When Does the Time of Asr Prayer Begin According to the Qur’an?
Asr prayer is one of the five daily obligatory prayers, and its timing is connected to the changing position of the sun during the afternoon. The Qur’an describes the time of Asr through natural signs that can be observed universally.
According to the Qur’an, the time of Asr prayer begins later in the day after Zuhr, as the sun continues its movement toward the west. The Qur’an refers to this period as part of the afternoon and the time before sunset, indicating a distinct prayer time separate from Zuhr and Maghrib.
Allah Almighty says in the Qur’an:
“So be patient over what they say and glorify your Lord with praise before the rising of the sun and before its setting.”
(Surah Ta-Ha, 20:130)
This verse points to prayers performed before sunset, which includes the Asr prayer. The Qur’an emphasizes the importance of remembering and glorifying Allah during this late afternoon period.
In another place, Allah says:
“Maintain the prayers and the middle prayer.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah, 2:238)
Many scholars explain that the “middle prayer” mentioned in this verse refers to the Asr prayer. This highlights its unique position between the daytime and nighttime prayers.
The time of Asr is recognized by a clear natural sign related to shadows. As the sun moves further west after midday, shadows continue to lengthen. This visible change in the length of shadows marks the period in which Asr prayer is performed.
In conclusion, the Qur’an teaches that Asr prayer takes place in the late afternoon before sunset. Its timing is connected to the sun’s movement and the natural lengthening of shadows, rather than fixed clock times.
Understanding these Qur’anic indications helps Muslims identify the correct time for Asr prayer based on the natural signs created by Allah.
