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Can You Pray before Prayer Time?

08-04-2003

Question 20788

Is it permissible to pray the ‘Isha prayer just before we go to sleep, instead of the appointed time? Show evidence please.

Summary of answer:

Prayer offered before its time is not valid, according to the consensus of the Muslims. If a person offers a prayer before its time deliberately, the prayer is invalid. If that was not done deliberately, then it is not a sin and his prayer is regarded as nafl.

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymin (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

“Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours.” [Al-Nisa 4:103]

We have already explained the times of prayer in detail in question no. 9940

Prayer offered before its time is not valid, according to the consensus of the Muslims. If a person offers a prayer before its time: 

For more, please see these answers: 48998 , 65941 , 2183 , and 13496 .

And Allah knows best.

Times of Prayers
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