Does the Entire Salah Have To Be Within Its Designated Time?
Shafi'i Fiqh
Answered by Shaykh Muhammad Carr
Question
Does the validity of Salah remain intact if you commence praying within its designated time, but during the prayer, the onset of the next Salah time occurs?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah make Salah the coolness of our eyes. Amin.
The Salah is considered valid unrestrictedly. If at least one unit of prayer is completed within the allotted time, the entire prayer is deemed on time. If less than a full unit is performed within the designated time, then the extent of what was performed in the designated time is considered on time (Ada). The remainder of the prayer is treated as a makeup (Qada). [Mughni, Khatib al-Shirbini]
Proof
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever catches a complete unit of prayer has caught up the entire prayer”. [Bukhari].
Praying on Time
Ensuring that each prayer is performed within its designated time frame is essential. Allah Most High says, “Verily the prayer is bounden upon believers at an indelibly prescribed time.” [Quran, 4:103] The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said that “Prayer at its time” is the best of actions after belief (iman) itself, so one should take the means to perform it at the right time.
And Allah alone gives success.
[Shaykh] Muhammad Carr
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Muhammad Carr has dedicated his life to studying and transmitting our beautiful deen. His studies have taken him around the globe, where he has benefitted from many luminaries. Under the guidance of his teachers – Shaykh Taha Karan, Shaykh Yaseen Abbas, Shaykh Muadh Ali and many others – Shaykh Muhammad has grown to appreciate the beauty and benefits of diverse scholarship. He completed his memorization of the Qur’an at Dar al-Ulum Zakariyyah in September 1997 and received an Alimiyya Degree in 2006 from DUAI (Darul Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah). He is also affiliated with Masjid Auwal in Bo Kaap, Cape Town (the oldest mosque in South Africa), where he serves as a co-imam, and Dar Al-Safa, where he has taught since 2018. As a teacher, he imparts the wisdom of our heritage and tradition by opening the door for students. As an imam, he has the unique opportunity to serve his community in daily life.
In addition to his roles as a teacher and imam, Shaykh Muhammad Carr has contributed significantly to the administrative and advisory aspects of Islamic institutions. Since 2023, he has served as the Administrative Director at The Imam Kurani Institute, contributing to the institution’s growth and development. He continues to pursue traditional Islamic Sciences, possessing a keen interest in Islamic Contract Law and Finance. Shaykh Muhammad has been a Shari’ah Board Member for Islamic Asset Management & Insurance Companies since 2001, aligning financial practices with Islamic principles.
