Ruling on praying after 'Asr

Question:

Is it allowed to pray Raka’atain Sunnah (two units of voluntary prayer) after Asr prayer?

Answer:

Bismillaah, alhamdulillahi wassalatu wassalaamu alaa rasoolillahi wa ala’ aalihi wasallam, amma ba’ad

Ummu Salamah رضي الله عنها asked the Prophet ﷺ regarding this Sunnathul Asr prayer, as recorded in the following Hadith:

Narrated Umm Salaamah رضي الله عنها: Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ came to my house after offering the Asr prayer and offered two Raka’ah, then I asked him about that and he replied, “I was kept busy (and failed to pray) the two (Sunnah) Raka’ah after Zuhr prayer, so I offered them now.” I asked him, “Should we offer them if we miss them?” He (ﷺ) replied, “No.”

[Reported by Ahmad (Sahih); a narration from Ayesha رضي الله عنها has the same meaning]

As regards to this issue some of the Ulamaa, like Shaykh al Albaani رحمه الله and Ibnu Hazm رحمه الله have a different opinion, which states that the time after the Asr prayer is divided into two, the legal and forbidden (for prayer) times.

However, this opinion is easily refuted by the above Hadith, which clearly shows that there is no such division and that this Sunnah prayer after Asr is forbidden throughout the time of the Asr prayer until it ends before the sunset. This is the opinion of Ibnu Abbaas رضي الله عنه and Ibn Umar رضي الله عنه and also Umar ibnul Khattab رضي الله عنه, who used to even beat those who pray after Asr with a stick. So it can clearly be understood, without a doubt, that Sunnathul Asr is specifically an exception for the Messenger ﷺ.

However, it should also be noted that the prayers which have a specific reason to be performed and is not connected with the times (can be prayed anytime), such as Salaathul Istikhaarah, Raka’atain Masjid and the likes, could be performed in the time after Asr and likewise, in other forbidden times.

Answered by Ahmad Banajah via DawahFromYemen