perform the noon and afternoon prayers during the day, and the dawn prayer before sunrise, and must not neglect this for any craft, amusement, or other occupation. A slave owner may not prevent his slave, nor an employer his hired worker, from praying at the appointed time. Anyone who delays prayer until sunset because of a craft, hunting, serving a master, or anything else must be punished. Indeed, according to the majority of scholars, he must be put to death after being called upon to repent. If he repents and undertakes to pray at the appointed time, he must be required to fulfil that commitment. But if he says, “I will pray only after sunset,” because he is occupied with a craft, hunting, or something else, then he is to be put to death.

It is established in the two Sahīh collections that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever misses the afternoon prayer, it is as though he has been deprived of his family and wealth.”

It is also reported from him in the two Sahīh collections that he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Whoever misses the afternoon prayer, his deeds have come to nothing.”

In his final counsel to ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, Abū Bakr al-Siddīq said:

“Allah has a right to be fulfilled at night which He does not accept during the day, and a right to be fulfilled during the day which He does not accept at night.”

The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, delayed the afternoon prayer on the day of the Battle of the Trench because he was occupied with fighting the disbelievers, and then performed it after sunset. Allah Most High then revealed:

“Guard your prayers, especially the middle prayer.”