decreased, then it has passed the meridian. As for knowing this by feet, it varies according to the months and the lands. Whenever the day is long, the shadow is short, and when it is short, the shadow is long. Every day it increases or decreases, so we will mention that in the middle of every month, according to what Abū al-ʿAbbās al-Sinjī, may Allah have mercy on him, narrated as an approximation. He said: The sun passes the meridian in the middle of June at one and a third feet, which is the shortest point at which the sun passes the meridian. In the middle of July and May, it is at one and two-thirds feet. In the middle of August and April, it is at three feet. In the middle of March and September, it is at four and a half feet, which is the time of the equinox of night and day. In the middle of October and February, it is at six and a half feet. In the middle of November and January, it is at nine feet. In the middle of December, it is at ten and a sixth feet, and this is the furthest point at which the sun passes the meridian. This is what the sun passes the meridian at in the regions of Iraq, the Levant, and the lands parallel to them. If you want to know this, stand on level ground and mark the spot where your shadow ends. Then place your right foot in front of your left foot, and touch your heel to your toe. When you reach the measurement of this amount after the end of the decrease, that is the time when the sun has passed the meridian and the Dhuhr prayer has become obligatory.

Section: The Dhuhr prayer becomes obligatory upon the sun passing the meridian, and likewise all prayers become obligatory upon the entry of their time for those who are among the people of obligation. As for those with excuses, such as the menstruating woman, the insane person, the child, and the disbeliever, it becomes obligatory for them at the first part they reach of its time after their excuse has ceased. Al-Shāfiʿī, may Allah have mercy on him, said this. Abū Ḥanīfah, may Allah have mercy on him, said: The time for it is delayed if there remains of it only what is not enough for it, because at the beginning of the time, one has the choice between performing it and leaving it, so it is not obligatory, like a supererogatory (nāfila) prayer. Our evidence is that he is commanded to perform it at the beginning of the time by His, the Almighty's, saying: