It is generally believed that Muslims have been forbidden to pray or prostrate after the ‘asr prayer until maghrib.

It needs to be appreciated that according to the established Sunnah of the Prophet (sws), the only forbidden times for prayer are sunrise and sunset. This precautionary measure is meant to curb polytheism, since many nations of antiquity worshiped the sun at these times. At all other times, prayers can be offered. Consequently, one can pray between ‘asr and maghrib.

It seems that the following Hadith has led to the belief that no prayer can be offered between ‘asr and maghrib:

لاَ صَلاَةَ بَعْدَ الصُّبْحِ حَتَّى تَرْتَفِعَ الشَّمْسُ وَلاَ صَلاَةَ بَعْدَ العَصْرِ حَتىَّ تَغِيْبَ الشَّمْسُ (بخاري ، رقم : ٥٦١)

The Prophet is reported to have said there is no prayer after dawn until the sun rises and there is no prayer after ‘asr until the sun sets. (Bukhari, No: 561)

If all the texts of this Hadith are collected, it comes to light that a part of it has been left out in most of its texts. This can be observed from the underlined portion of the following two Ahadith:

لَا تُصَلوُّا بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ اِلاَّ اَنْ تُصَلوُّا وَالشَّمْسُ مُرْتَفِعَةٌ (مسند أحمد ، رقم : ١٠٧٦)

Do not pray after ‘asr except if the sun is high [in the sky]. (Musnad Ahmad, No: 1076)

لَا تُصَلوُّا بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ اِلاَّ اَنْ تُصَلوُّا وَالشَّمْسُ نَقِيَّةٌ (بيهقي ، رقم : ٤١٩٦)

Do not pray after ‘asr except if the sun is shinning brightly high [in the sky]. (Bayhaqi, No: 4196)

In other words, what the Prophet (sws) actually forbade was praying very near the time of sunset since this might accidentally lead a person to pray in the forbidden period of sunset. Consequently, it is clear from these Ahadith that if one intends to pray after ‘asr, one should make sure that one does so before sunset. One has not been stopped from praying after ‘asr, as has been inferred by some.

(Dr. Shehzad Saleem)

Please also refer to the video below from 6:56 to 8:28

https://youtu.be/cRzXvh9v7C4?t=416