the Sun. However, it is very important to recite the prayer as soon as the time begins. Letter 52 of Nahj al-Balagha contains instruction of Ali to his governors on the timings of salat, "The Asr prayers can be performed till the sun is still bright and enough time of the day is left for a person to cover a distance of six miles." Hanafi, Hanbali, Shafi`i, and Maliki schools of thought The time period within which the Asr prayer must be recited is the following: Time begins: The Sunni schools differ on when the time begins. The Maliki, Shafi`i, and Hanbali schools say it is at the time when the length of any object's shadow equals the length of the object itself plus the length of that object's shadow at noon. The dominant opinion in the Hanafi school says it begins when the length of any object's shadow is twice the length of the object plus the length of that object's shadow at noon. Time ends: Once the sun has completely set below the horizon. However, it is frowned upon (and sinful in the Maliki school) to delay the prayer without a legitimate excuse to the point of the day in which the sun turns a pale red or orange color as it begins to set, though it would still be considered to have been prayed on time. The Islamic prophet Muhammad said, "He who observes Al-Bardayn (i.e., Fajr and `Asr prayers) will enter Jannah." In another hadith: Muhammad said 'He who misses his Asr Salat (i.e. performs it after its specified time) is as if he had lost his wife, children and all his wealth.’ (Sahih Muslim) See also Dhikr Tasbih Mincha Other salah: Fajr prayer (Morning) Zuhr prayer (Mid-noon) Maghrib prayer (Sunset) Isha prayer (Night) References Salah Salah terminology