When the edge of the sun rises, avoid prayer until it becomes prominent; and if the edge of the sun disappears, avoid prayer until it sets. And do not offer your prayer at the time of sunrise or sunset, for it rises between two horns of a devil – or the devil

Chapter: The characteristics of Iblis (Satan) and his soldiers

Authentic hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 3272

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدٌ، أَخْبَرَنَا عَبْدَةُ، عَنْ هِشَامِ بْنِ عُرْوَةَ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏"‏

إِذَا طَلَعَ حَاجِبُ الشَّمْسِ فَدَعُوا الصَّلاَةَ حَتَّى تَبْرُزَ، وَإِذَا غَابَ حَاجِبُ الشَّمْسِ فَدَعُوا الصَّلاَةَ حَتَّى تَغِيبَ ‏"‏‏.‏ ‏"‏ وَلاَ تَحَيَّنُوا بِصَلاَتِكُمْ طُلُوعَ الشَّمْسِ وَلاَ غُرُوبَهَا، فَإِنَّهَا تَطْلُعُ بَيْنَ قَرْنَىْ شَيْطَانٍ ‏"‏‏.‏ أَوِ الشَّيْطَانِ‏.‏

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When the edge of the sun rises, avoid prayer until it becomes prominent; and if the edge of the sun disappears, avoid prayer until it sets. And do not offer your prayer at the time of sunrise or sunset, for it rises between two horns of a devil – or the devil."

Reported by Al-Bukhari (No. 3272, 582, 589), Muslim (No. 828b, 829), Malik (No. 517, 521) and Ahmad (No. 4383, 4465, 4466, 4542, 5570, 5571).

Explanation

In this Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commands us to not offer prayer when the edge of the sun that appears first at sunrise shows until the entire sun rises and becomes high in the sky. We should also avoid prayer when the edge of the sun disappears until the sun has completely set. The Prophet has forbidden us from praying at times of sunrise and sunset because the sun rises and sets between the two horns of the devil, i.e. the two sides of his head. This is because the devil faces the sun when it rises so that it rises between his two horns, so that he becomes a Qiblah for those who prostrate themselves before the sun. The same happens during sunset. Therefore, we are prohibited from praying at these times to avoid resembling those people in their false worship.

Explanation in Arabic

يأمرنا النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم إذا طلع طرف الشمس الذي يبدو أولًا أن نترك الصلاة حتى تظهر كلها وترتفع، وإذا غاب طرف الشمس أن نترك الصلاة حتى تغرب بالكلية، ونهانا أن نصلي حين طلوع الشمس وحين غروبها؛ والسبب في هذا النهي أن الشمس تطلع وتغرب بين قرني الشيطان، أي: جانبي رأسه؛ لأنه ينتصب قائمًا في وجه الشمس عند طلوعها ليكون شروقها بين قرنيه، فيكون قبلة لمن سجد للشمس، وكذلك عند الغروب، فنُهي عن الصلاة في ذلك الوقت لكي لا يُتشبه بهم في العبادة.

النهي عن الصلاة في الأوقات المذكورة.
الإيمان بوجود الجن والشياطين.
أن الشمس تطلع بين قرني شيطان.
للشيطان رأس، نؤمن بذلك، ولا نعلم كيفيتها.
النهي عن التشبه بالكفار.

