English Translation

Hadrat Muhammad ibn 'Abdullah ibn Numair narrated to us, (he said:) my father narrated to us, he said: Badr ibn Hadrat 'Uthman narrated to us, he said: Hadrat Abu Bakr ibn Abi Musa narrated to us from his father (Hadrat Abu Musa al-Ash'ari, may Allah be well pleased with him), who narrated from the Beloved Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) that a questioner came to him asking about the times of prayers, but he gave him no verbal reply. He said: When dawn broke, he led the Fajr prayer while people could hardly recognise one another (due to the darkness). Then he commanded (Hadrat Bilal, may Allah be well pleased with him) and the iqamah for Zuhr was pronounced when the sun had declined, while one would say it was midday, but he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) knew better than them. Then he commanded and the iqamah for 'Asr was pronounced while the sun was still high. Then he commanded and the iqamah for Maghrib was pronounced when the sun had set. Then he commanded and the iqamah for 'Isha was pronounced when the twilight had disappeared. On the next day, he delayed Fajr until after finishing it, one would say the sun had risen or was about to rise. Then he delayed Zuhr until it was close to the time of 'Asr of the previous day. Then he delayed 'Asr until after finishing it, one would say the sun had turned red. Then he delayed Maghrib until the twilight was about to disappear. Then he delayed 'Isha until a third of the night had passed. Then when morning came, he called the questioner and said: 'The time (for prayers) is between these two (extremes).'