What Are The Makruh Times To Perform Prayer; What Is The Reason For This Rule?

What are the makruh times to perform prayer; what is the reason for this rule?

It is makruh to establish prayer from rise of the sun to its moving up; when the sun is at the meridian; and when the sun sets.

Islam prohibits worshipping to anyone but Allah as well as all the attitudes and behaviors that may bring it to mind. The fact that it is makruh or prohibited to establish prayer within some specified times should be evaluated in this context. The mentioned three times are the times of worship for Zoroastrians. Establishing prayer in these times is prohibited or limited in order to prevent Muslims from resembling them by coinciding with the worship times of fire-worshippers. In this way, it is aimed to develop a consciousness of identity and worship among Muslims. Moreover, it is expressed that these times have a characteristic that prevents one from performing prayer in a perfect manner (Nasa’i, Mawaqit, 29; Ibn Majah, Iqamat al-salati was-sunan, 148; Zaylai, Tabyin, I, 85; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar, II, 384).

According to the Shafi’i school, it is makruh to perform only nafl prayers during the sunrise, sun is at the meridian, and sunset. They showed as evidence the following hadith: “Do not establish prayer after fajr prayer until the sun rises, and after ‘asr prayer until the sun sets.” (Muwatta, Qur’an, 48). One may establish fardh prayers, qada prayers, rawatib sunnahs, and tahiyyat al-masjid prayers in these times. Moreover, it is makruh tanzihi to establish nafl prayers after ‘asr prayer from when the sun gets yellow until it sets (Nawavi, Rawda, I, 192-195).

Source: Presidency Of Religious Affairs The Turkey, High Board of Religious Affairs FATWAS