The Times of Prayer

It is very important to know the times of prayers because the prayer is prescribed at fixed times. Almighty Allah (swt) says:

"Verily the prayer is prescribed on believers at fixed times." (Qur'an : 4 : 103)

Time for Early Morning Prayer (Fajr)

The time for morning prayer begins at dawn and ends at sunrise. Note; Fajr Saadiq (Accurate time of Fajr) is the whiteness which appears from the East and spreads throughout the horIzon and rises to sky extending gradualIy. Fajr Kaazib(False time of Fajr) is a beam which is before Fajr Saadiq but it does not spread and appears prolonged thin ray rising to sky like the tail of a wolf and afterwards comes darkness.
The second Fajr is named Saadiq because it indicates accurate Fajr and the first is named Kaazib because it lightens and afterwards darkens. Consequently the light disappears and darkness spreads so it is just false.
The recommended time:
It is best to delay the Fajr prayer such that things are slightly visible. And enough time is left that one can make new Wudu and perform his prayer again before sunrise. This is based on the Holy Prophet's () saying; let the morning brighten for it has greater reward.

Time for Zuhr Prayer

The time for Zuhr begins when the sun declines from the middle of the sky and extends until the shadow of all objects becomes double or when the shadow becomes equal to the size of the object plus the size of its shadow which occurs at the time of midday. There are two reports from lmaam Abu Haneefah (ar) about the end of Zuhr time. In one he says: The Zuhr time extends just before the doubling of shadow plus its size at midday. And this is accepted by the majority of the scholars. According to the second report Zuhr time extends until the shadow is the same as the length of the object plus its shade at midday and this is the version of Saahibain (ar). However it is cautionary to pray Zuhr before the shadow reaches the size of the object and to pray Asr after it has doubled. In this way one offers his prayer within the agreed time. The recommended time: In Summer it is best to pray Zuhr when the day has cooled a bit whilst in Winter it is best to pray it early. Except on cloudy days when it may be delayed. This is according to the Hadeeth of Anas son of Maalik (ra), "If the day was hot the Holy Prophet () would pray Zuhr when it became cooler and if the day was cold he would pray early."

Time for Asr Prayer

The Asr prayer time begins when the Zuhr time has elapsed according to the two above opinions and extends to sunset. The Holy Prophet () said, "If anyone of you manages to do a single prostration of Asr prayer before the sunset let him complete his prayer."
The recommended time:
It is best to delay the Asr prayer but not so much that the sun changes colour. On cloudy days is it best to offer it sooner rather than later. The Holh Prophet () said “Be early in prayer on cloudy day and whoever misses Asr prayer his deeds have been ruined,"

Time for Maghrib prayer

This begins after the sunset and extends till dusk. The dusk according to Saahibain (ar) is the red glow at twilight whilst according Imaam Abu Haneefah (ar) it is the whiteness on the horizon that appears just after the redness.
The recommended time:
II is best to pray Maghrib at its earliest time. However on a cloudy day it may be delayed if there is doubt about the time of sunset. The Holy Prophet () said, "My nation will continue to remain on true nature as long as they offer Maghrib before the rise of stars."

The Time for Isha

The Isha time begins when the dusk has disappeared according to the above two opinions and it extends until the dawn. The time for Witr prayer is after praying Isha and until dawn. The Holy Prophet () said, "Almighty Allah (swt) has extended the prayer (Witr time) for you and this is better for you than any precious livestock. Almighty Allah (swt) has prescribed it for you between the Isha prayer and the dawn."
The recommended time:
It is best to delay it until the one-third of the night has passed.
The Holy Prophet () said, "If it would not be difficult for my followers then I would have ordered them to delay the Isha prayer till one-third or till the midnight." To delay until midnight is permissible but thereafter it is Makrooh Tahreemi. All this is in the Winter because in the Summer praying it early is recommended because of the short nights. Similarly, on cloudy nights it is better to perform it early so more people can pray with the congregation, before it rains. It is best to pray Witr late at night if one is accustomed to night vigil. The Holy Prophet () said, "Whoever fears that he cannot wake up at night for prayer should pray Witr early and whoever is desirous to get up and pray at night should do so since the late night prayer is witnessed by the angels of mercy and that is the best."

Combining Two Prayers

It is not permissible to join two prayers at one time except in the following two cases:
First:
It is permissible for the pilgrims to combine Zuhr and Asr in Arafaat. They can pray Zuhr and Asr at the time of Zuhr (thus praying Asr before its time).
Second:
It is also permissible for the pilgrims to combine Maghrib and Isha at Muzdalifah at Isha time (thus delaying Maghrib till Isha). Abdullah son of Mas'ood (ra) reported, "The Holy Prophet () used to pray at the prayer's fixed time except for combining the prayers at Muzdalifah and Arafaat."

The combination of Zuhr and Asr i.s such that Zuhe is prayed in its last minutes whilst the Asr is offered at its starting time and the combination of Maghrib and Isha is such that Maghrib is prayed at its ending time and Isha at its starting time so this is permissible. In this way both the prayers are performed in their fixed times and still together also. And I think this is the explanation of all those Ahaadeeth in which the combination of two prayers has been narrated.

Makrooh Times for Prayer

It is not permissible to pray any kind of pray ie. Fard, Wajib Sunnah or Nafl whether praying to perform duty (prayer at its time) or to accomplish afterwards (missed prayers) at the following three times:

I. At sunrise until the sun has risen clearly.
2. At midday until the sun begins to decline.
3. When the sun goes yellow until it sets.
Uqbah son of Aamir (ra) reported, "The Holy Prophet () prohibited us to pray at three times: one whilst the sun is still rising until it is clearly risen, and at the midday until it begins to decline, and when the sun begins to set till it sets".

Note: The Fuqahaa (Muslim Jurists) have made the following exceptions to this rule:
a. The Asr prayer of that day.
b. The funeral prayer if the dead body arrived in these times.
c. The Sajdah of Tilaawat if the verse is recited at these times.
The delay in performing the Sajdah of Tilaawat in these times is not just permissible but better because it is not compulsory to perform Sajdah at the same time as the recitation but to delay the funeral prayer is Makrooh.
Asking blessings for the Holy Prophet () is better than reciting the Holy Qur'an in these times because the recitation of the Holy Qur'an is a part of prayer so it should be regarded according to Salaah (prayer).

There are two other times in which Nafl prayer is Makrooh:
a. After dawn till the sun rises clearly.
b. After Asr prayer till the sun sets. As it has been forbidden by the Holy Prophet ().

Taken from "Islamic Way of Worship" by M.I.H. Pirzada