أَحَدُكُمْ سَجْدَةً مِنْ صَلاَةِ الْعَصْرِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَغْرُبَ الشَّمْسُ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَلاَتَهُ، وَإِذَا أَدْرَكَ سَجْدَةً مِنْ صَلاَةِ الصُّبْحِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ فَلْيُتِمَّ صَلاَتَهُ ".
This hadith is a foundational principle in Islamic law about catching the prayer time, mercy, and Allah’s ease. This hadith is muttafaq ʿalayh (agreed upon), making it among the strongest narrations, mentioned both in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī and Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim.
Ltt us expand the meaning of this Hadith for complete understanding:
What Does “Getting One Rakʿah” Mean?
In the above quoted Hadith, the allowance to continue praying if One Rak'ah has been completed. Let us see what Muslim Scholars beleive what One Rak'ah means:
- Completing standing (qiyām)
- Rukūʿ (bowing)
- Two sajdahs (prostrations)
Caution:
- Merely saying takbīr is not sufficient and does not constitute one Rak'ah. Unless one has completed the three obligatory actions as mentioned above culminating in the two prostrations, the Rak'ah is NOT said to have been completed.
- If time is slipping away, one does not have to hurry up and try to complete the Rak'ah with the speed of light. It has to be completed at a normal pace.
This is supported by another hadith: “Whoever catches one rak'ah of the prayer has caught the prayer.”
(Bukhārī & Muslim)
What Is the Legal Meaning of This Hadith?
This hadith establishes an important fiqh rule: "If a person completes one rakʿah within the prescribed time, the entire prayer is considered “on time” (أداء), not missed (قضاء).
This applies specifically to:
- ʿAṣr before sunset
- Fajr before sunrise
- These two prayers are highlighted because:
- They are most commonly missed
- They occur at sleep and work transitions
- They are heavily emphasized in Islam
Qur’anic Foundation
- Prayer has fixed times: “Indeed, prayer has been prescribed upon the believers at fixed times.” (Qur’an 4:103)
- Allah intends ease: “Allah intends for you ease and does not intend hardship.” (Qur’an 2:185)
- Allah does not burden beyond capacity: “Allah does not burden a soul beyond its ability.” (Qur’an 2:286)
This hadith shows how Allah’s mercy operates within fixed timings.
Wisdom Behind This Ruling
The Hadiths on Salat and all other matters are based on Divine wisdom to ease worship by the believers, for:
- Islam values effort, not perfection: If someone strives but is delayed due to: (1) traffic, (2) sleep, (3) illness, (4) work constraints, Allah still accepts their prayer.
- Encouragement, not despair: The Prophet ﷺ prevents people from thinking:
- “I missed it, so what’s the point?”
- Instead: “Pray — Allah’s door is still open.”
- Discipline without rigidity: Prayer times are firm — yet not unforgiving.
Practical Lessons for Today
- Never abandon prayer due to delay - Even if: (1) only minutes remain - you feel rushed - Pray.
- Guard Fajr and ʿAṣr: The Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever guards the two cool prayers (Fajr and ʿAṣr) will enter Paradise.” (Bukhārī & Muslim)
- Don’t make Islam unnecessarily hard: This hadith refutes: (1) extremism, (2) despair, (3) spiritual burnout
- Time is sacred — but mercy is greater
- Deadlines exist — yet Allah rewards effort.
Summary in One Sentence
If you manage to pray even one rakʿah within the prayer time, Allah counts your entire prayer as on time — a sign of His vast mercy and wisdom.
So my dear brothers and sisters in Islam, make every endeavour to offer your Salat / Prayer in time and do not delay it till the last permissible time. However, if one fears slipping of the time, make an endeavour to at least complete one complete Rak'ah before sunrise or sunset. Remember, Allah sees our intentions and our limitations. So believe in His infinite mercy and make every endeavour not to miss the Salat for paucity of time.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
You may refer to our reference page: As Salat / Prayer for more related Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Please also refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah / Hadith of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
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