A Primer of Religious Knowledge — Page 26
A PR I M E R OF R E L IGIO U S K NOW L E D GE A PR I M E R OF R E L IGIO U S K NOW L E D GE 26 becomes equal to its length. In this [ S al a t ] first there are four rak‘ a t of Sunnah and then four rak‘ a t of Far d. Then, offer two rak‘ a t of Sunnah, or four [by splitting them] into two and two. Time of ‘A s r Late afternoon S al a t is from after the expiry of the time for the Z uhr S al a t till really the time when the sun starts to become yel- low. Offering the ‘ A s r S al a t when the sun has started to turn yel- low is deplored by the Shariah so much that it has not refrained even from referring to such a lazy person as a hypocrite. And if necessary the time to offer this Prayer lasts till the setting of the sun. It comprises of four rak‘ a t of Far d and after this no S al a t is permissible till Maghrib [evening S al a t ]. But if you offer four rak‘ a t of Sunnah before the four rak‘ a t of Far d of ‘ A s r then this is a very noble deed and a way of earning Paradise.