Introduction:
Midday or ‘Zawwal’ time refers to the time when sun after reaching it peak starts to decline. It’s a sacred time and time of the acceptance of supplications. At time, it’s better to wait for Zohar Salāt and offer two-Rakat Salāt of the repentant prior to offering Zohar Salāt. Some Ahadith are compiled related to the importance of ‘midday’ (Zawwal time).
ابن بابويه، قال: حدثني أبي (رحمه الله)، قال: حدثنا سعد بن عبد الله، عن يعقوب بن يزيد، عن محمد بن أبي عمير، عن أبي المغرا حميد بن المثنى العجلي، عن أبي بصير، قال: سمعت أبا عبد الله (عليه السلام) يقول: «صلاة الوسطى صلاة الظهر، و هي أول صلاة أنزل الله على نبيه (صلى الله عليه و آله)».
Ibn Babuwayh said, ‘My father narrated to me, from Sa’ad Bin Abdullah, from Yaqoub Bin Yazeed, from Muhammad Bin Abu Umeyr, from Abu Al Magra Hameed Bin Al Masny Al Ajaly, from Abu Baseer who said,
‘I heard Abu Abdullah-asws saying: ‘the Middle Salāt [2:238] – it is the Midday Salāt (Al-Zohar) (صلاة الظهر), and it is the first Salāt which Allah-azwj Revealed upon His-azwj Prophet-saww’.[1]
الشيخ: بإسناده عن أحمد بن محمد بن عيسى، عن حماد بن عيسى، عن حريز، عن زرارة، عن أبي جعفر (عليه السلام) قال: سألته عما فرض الله من الصلاة. فقال: «خمس صلوات في الليل و النهار». فقلت: هل سماهن و بينهن في كتابه؟
Al Sheykh, by his chain from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Bin Isa, from Hamaad Bin Isa, from Hareyz, from Zarara,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far-asws, said, ‘I asked him-asws about what Allah-azwj has Obligated from the Salāt(s). So he-asws said: ‘Five Salāts during the day and the night’. So I said, ‘Have these been named and explained in His-azwj Book?’
و قال في ذلك: وَ أَقِمِ الصَّلاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهارِ و طرفاه: المغرب و الغداة وَ زُلَفاً مِنَ اللَّيْلِ و هي صلاة العشاء الآخرة، و قال: حافِظُوا عَلَى الصَّلَواتِ وَ الصَّلاةِ الْوُسْطى و هي صلاة الظهر، و هي أول صلاة صلاها رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله)، و هي وسط النهار، و وسط صلاتين بالنهار: صلاة الغداة، و صلاة العصر».
And he-asws said regarding that: And establish the Salāt in the two ends of the day [11:114]. And its end are the evening and the morning, and near from the night, and it is the ‘Al-Isha’ Salāt. And Maintain your Salāt(s) and (in particular) the middle Salāt [2:238]. And it is the ‘Al-Zohar Salāt’, and it is the first Salāt which Rasool-Allah-saww prayed, and it is in the middle of the day, and in the middle of the day are two Salāts – The morning Salāt, and the ‘Al-Asr’ Salāt’ (an extract).[2]
عَنْهُ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي الْعَلَاءِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( صلوات الله عليه ) صَلَاةُ الزَّوَالِ صَلَاةُ الْأَوَّابِينَ .
From him, from Moalla Bin Muhammad, from Al Hassan Bin Ali Al Washa, from Aban Bin Usman, from Yahya Bin Abu Al A’ala,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘The midday Salāt is the Salāt of the penitent [17:25]’.[3]
Seeking Needs at the Midday (Zawwal time):
وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَعَشِيًّا وَحِينَ تُظْهِرُونَ {30:18}
And for Him is the Praise in the skies and the earth, and at sunset, and when you come up to midday [30:18]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ جَمِيلِ بْنِ دَرَّاجٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَطَاءٍ عَنْ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ كَانَ أَبِي إِذَا كَانَتْ لَهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ حَاجَةٌ طَلَبَهَا فِي هَذِهِ السَّاعَةِ يَعْنِي زَوَالَ الشَّمْسِ .
