What are the specific times when prayer is prohibited?
Chapter on the Times When Prayer is Prohibited
Al-Mughni
Book of Prayer
Primary text
The prohibited times for prayer are five periods. According to the soundest view, these are: (1) From before Fajr until the sun rises to the height of a spear. (2) From the moment the sun begins to rise until it has fully risen. (3) When the sun is directly overhead at its zenith until it begins to decline (Zawāl). (4) From the time the sun begins to decline after the noon prayer until it begins to set. (5) From when the sun starts to turn yellow (approaching setting) until it fully sets. This is supported by the Hadith of 'Uqbah ibn 'Amir specifying three such times, which, when combined with two other established times (from Hadith of 'Umar and Abu Sa'id), total five prohibited times. This prohibition is the view of al-Shafi'i and the proponents of the opinion (Ahl al-Ra'y).
Supporting text
Some scholars limit the prohibited times to only the three mentioned explicitly by 'Uqbah ibn 'Amir, arguing that the explicit mention of restriction in other Hadith points only to those three periods. Others hold the fifth time (prohibition after Asr) to be the time when the sun has completely set, based on traditions instructing to delay prayer until the sun has fully risen or fully set.