- Makrooh Times

1) Whilst the sun is rising or setting and at exactly midday, at these three times no Salaah is allowed. No Fardh, no Wajib, no Nafl, no Ada (current), no Qadha (expired), no Sajda-e-Tilawat, No Sajda-e- Sahoo. However, if the 'Asr Salaah for that day is still left to pray then you must pray whether the sun is setting, but to delay it for so long is Haram.

2)  Sun rising means from the edge of the sun has come out until all the sun has risen and the eye sparkles when directly looked at, and this is a total time of twenty minutes.

3)  Midday (Nisfun Nihar) means starting from exact mid sun until the sun drops.

4)  The way of finding the exact time of Nisfun Nihar (midday) is to find out what day today the break of dawn started and what time the sun set. Split this into two halves and as soon as the first half ends this is the time of midday until the sun starts dropping from this position. For example, say today the 20th March the sun sets at 6pm and also risen at 6am, then the afternoon started at 12pm, and in the morning at 4.30am the dawn broke. Therefore a total of thirteen and a half hours have occurred between the break of dawn until sun set and so half of it would be six and three quarter hours. The time therefore of Nisfun Nihar would be quarter past eleven and the sun would drop at 12pm, and hence a total of three-quarters of one hour would be the total time when any Salaah would not be allowed.

5)  Notice: The above calculation is a mere example and therefore the time would differ according to the city and country and the season. Different destinations and different times show that the approximate time would be twenty minutes and in all places the above method of calculation should be used.

6) If a funeral (Janaza) is brought at the three prohibited times there is no harm in praying the Salaah. It is not allowed to be prayed when all the funeral is ready beforehand and the time is delayed until the prohibited times start [Alamgiri, Radd-ul-Mohtar].

7)  During these three prohibited times it is better if you do not pray the Qur'an, it is better to recite the name of Allah or pray the Durood continuously [Alamgiri]. 

Twelve times where Nafl Salaah is prohibited 

It is prohibited to pray Nafl (voluntary) Salaah during twelve times;

1. From the break of dawn (Subah Sadiq) until the sun has risen fully, no Nafl Salaah is allowed, except for the two Sunnahs of Fajr.

2. From when the call to establish rows for congregation (Iqamat for Jamaat) until the Fardh Salaah finishes, to pray a Nafl or Sunnah is Makrooh-e-Tahrimi. However, if the Jamaat of Fajr Salaah has stood up and you know that if you pray the Sunnahs of Fajr you will still be able to join the Jamaat, whether it be in the last sitting position (Qaida) it is necessary that you pray the Sunnahs separately from the rows of Jamaat and then join the Jamaat. If you know that if you start the Sunnahs you will not be able to join the Jamaat but you still start the Sunnahs then this is forbidden and a sin. Except for the Fajr Salaah it is not allowed to start a Sunnah even if you know you can join the Jamaat late when the Iqamat has been called for Jamaat.

3. After praying the 'Asr Salaah until the sun goes red, no Nafl Salaah is allowed.

4. As soon as the sun has set, until the Fardh Salaah of Maghrib has been prayed, no Nafl is allowed [Alamgiri, Durr-e-Mukhtar].

5. From the time in Juma the Imam stands up from his place to perform Khutba until the Fardh Salaah of Juma has been prayed, no Nafl is allowed.

6. At the start of a Khutba (sermon), whether it is the first or the second for Juma, Eids, Kusoof, Istisqa, Hajj or Nikah, all Salaah is not allowed even Qadha Salaah. However, for Sahib-e-Tarteeb (those who have less than five Salaah of Qadha due) at the start of the Juma Khutba, Qadha Salaah is allowed [Durr-e-Mukhtar]. If the Sunnahs of Juma have been started and the Imam stands up for the Khutba, then complete all four rakats of the Sunnah.

7. All Nafl Salaah is Makrooh before the Eid Salaah, whether you pray them at home, Mosque or Eid hall [Alamgiri, Durr-e-Mukhtar].

8. It is Makrooh to pray Nafl Salaah after the Eid Salaah if they are prayed at the Eid hall or Mosque, if they are prayed back at home then they are not Makrooh [Alamgiri, Durr-e-Mukhtar].

9. At Arafat, where the Dhuhr and 'Asr is prayed together, to pray a Nafl or Sunnah in between them or after them is Makrooh.

10. In Muzdalifa, where the Maghrib and 'Isha is prayed joined together, it is Makrooh to pray any Sunnah or Nafl Salaah in between the two Salaah, it is not Makrooh to pray Nafl after the 'Isha Jamaat [Alamgiri, Durr-e-Mukhtar].

11. If the time of Fardh is very short, then all Nafl and Sunnahs including those of Fajr and Dhuhr are Makrooh.

12. Whatever aspect that makes the heart distract and you can relieve yourself from that aspect then all Salaah are Makrooh until you relieve yourself, for example, urination or excretion or to release wind, then these must be performed otherwise the Salaah will be Makrooh. However, if the time is going to finish, then pray the Salaah and repeat it afterwards. Also if food is presented in front of you and you have the desire to eat, or any other aspect that you may have a desire for without which you will not be able to gain satisfaction, then it is necessary to fulfil this desire before praying Salaah otherwise the Salaah will be Makrooh [Durr-e-Mukhtar, etc.].

The whole of the time of Fajr and Dhuhr is okay from the start to the end, meaning these Salaah can be prayed at any point within the time and is not Makrooh [Bararaiq, Bahar-e-Shariah].