sunset, as the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, informed us. As for their prostrating to it before it passes its zenith, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, did not mention this practice of theirs or give it as the reason for the prohibition.

Moreover, precisely determining this time is difficult. It is established in an authentic hadith that he, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“When the heat becomes intense, delay the prayer until it is cooler, for intense heat comes from the scorching heat of Hell.”

The scholars have unanimously agreed that this hadith is authentic and have accepted it. He thus stated that intense heat comes from the scorching heat of Hell. This accords with his words:

“For Hell is stoked at that time.”

He also instructed that prayer be delayed until it is cooler. This indicates that prayer is prohibited during intense heat because that heat comes from the scorching heat of Hell.

In summer, Hell is stoked at midday; hence the prohibition of prayer at midday in hot weather. The worshipper is instructed to delay the prayer beyond the sun’s passing its zenith until it becomes cooler. Yet once the sun passes its zenith, the shade returns and shadows lengthen after reaching their shortest extent. This is part of the prescribed practice of delaying prayer until it is cooler. Prayer is therefore permissible from the moment the sun passes its zenith, as stated in the hadith of ‘Amr ibn ‘Abasah:

“Then refrain from prayer, for Hell is stoked at that time. When the shadow returns, pray.”

This indicates that prayer is prescribed from the moment the shade begins to return: that is, when the shadow returns from the west towards the east and begins to lengthen again after diminishing.

For this reason, they said that the term fay’ (returning shade) applies specifically to shade after the sun has passed its zenith, because it conveys the sense of