Time of Zuhr and Asr prayers

728. If a stick, or anything similar to it, is made to stand on a level ground, its shadow will fall westwards when the sun rises in the morning, and as the sun continues to rise, the shadow cast by the indicator will reduce in size. And in our cities, it becomes smallest at the time of the commencement of Zuhr. And as Zuhr passes the shadow cast by the indicator turns eastwards, and as the sun moves towards west the shadow gets longer. Based on this, when the shadow is the shortest, and it begins getting longer again, it is known that Zuhr has taken place. However, in other cities like in Mecca, the shadow disappears totally; so, when it reappears it indicates Zuhr.

730. Zuhr and Asr Namaz have each especial and common times. The special time for Zuhr prayer is from the beginning of Zuhr until the time required for such prayer. And the special time for Asr prayer is the time required for such prayer before Maghrib, and if a person has not offered his Zuhr prayer until this time, his Zuhr Namaz is Qadha and he should offer Asr prayer. And between the special time of Zuhr Namaz and special time of Asr Namaz, is the common time of Zuhr and Asr Namaz and if a person offers unintentionally Zuhr or Asr prayers instead of each other, his Namaz is in order.

731. If a person begins offering Asr prayers forgetfully before Zuhr prayer and during the prayers he realizes that he has committed a mistake, if it is in common time, he should revert his Niyyat to Zuhr prayers, i.e. he should intend that from now onwards till the end f the prayers, it would be Zuhr prayers. After completing the prayers, he will offer Asr prayers and if it is in the special time of Zuhr Namaz, he should revert it to Zuhr prayer and finish Namaz and then pray Asr Namaz. And a recommendatory precaution, after the Namaz of Asr, the Namaz of Zuhr and Asr should be repeated.

732. Friday prayer is two Rak’ats and on Friday it takes the place of Zuhr prayer and during the presence of the Prophet (ASW) and Masoom Imam (AS) and his special deputy, it is an involuntary obligation but during the time of great Ghaybat it is voluntary obligation, i.e. it is voluntary that a person chooses between Friday prayer and Zuhr prayer, but during the time of Islamic Just Government, if Friday prayer is held, it is better to offer it rather than Zuhr prayer.

733. The obligatory precaution is that Friday prayer is offered at the earliest part of Zuhr and if it is delayed until this part has passed, the Zuhr prayer should be performed.

734. As it was mentioned in point no. 730, for each of Zuhr, Asr, and Maghrib and Isha prayers there is a special time and if the obliged person intentionally offers Asr prayer in the special time of Zuhr or offers Isah prayer, intentionally, in the special time of Maghrib, his Namaz is void. But if he wishes to offer some other prayer such as Qadha prayer of Fajr or something like that, in the special time of Zuhr or Maghrib prayers, his Namaz is in order.