of the shadow with the spear. Then refrain from prayer, for Hell is stoked at that time. When the shadow returns, pray.” Thus, he explained the prohibition at that time by the fact that Hell is then stoked.

At sunrise and sunset, however, he explained it by the devil’s accompanying the sun, saying:

“Then refrain from prayer until the sun rises, for it rises between the two horns of a devil.”

Concerning sunset, he said:

“Then refrain from prayer until the sun sets, for it sets between the two horns of a devil.”

As for the devil accompanying the sun at its zenith, this is not mentioned in any hadith except that of al-Sunābihī, who said:

“The sun rises with the devil’s horn alongside it. When it rises higher, he accompanies it; then, when it reaches its zenith, he accompanies it. When it passes the zenith, he accompanies it; when it draws near to setting, he accompanies it; and when it sets, he accompanies it.”

The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, therefore forbade prayer at those times.

However, it has been said that al-Sunābihī’s status as a Companion has not been established, and that he therefore did not hear this from the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. This is unlike the hadith of ‘Amr ibn ‘Abasah, which is authentic and which he heard directly from him. This is further supported by the fact that most hadiths mention only the prohibition at sunrise and sunset, or after the two prayers. This indicates that the prohibition at midday is of a different kind, with a reason distinct from that applying to those two times.

This is further clarified by the fact that the disbelievers prostrate to the sun at sunrise and at