Have you ever wondered if Dhuhr time has started when the sun is directly overhead? Or perhaps you often check today’s Dhuhr prayer time through an application for fear of being late?
In the modern era, we are greatly assisted by digital schedules. However, understanding the signs of nature to determine prayer times is a very valuable basic skill. Not only as a backup when your phone battery runs out, but also to ensure the validity of our worship according to Islamic law (Fiqh).
This article will thoroughly discuss the time of the Dhuhur prayer, starting from when the Dhuhur time begins, to until what time the Dhuhur prayer time lasts, based on references from the books Asna al-Matalib and Hasyiyah Ar-Ramli.
When Does the Dhuhur Prayer Time Actually Begin?
Many people ask, what time does Dhuhr prayer begin? The answer isn’t always the same each day due to the sun’s movement. However, the benchmark in Fiqh is always consistent.
In the book Asna al-Matalib it is explained:
ΩΩΩΩ : ( ΩΩΨ£ΩΩΩΩΩΩ ΩΩΩΩΨͺΩ Ψ§ΩΨΈΩΩΩΩΨ±Ω Ψ²ΩΩΩΨ§ΩΩ Ψ§ΩΨΈΩΩΩΩΩ ) ΩΩΨΉΩΩΩΩ Ψ²ΩΩΩΨ§Ψ―ΩΨͺΩΩΩ Ψ¨ΩΨΉΩΨ―Ω Ψ§Ψ³ΩΨͺΩΩΩΨ§Ψ‘Ω Ψ§ΩΨ΄ΩΩΩ ΩΨ³Ω Ψ£ΩΩΩ Ψ§ΩΩΨͺΩΩΩΨ§Ψ¦ΩΩΩΨ§ Ψ₯ΩΩΩ ΩΩΨ³ΩΨ·Ω Ψ§ΩΨ³ΩΩΩ ΩΨ§Ψ‘Ω
“And the beginning time of Zhuhur is the slipping of the shadow, that is, the increase of the shadow after the sun has passed its zenith (being at its culmination point), meaning after the sun reaches the middle of the sky.”
Therefore, the main indication of Dhuhr prayer time entering is Zawal. This is the moment when the sun “slips” or shifts slightly towards the west after being at its highest point (midday).
If you stick a stick into open ground, at noon its shadow will shorten or even disappear. Well, once that shadow begins to reappear or lengthen towards the east, that is when we can say the time for Dhuhur has entered, including the obligation to immediately prepare for prayer.
The Myth of Waiting for the Sandal Strap’s Shadow
There is a belief in some communities that we must wait until the shadow lengthens slightly to the size of a sandal strap (syirak) before being allowed to pray. However, Imam Ar-Ramli clarified this in his marginal notes (Hasyiyah):
ΩΩΩΩΩΩ ΩΩΩΩΨͺΩΨΆΩΩ Ψ¬ΩΩΩΨ§Ψ²Ω ΩΩΨΉΩΩΩ Ψ§ΩΨΈΩΩΩΩΨ±Ω Ψ₯Ψ°ΩΨ§ Ψ²ΩΨ§ΩΩΨͺΩ Ψ§ΩΨ΄ΩΩΩ ΩΨ³Ω ΩΩΩΩΨ§ ΩΩΩΩΨͺΩΨΈΩΨ±Ω Ψ¨ΩΩΩΨ§ ΩΩΨ¬ΩΩΨ¨ΩΨ§ ΩΩΩΩΨ§ ΩΩΨ―ΩΨ¨ΩΨ§ Ω ΩΨ΅ΩΩΨ±Ω Ψ§ΩΩΩΩΩΩΨ‘Ω Ω ΩΨ«ΩΩΩ Ψ§ΩΨ΄ΩΩΨ±ΩΨ§ΩΩ
“This necessitates the permissibility of performing Zhuhur immediately upon the sunβs declination (zawal), and there is no need to waitβwhether obligatory or recommendedβuntil the shadow reaches the length of a sandal.”
In other words, once you are certain the sun has passed its zenith, the time for the Dhuhr prayer has arrived. You do not need to delay.
Until What Time is the Dhuhr Prayer Time?
This is the most common question: until what time is the Dhuhr prayer time? Is it until 3 PM? Or 4 PM?
Rather than relying on clocks which can vary depending on location, Fiqh provides a definitive formula using shadows:
( Ψ₯ΩΩΩΩ Ψ£ΩΩΩ ΩΩΨ΅ΩΩΨ±Ω ΨΈΩΩΩΩ Ψ§ΩΨ΄ΩΩΩΩΨ‘Ω Ω ΩΨ«ΩΩΩΩΩ ΨΊΩΩΩΨ±Ω ΨΈΩΩΩΩ Ψ§ΩΩΨ§Ψ³ΩΨͺΩΩΩΨ§Ψ‘Ω )
“Until the shadow of an object is equal in length to the object itself, excluding the shadow at its zenith (istiwa).”
The formula is simple: End of Dhuhr = Length of Object + Shadow at Midday (Zawal)
For example, the height of your house fence is 1 meter.
- Check the shadow of a fence at solar noon. In Indonesia, there is usually a slight shadow, for example, 10 cm.
- Therefore, the time of Dhuhr ends when the length of the fence’s shadow becomes: 1 meter + 10 cm = 110 cm.