Classical commentary

Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani — Fath al-Bari

حَدِيثُ اِبْن عُمَر فِي النَّهْي عَنْ الصَّلَاة عِنْد طُلُوع الشَّمْس , تَقَدَّمَ شَرْحه فِي الصَّلَاة , وَالْقَائِل : " لَا أَدْرِي أَيّ ذَلِكَ قَالَ هِشَام " هُوَ عَبْدَةُ بْن سُلَيْمَان الرَّاوِي عَنْهُ , وَقَوْله : " حَاجِب الشَّمْس " هُوَ طَرَف قُرْصهَا الَّذِي يَبْدُو عِنْد طُلُوع الشَّمْس وَيَبْقَى عِنْد الْغُرُوب , وَقَرْنَا الشَّيْطَان جَانِبَا رَأْسه , يُقَال إِنَّهُ يَنْتَصِب فِي مُحَاذَاة مَطْلَع الشَّمْس حَتَّى إِذَا طَلَعَتْ كَانَتْ بَيْن جَانِبَيْ رَأْسه لِتَقَع السَّجْدَة لَهُ إِذَا سَجَدَ عَبَدَةُ الشَّمْس لَهَا وَكَذَا عِنْد غُرُوبهَا , وَعَلَى هَذَا فَقَوْله : " تَطْلُع بَيْن قَرْنَيْ الشَّيْطَان " أَيْ بِالنِّسْبَةِ إِلَى مَنْ يُشَاهِد الشَّمْس عِنْد طُلُوعهَا , فَلَوْ شَ…

Scholar	Grade	Applies to	Work
Al-Bukharid. 256 AH	Authenticصحيح	The hadith	صحيح البخاري No. 3272

Other versions

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 582

Ibn `Umar said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'Do not pray at the time of sunrise and at the time of sunset.' " Ibn `Umar said, "Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, 'If the edge of the sun appears (above the horizon) delay the prayer till it becomes high, and if the edge of the sun disappears, delay the…

لاَ تَحَرَّوْا بِصَلاَتِكُمْ طُلُوعَ الشَّمْسِ وَلاَ غُرُوبَهَا ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih al-Bukhari 589

I pray as I saw my companions praying. I do not forbid praying at any time during the day or night except at sunset and sunrise.

لاَ أَنْهَى أَحَدًا يُصَلِّي بِلَيْلٍ وَلاَ نَهَارٍ مَا شَاءَ، غَيْرَ أَنْ لاَ تَحَرَّوْا طُلُوعَ الشَّمْسِ وَلاَ غُرُوبَهَا‏.‏

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 828b

Do not intend to observe prayer at the time of the rising of the sun nor at its setting, for it rises between the horns of Satan.

لاَ تَحَرَّوْا بِصَلاَتِكُمْ طُلُوعَ الشَّمْسِ وَلاَ غُرُوبَهَا فَإِنَّهَا تَطْلُعُ بِقَرْنَىْ شَيْطَانٍ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Sahih Muslim 829

When the rim of the sun starts appearing defer prayer till it completely appears, and when the rim of the sun disappears defer prayer till it completely disappears.

إِذَا بَدَا حَاجِبُ الشَّمْسِ فَأَخِّرُوا الصَّلاَةَ حَتَّى تَبْرُزَ وَإِذَا غَابَ حَاجِبُ الشَّمْسِ فَأَخِّرُوا الصَّلاَةَ حَتَّى تَغِيبَ ‏"

Narrated by Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Muwatta Malik 517

Yahya related to me from Malik from Hisham ibn Urwa that his father said that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, used to say, "Delay the prayer when the edge of the sun appears until it is completely in view, and delay the prayer when the edge of the sun is…

"‏ إِذَا بَدَا حَاجِبُ الشَّمْسِ فَأَخِّرُوا الصَّلاَةَ حَتَّى تَبْرُزَ وَإِذَا غَابَ حَاجِبُ الشَّمْسِ فَأَخِّرُوا الصَّلاَةَ حَتَّى تَغِيبَ ‏"

Authentic Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Muwatta Malik 521

Yahya related to me from Malik from Abdullah ibn Dinar from Abdullah ibn Umar that Umar ibn al-Khattab used to say, "Do not intend to do your prayer at either sunrise or sunset, for the horns of Shaytan rise with the rising of the sun and set with its setting." Umar used to beat people for that…

وَحَدَّثَنِي عَنْ مَالِكٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ دِينَارٍ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ، أَنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ، كَانَ يَقُولُ لاَ تَحَرَّوْا بِصَلاَتِكُمْ طُلُوعَ الشَّمْسِ وَلاَ غُرُوبَهَا فَإِنَّ…

See all 12 versions

Not graded Muttafaq ‘alayh (Bukhari and Muslim) Musnad Ahmad 4383