in the dark, then he performed it in the light once, and then he did not return to performing it in the light until God took his soul. Narrated by Abū Dāwūd. Al-Khaṭṭābī said: It has an authentic Chain of transmission. ʿĀʾishah—may God be pleased with her—said: The Prophet—peace and blessings of God be upon him—never prayed a prayer at its latest time twice until God took his soul. This is a rare (gharīb) hadith, and its Chain of transmission is not continuous. As for the light (isfār) mentioned in their hadith, what is meant by it is delaying it until the rising of the dawn becomes clear and is revealed with certainty, from their saying: "The woman unveiled (asfarat)," meaning she uncovered her face.

Section: One does not commit a sin by hastening a prayer whose delay is recommended, nor by delaying one whose hastening is recommended, if he delays it while intending to perform it, provided the time does not expire or become too narrow to perform the entire act of worship. This is because Gabriel prayed it with the Prophet—peace and blessings of God be upon him—at the beginning of the time and at the end of it, and the Prophet—peace and blessings of God be upon him—prayed it at the beginning of the time and at the end of it, and they said: "The time is between these two." Furthermore, the obligation is expansive (muwassaʿ), so it is like expiation (kaffāra); it is obligatory in an expansive manner among the options. If he delays it without intending to perform it, he commits a sin by that delay accompanied by the lack of intent. If he delays it such that no time remains sufficient for the entire prayer, he also commits a sin, because the final rakʿah is part of the prayer, so it is not permissible to delay it beyond the time, just like the first.

Section: If he delays the prayer from its beginning time with the intention of performing it, then dies before performing it, he is not disobedient, because he did what it was permissible for him to do, and death is not his own act, so he does not commit a sin by it.

Section: Whoever prays before the time has not fulfilled his prayer, according to the statement of the majority of the people of knowledge, whether he did it intentionally or by mistake, for the entire prayer or part of it. Al-Zuhrī said this,