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umer, from Jameel Bin Darraj, from Abdullah Bin Ata’a,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far-asws having said: ‘Whenever My-asws father-asws had a need to Allah-azwj, he-asws would seek it during this time, meaning the decline of the sun (at midday)’.[4]
الْحُسَيْنُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ إِسْحَاقَ عَنْ سَعْدَانَ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ كَانَ أَبِي إِذَا طَلَبَ الْحَاجَةَ طَلَبَهَا عِنْدَ زَوَالِ الشَّمْسِ فَإِذَا أَرَادَ ذَلِكَ قَدَّمَ شَيْئاً فَتَصَدَّقَ بِهِ وَ شَمَّ شَيْئاً مِنْ طِيبٍ وَ رَاحَ إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَ دَعَا فِي حَاجَتِهِ بِمَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ .
Al Husayn Bin Muhammad, from Ahmad Bin Is’haq, from Sa’dan Bin Muslim, from Muawiya Bin Ammar,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘It was so that whenever my-asws father-asws sought the need, sought it during the decline of the sun (at midday). So whenever he-asws intended that, he-asws preceded it with something and gave it in charity with it, and smelt something from the perfume, and went to the Masjid and supplicated regarding his-asws need with whatever he-asws so desired to’.[5]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ صَالِحِ بْنِ السِّنْدِيِّ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ بَشِيرٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُكَيْرٍ عَنْ شِهَابِ بْنِ عَبْدِ رَبِّهِ قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ إِذَا تَغَيَّرَتِ الشَّمْسُ فَاذْكُرِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ إِنْ كُنْتَ مَعَ قَوْمٍ يَشْغَلُونَكَ فَقُمْ وَ ادْعُ .
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Salih Bin Al Sindy, from Ja’far-asws Bin Bashir, from Abdullah Bin Bukeyr, from Shihad Bin Abd Rabbih who said,
‘I heard Abu Abdullah-asws saying: ‘Whenever the sun changes (midday), so mention Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic; and if you are with a group of people pre-occupying you, so arise and supplicate’.[6]
و قال الصادق (عليه السلام): «من قرأها وقت نزول المطر، غفر الله له،
And Al-Sadiq-asws said: ‘One who recites it (Surah Al-Takaasur – Chapter 102) during the time of rainfall, Allah-azwj would Forgive (his sins) for him.
و من قرأها وقت صلاة العصر كان في أمان الله إلى غروب الشمس من اليوم الثاني بإذن الله تعالى».
And one who recites it (Surah Al-Takaasur – Chapter 102) at the time of the Midday (Al-Zohar) Salāt, would be in the Protection of Allah-azwj until the setting of the sun of the second day, by the Permission of Allah-azwj’.[7]
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ عَنْ مُعَاوِيَةَ بْنِ عَمَّارٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) السَّاعَةُ الَّتِي فِي يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ الَّتِي لَا يَدْعُو فِيهَا مُؤْمِنٌ إِلَّا اسْتُجِيبَ لَهُ قَالَ نَعَمْ إِذَا خَرَجَ الْإِمَامُ قُلْتُ إِنَّ الْإِمَامَ يُعَجِّلُ وَ يُؤَخِّرُ قَالَ إِذَا زَاغَتِ الشَّمْسُ .
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Abu Nasr, from Muawiya Bin Ammar who said,
‘I said to Abu Abdullah-asws, ‘The timing during the day of Friday in which a Believer would not supplicate except that it would be Answered for him’. He-asws said: ‘Yes, when the prayer leader comes out’. I said, ‘The prayer leader tends to be early and delayed’. He-asws said: ‘When the sun turns (after midday)’.[8]
The time of the Midday (Zawwal):
مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ يُونُسَ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ عَنْ مِنْهَالٍ قَالَ سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) عَنِ الْوَقْتِ الَّذِي لَا يَنْبَغِي لِي [أَنْ يَتَنَفَّلَ] إِذَا جَاءَ الزَّوَالُ قَالَ ذِرَاعٌ إِلَى مِثْلِهِ .
