Why Does the Hanafi School Differ regarding the Prayer Times?

Answered by Shaykh Yusuf Weltch

Question

Why is it that the Hanafi school differs from the other schools regarding the prayer times?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

The difference of opinion between the Hanafi school and the other schools shows up mainly in the ending of the Dhuhr prayer time and the entrance of the Asr prayer time.

Opinions Regarding Asr Prayer Time

Imam Abu Hanifa:

According to Imam Abu Hanifa, Asr time enters when the shadow of each thing becomes twice its size.

The Students of the Imam, Imam Malik, Imam al-Shafi’i, and Imam Ahmad:

According to the students of Imam Abu Hanifa – Abu Yusuf, Muhammad, and Zufar – as well as the three Imams the Asr prayer time enters when the shadow of each thing becomes equal to its size.

Prayer Times are not Established by Doubt

Imam Abu Hanifa’s opinion stems from the verse: “Verily the prayer was prescibed upon the Believers at appointed timings.” 

The wording in the verse – translated as appointed timings – indicates that the prayer times are specific. [Jassas, Ahkam al-Quran]

For this reason a prayer time can only be determined to have entered or exited with certainty. Doubt is not sufficient is establishing such a ruling.

With that being said this difference becomes more evident when looking at the differing understandings of the following Hadith.

The Hadith of Jibril’s Leading the Prayer

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Jibril lead me in the prayer two days in a row at the house (i.e. the K’aba). He lead me in the Dhuhr prayer on the first day when the sun declined from its zenith; an Asr prayer when the shadow of everything became equal to its size….; He lead me, on the second day, in the Dhuhr prayer when the shadow of each thing became equal to its size and Asr prayer when the shadow of everything became double its size. He said, ‘Between these times is the time (of prayer) for your nation.” [Abu Dawud]

The Opinion of the Imams Regarding this Hadith

Imams Malik, Shafi’i, and Ahmad as well as the students of Imam Abu Hanifa understood the end time of Dhuhr prayer and the beginning time of Asr prayer to be when the shadow of each thing become equal to its size.

Imam Abu Hanifa’s Understanding of this Hadith

Imam Abu Hanifa (Allah have mercy on him) noted regarding the Dhuhr prayer that it was performed, on the second day, when the shadow of everything became equal to its size. [Mawsili, al-Ikhtiyar]

This proves that when the shadow of everything becomes equal to its size this is still Dhuhr time, not Asr time. Thus if there are any opposing opinions regarding the exiting of Dhuhr time this establishes doubt and prayer times cannot be determined by doubt. [Mawsili, al-Ikhtiyar]

Imam Abu Hanifa (Allah have mercy on him) also cited another Hadith in support of this opinion. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Pray Dhuhr prayer in a cool time (ibrad) for surely severe heat is from the gusts of Hell-Fire.” [Ibn Majah, Ahmad]

According to Imam Abu Hanifa coolness is not attained in Dhuhr time till the shadow of each thing becomes double its size.

[Mawsili, al-Ikhtiyar]

Moving Forward

Even within the Hanafi school both of the above opinions are deemed valid opinions. However it remains superior to follow the position of Imam Abu Hanifa. For this reason one should stick to one position and not jump around between the two opinions without necessity.

A second factor one may wish to consider is acting upon the time followed by one’s local masjid or community.

Caution

Due to this valid difference of opinion it is deemed most cautious that one does not delay the Dhuhr prayer till the shadow of each thing becomes its size; and not to perform the Asr prayer until the shadow of everything becomes twice its size. This is so that both prayers are unanimously valid according to all of the schools.

[Ibn ‘Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar citing from al-Siraj]

Summary

Thus from the above it is understood that the opinion of Imam Abu Hanifa, though in opposition to the opinions of the other great Imams, is not without proof. Imam Abu Hanifa was known to deeply reflect on a multitude of texts and proofs and not merely rely on one Hadith or verse of the Quran.

Hope this helps

Allah knows best

[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a teacher of Arabic, Islamic law, and spirituality. After accepting Islam in 2008, he completed four years at the Darul Uloom seminary in New York, where he studied Arabic and the traditional sciences. He then traveled to Tarim, Yemen, where he stayed for three years studying in Dar Al-Mustafa under some of the greatest scholars of our time, including Habib Umar Bin Hafiz, Habib Kadhim al-Saqqaf, and Shaykh Umar al-Khatib. In Tarim, Shaykh Yusuf completed the memorization of the Qur’an and studied beliefs, legal methodology, hadith methodology, Qur’anic exegesis, Islamic history, and several texts on spirituality. He joined the SeekersGuidance faculty in the summer of 2019.