In the first case, there are five prayer times; in the second, there are three. The two nighttime prayers and the two daytime prayers are those that may be combined and shortened, unlike the dawn prayer, which is neither combined nor shortened. Each has its own distinct time—the time of ease and choice—while the two prayers in each pair share a time in circumstances of need and necessity. However, no daytime prayer may be delayed until night, nor any nighttime prayer until day.

This is why particular emphasis was placed on safeguarding the middle prayer, the afternoon prayer. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said concerning it:

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

He also said:

“It is as though he has been deprived of his family and wealth.”

This principle is further supported by the fact that Allah mentions the prayer times in His Book sometimes as three and sometimes as five. The three are mentioned in His words:

“Establish prayer at the two ends of the day and in the early hours of the night.”

And in His words:

“Establish prayer from the sun’s decline until the darkness of the night.”

And His words:

“And glorify your Lord with praise when you rise, and glorify Him during the night and as the stars fade away.”

As for the five, He mentions them as four in His words:

“So glorify Allah when you reach the evening and when you reach the morning—to Him belongs all praise in the heavens and the earth—and in the late afternoon and when you reach midday.”

And His words:

“So be patient with what they say, and glorify your Lord with praise before sunrise and before sunset. And glorify Him during the hours of the night and at the ends of the day, so that you may be pleased.”

And His words:

“And glorify your Lord with praise before sunrise