Muhammad Bin Yahya, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Fazzal, from Yunus Bin Yaqoub, from Minhal who said,
‘I asked Abu Abdullah-asws about the time in which it is not befitting for me that I pray the Optional Salāts when the midday comes. He-asws said: ‘One cubit to its like (of the shadow)’.[9]
The Salāt of Repentant at Midday (Zawwal time):
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ أَبِي أَيُّوبَ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ مُسْلِمٍ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) إِذَا دَخَلَ وَقْتُ الْفَرِيضَةِ أَتَنَفَّلُ أَوْ أَبْدَأُ بِالْفَرِيضَةِ فَقَالَ إِنَّ الْفَضْلَ أَنْ تَبْدَأَ بِالْفَرِيضَةِ وَ إِنَّمَا أُخِّرَتِ الظُّهْرُ ذِرَاعاً مِنْ عِنْدِ الزَّوَالِ مِنْ أَجْلِ صَلَاةِ الْأَوَّابِينَ .
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Abu Ayoub, from Muhammad Bin Muslim who said,
‘I said to Abu Abdullah-asws, ‘When the time for the Obligatory (Salāt) enters, shall I pray the Optional or begin with the Obligatory?’ So he-asws said: ‘It is preferred that you begin with the Obligatory, and rather delay Al-Zohar from the midday due to the reason of a Salāt of the repentants’.[10]
عَنْهُ عَنْ مُعَلَّى بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحَسَنِ بْنِ عَلِيٍّ الْوَشَّاءِ عَنْ أَبَانِ بْنِ عُثْمَانَ عَنْ يَحْيَى بْنِ أَبِي الْعَلَاءِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( صلوات الله عليه ) صَلَاةُ الزَّوَالِ صَلَاةُ الْأَوَّابِينَ .
From him, from Moalla Bin Muhammad, from Al Hassan Bin Ali Al Washa, from Aban Bin Usman, from Yahya Bin Abu Al A’ala,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘The midday Salāt is the Salāt of the repentant’.[11]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ أُذَيْنَةَ عَنْ عِدَّةٍ مِنْ أَصْحَابِنَا أَنَّهُمْ سَمِعُوا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) يَقُولُ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( صلوات الله عليه ) لَا يُصَلِّي مِنَ النَّهَارِ حَتَّى تَزُولَ الشَّمْسُ وَ لَا مِنَ اللَّيْلِ بَعْدَ مَا يُصَلِّي الْعِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةَ حَتَّى يَنْتَصِفَ اللَّيْلُ .
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Ibn Abu Umeyr, from Umar Bin Azina, from a number of our companions,
(It has been narrated) they heard Abu Ja’far-asws saying: ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws did not pray Salāt from the day until the midday, nor from the night after having had prayed Al-Isha the last, until midnight’.[12]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنْ سَهْلِ بْنِ زِيَادٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ رَاشِدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ قَالَ قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الثَّانِي ( عليه السلام ) أَكُونُ فِي السُّوقِ فَأَعْرِفُ الْوَقْتَ وَ يَضِيقُ عَلَيَّ أَنْ أَدْخُلَ فَأُصَلِّيَ قَالَ إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يُقَارِنُ الشَّمْسَ فِي ثَلَاثَةِ أَحْوَالٍ إِذَا ذَرَّتْ وَ إِذَا كَبَّدَتْ وَ إِذَا غَرَبَتْ فَصَلِّ بَعْدَ الزَّوَالِ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يُرِيدُ أَنْ يُوقِعَكَ عَلَى حَدٍّ يُقْطَعُ بِكَ دُونَهُ .
