You should perform the nafilah from when the sun passes the...

📌You should perform the nafilah from when the sun passes the meridian until the passing of one cubit, so when your shadow reaches the length of one cubit you should start praying the obligatory prayer (Dhuhr) and leave the nafilah , and when you shadow reaches two cubits you should pray the obligatory prayer (‘Asr) and leave the nafilah .”[^9] Note: This has also been narrated by al-Tusi in al-Tahdhib and by al-Kulayni in al-Kafi.[^10] In al-Tahdhib: In his narration from Husayn ibn Sa’id from al-Nadhr from Musa ibn Bakr from Zurarah who said: I heard Aba Ja’far (as) saying: The Holy Prophet (S) would not pray in the day until the sun had crossed the meridian; and when it had passed the meridian by (casting a shadow the length of) half a finger, he would pray eight rak’ahs and when the shadow reached one cubit he prayed the Dhuhr prayer.

Then he prayed two rak’ahs after Dhuhr and before the time of ‘Asr he prayed (another) two rak’ahs, and when the shadow reached two cubits he prayed the ‘Asr prayer. When the sun had set, he prayed the Maghrib prayer, and the time for the ‘Isha prayer entered when the twilight had passed. The end of the time for the Maghrib prayer is at nightfall. Then the time of ‘Isha enters and it continues up to a third of the night. After the ‘Isha prayer, he (S) would not pray until midnight.

📌Then (after midnight) he would pray thirteen rak’ahs, which includes the Witr and the two rak’ahs for the nafilah of Fajr, before the Fajr prayer. And at dawn, when it became light, he prayed the Fajr prayer.[^11] Note: The narrators have mentioned other narrations regarding the time for the night prayer.

Similarly, al-’Ayyashi has mentioned other narrations on the time for the nafilah of Dhuhr as has al-Saduq and others.[^12] It should be noted that all the rak’ahs of the nafilah of ‘Asr were not mentioned in this narration. Apparently the statement ‘ ...and before the time of ‘Asr he prayed ...’ is just explanatory of what precedes it.

In al-Tahdhib: In his narration from Muhammad ibn ‘Ali ibn Mahbub from ‘Abbas ibn Ma’ruf from ‘Abdillah ibn Mughirah from Mu’awiyah ibn Wahab who said: I heard Aba ‘Abdillah (as) saying – as he recollected the prayer of the Holy Prophet (S): He would bring his ablution water, cover it and place it near himself, and he would put his siwak under his bed then he would sleep for as long as Allah willed.

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