The Sunnis do not announce an uncategorical concession for...

The Sunnis do not announce an uncategorical concession for the noon/afternoon prayers and maghrib and `isha prayers to be performed successively anywhere and at any time in the same manner that they are performed at `Arafah and Muzdalifah. So, the question still remains to be further delved on. Muslims unanimously agree that the holy Prophet (Peace be upon him and his descendants) used to perform his prayers successively.

However, this behavior of his has been interpreted in two different manners: a. The Shiites have interpreted it to mean that it is allowed to perform the afternoon prayer immediately subsequent to the termination of the noon prayer. The same is true of the `isha prayer that can be performed soon after maghrib prayer, and this is not restricted to any specific time, place or condition; it is applicable to all places at all times.

B: Others Point of View The implication of the narration concerning the Prophets manner of performing the prayers is that it is allowed to perform the noon prayer towards the end of the time due for it; however, the afternoon prayer should be done on time. The same procedure applies to maghrib and `isha prayers, with the former to be performed towards the end of the time allowed for it. However, `isha ' prayer should be done on time.

We will now go to discuss the narrations in order to prove the Shiites' point of view on the permissibility of performing prayers successively at the time allowed for one of them, not as the Sunnis hold: performing one towards the end of the time due for it, and performing the other exactly at the beginning of the time set for it.

The Narrations Ahmad ibn Hanbal, the leader of the Hanbaliyyah school of jurisprudence reports on the authority of Jabir Ibn Zayd who said: I heard Ibn `Abbas saying: I was with the holy Prophet (a.s). We performed the prayers consisting of eight units (Rak`ahs) (the noon and the afternoon prayers) successively, and (when the time came) we did the seven units (Rak`ah) prayers maghrib and `isha in the same manner.

I told Abu'l-Sha`tha', I suppose the Messenger of God deferred the noon prayers and (on the other hand) performed the afternoon prayer a bit sooner; also, he postponed maghrib prayer a bit, and performed `isha prayer a little sooner, too. Abu'l-Sha`tha' said, I suppose so, too[1] This narration expresses the holy Prophets performing the noon, afternoon, maghrib and `isha prayers successively, without leaving an interval between each set.