Ali Bin Muhammad, from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Al Husayn Bin Rashid, from Al Husayn Bin Aslam who said,
‘I said to Abu Al-Hassan-asws the 2nd, ‘I happen to be in the market, so I recognise the time, and it is straitening upon me if I were to enter (the marketplace) and pray Salāt’. He-asws said: ‘The Satan-la approaches the sun during three states – At sunrise, and at midday, and at sunset. So pray Salāt after the midday, for the Satan-la intends that he makes you fall upon a limit which would cut you off from the ones besides him-la’.[13]
عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ عَنْ حَمَّادِ بْنِ عِيسَى عَنْ حَرِيزٍ عَنْ زُرَارَةَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) لَا تَدَعِ الْغُسْلَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ فَإِنَّهُ سُنَّةٌ وَ شَمَّ الطِّيبَ وَ الْبَسْ صَالِحَ ثِيَابِكَ وَ لْيَكُنْ فَرَاغُكَ مِنَ الْغُسْلِ قَبْلَ الزَّوَالِ فَإِذَا زَالَتْ فَقُمْ وَ عَلَيْكَ السَّكِينَةَ وَ الْوَقَارَ وَ قَالَ الْغُسْلُ وَاجِبٌ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ .
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Hammad Bin Isa, from Hareyz, from Zurara who said,
‘Abu Ja’far-asws said: ‘Do not neglect the washing (shower) on the day of Friday, for it is a Sunnah, and wear the perfume, and wear the best of your clothes, and let you take the shower before the midday. So when it is midday, stand, and upon you should be the tranquillity and the dignity’. And he-asws said: ‘The shower is Obligatory on the day of Friday’.[14]
جَمَاعَةٌ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ الْحُسَيْنِ بْنِ سَعِيدٍ عَنْ فَضَالَةَ أَوْ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ سِنَانٍ عَنِ ابْنِ مُسْكَانَ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَجْلَانَ قَالَ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ( عليه السلام ) إِذَا كُنْتَ شَاكّاً فِي الزَّوَالِ فَصَلِّ رَكْعَتَيْنِ فَإِذَا اسْتَيْقَنْتَ فَابْدَأْ بِالْفَرِيضَةِ .
A group, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Al Husayn Bin Saeed, from Fazalat, or from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from Ibn Muskan, from Abdullah Bin Ajlan who said,
‘Abu Ja’far-asws said: ‘If you were in doubt regarding the midday, so pray two Rak’at. But when you are convinced, so begin with the Obligatory (Salāt)’.[15]
Midday (Zawwal) is sacred time:
يا علي لا تجامع امرأتك بعد الظهر، فانه ان قضي بينكما ولد في ذلك الوقت يكون أحول والشيطان يفرح بالحول في الانسان.
(Rasool-Allah-saww bequeathed to Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws, so he-saww said) O Ali-asws! Do not copulate with your-asws wife are the midday, for if a child is conceived for the two of you-asws during that time, it would be squint-eyed, and the Satan-la rejoices at the squint-eyed ones among the humans (an extract).[16]
[1] معاني الأخبار: 331/ 1.
[2] التهذيب 2: 241/ 954 (Extract)
[3] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Salāt CH 84 H 10
[4] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 13 H 4
[5] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 13 H 7
[6] Al Kafi V 2 – The Book Of Supplication CH 48 H 9
[7] (خواص القرآن: 16 «مخطوط».)
[8] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book of Salāt CH 66 H 12
[9] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book of Salāt CH 11 H 2
[10] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book of Salāt CH 11 H 5
[11] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book Of Salāt CH 84 H 10
[12] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book of Salāt CH 11 H 7
[13] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book of Salāt CH 11 H 9
[14] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book of Salāt CH 67 H 4
[15] Al Kafi V 3 – The Book of Salāt CH 74 H 3
[16] ILLAL AL SHARAIE – V 2 Ch 289 H 5