If the shadow is longer than that, it is a sign that the time for Asr has entered. So, if you ask when does the time for Dhuhr end, look at the shadow of objects around you.
Friday Noon Prayer Time
Specifically for Friday, the time for Dhuhr prayer on Friday is replaced by the performance of Friday Prayer for men. The start time is exactly the same as the usual Dhuhr time.
When the khatib ascends the minbar and the muadzin proclaims the adhan, it is a sign that the time for Dhuhur, including Friday prayer, has arrived and is obligatory to perform. Do not still be busy working or trading when this sign appears.
Beware of the Feeling of “Knowing It All”
This point is very important but often overlooked. The validity of our prayers depends on “Conviction”.
Imam Ar-Ramli gave a stern warning:
ΩΩΩΩΩΩ Ψ΄ΩΨ±ΩΨΉΩ ΩΩΩ Ψ§ΩΨͺΩΩΩΩΨ¨ΩΩΨ±Ω ΩΩΨ¨ΩΩΩ ΨΈΩΩΩΩΨ±Ω Ψ§ΩΨ²ΩΩΩΩΨ§ΩΩ Ψ«ΩΩ ΩΩ ΨΈΩΩΩΨ±Ω Ψ£ΩΩΩ Ψ§ΩΨ²ΩΩΩΩΨ§ΩΩ ΨΉΩΩΩΨ¨Ω Ψ§ΩΨͺΩΩΩΩΨ¨ΩΩΨ±Ω ΩΩΩ Ψ£ΩΨ«ΩΩΩΨ§Ψ¦ΩΩΩ ΩΩΩ Ω ΩΩΨ΅ΩΨΩΩ Ψ§ΩΨΈΩΩΩΩΨ±Ω
“If a person begins the takbir before the appearance of zawal (the time entering), then zawal appears precisely after the takbir or in the middle of the takbir, then his/her Zhuhur prayer is invalid.”
Imagine youβre guessing, βAh, I think the time for Dhuhr prayer has already passed,β and then you pray. It turns out your guess was correct. But according to Fiqh, your prayer is invalid! Why? Because at the Opening Takbir, you didnβt have 100% certainty.
Therefore, make sure you truly know or see the time indication before starting the prayer. Don’t just guess.
Table of Dhuhr Time Division
To facilitate scheduling, scholars have divided the Dhuhr time into several phases. The following table compares them according to the majority opinion and that of Al-Qadhi Husain:
| Category of Time | Brief Explanation | Shadow Limit (Estimate) |
| Fadhilah Time (Primary) | Beginning of the time, immediately after the adhan. | The shadow of an object is less than 1/4 of its height. |
| Ikhtiyar Time (Optional) | A flexible time that is good for prayer. | The shadow is between 1/4 to 1/2 the height of the object. |
| Jawaz Time (Permissible) | A time that is still permissible without sin. | The shadow is more than 1/2 to the same length as the object. |
| ‘Udzur Time | Specifically for those combining prayers. | Performed during Ashar time (Ta’khir combination). |
This table helps us understand that although the time for Dhuhr prayer is quite long, delaying it until the end (Jawaz time) is not the best option unless there is an urgent matter.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Here are some frequently asked questions regarding the time for the Dhuhr prayer:
How do you know when it’s Dhuhr time today if it’s cloudy?
If the sun is not visible, you can use a watch that has been calibrated with a reliable prayer schedule. If in the forest without a watch, you can use IjtihΔd (Reasoning) based on habitual instinct (e.g., feeling hungry, or the completion of a certain dhikr), but this requires special expertise.
Is the time when βDhuhr prayer time has enteredβ included in the prohibited time for prayer?
No. In fact, when the sun is directly overhead (at the equator) it is a prohibited time for prayer (except on Friday or in Mecca). But once it declines (zawal), that prohibition is lifted and the time for Dhuhr begins.
I prayed at the end of the prayer time, then in the second rak’ah the time for ‘Asr prayer entered. Is my prayer valid?
Still valid, however if you manage to perform at least one rak’ah within the time of Dhuhr, the prayer is considered ada’ (performed on time), not qadha (made up). However, intentionally delaying it until the very last moment without a valid reason (excuse) is considered a sin (Time of Hurmah).
Why do Fiqh books begin the discussion of prayer times with Dhuhr, and not Fajr?
Imam Ar-Ramli explained that Dhuhr is the first prayer practically taught to Prophet Muhammad SAW by the Angel Gabriel, even though the obligation of prayer descended during the night of Isra’ Mi’raj.
Understanding when the Dhuhur prayer time begins by observing natural signs provides a unique inner peace. We no longer worry about whether the application on our mobile phone is malfunctioning or not. Hopefully, the explanation from this classical text will make our worship more steadfast and of high quality. Don’t forget to always check the position of the sun or a reliable schedule so that our prayers are performed on time!
Reference
al-AnαΉ£ΔrΔ«, ZakariyΔ. AsnΔ al-MaαΉΔlib fΔ« SharαΈ₯ RawαΈ al-αΉ¬Δlib. With αΈ₯Δshiyah by AαΈ₯mad al-RamlΔ«. Edited by MuαΈ₯ammad az-ZuhrΔ« al-GhamrΔwΔ«. Cairo: al-MaαΉbaΚΏah al-MaymΔnΔ«yah, 1313 H. Reprinted by DΔr al-KitΔb al-IslΔmΔ«.
