Short answer
Yes, it still counts as on time, because Asr lasts until sunset. But in the Hanafi school delaying Asr until the sun turns pale and weak, so you can look at it without strain, is makruh tahrimi (seriously disliked). Pray it before then; if you are late anyway, still pray it before the sun sets.
Asr runs from its Hanafi start until sunset. Delaying it without an excuse until the sun's light weakens is makruh tahrimi, though the prayer is valid and not qada. That day's Asr is the one prayer that remains valid even while the sun is setting.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The chosen time ends at two shadow lengths; after that Asr is still on time until sunset, but delaying it to the yellowing without an excuse is disliked.
- Maliki
- The chosen time ends when the sun yellows; delaying beyond that without an excuse is sinful, though the prayer is still performed.
- Hanbali
- After the yellowing is a time of necessity only, and delaying Asr into it without an excuse is sinful.
Explanation
Asr time lasts until sunset. The Prophet ﷺ said that whoever catches one rakah of Asr before the sun sets has caught Asr. So an Asr prayed ten minutes before Maghrib is on time and is not a make-up prayer.
But there is a disliked part at the end. When the sun's light weakens and turns pale, so that you can look at the disc without it hurting your eyes, the Hanafi school says delaying Asr into that period is makruh tahrimi. The Prophet ﷺ called it the prayer of the hypocrite, who waits until the sun is between the horns of Satan and then pecks out four quick rakats.
- Best time in the Hanafi school: a little after Asr begins, while the sun is still bright. Hanafis do not rush Asr at the very start.
- If you are late: still pray before sunset. A late Asr is far better than a missed one.
- If the sun sets while you pray: that day's Asr is still valid in the Hanafi school.
- After the Asr fard: no nafl until Maghrib, though a missed fard may be made up before the sun turns pale.
For when Asr starts, see when Dhuhr ends and Asr begins. For the times when prayer is not allowed, read the forbidden times for prayer.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Baqara 2:238
حَٰفِظُوا۟ عَلَى ٱلصَّلَوَٰتِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِ ٱلْوُسْطَىٰ وَقُومُوا۟ لِلَّهِ قَٰنِتِينَ ﴿٢٣٨﴾
Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.
Many scholars identify the middle prayer as Asr, which must be guarded.
Sahih al-Bukhari 579
Sahih... ومن أدرك ركعة من العصر قبل أن تغرب الشمس فقد أدرك العصر ...
"Whoever catches a rakah of Asr before the sun sets has caught Asr."
Asr remains valid until sunset.
Sahih Muslim 622
Sahih... تلك صلاة المنافق يجلس يرقب الشمس ...
"That is the prayer of the hypocrite: he sits watching the sun."
Delaying Asr until the sun weakens is condemned.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on prayer times. Asr lasts until sunset; it is recommended to delay it a little while the sun is unchanged.
- Nur al-Idah with Maraqi al-Falah, Chapter on the times in which prayer is disliked. That day's Asr is valid at sunset with dislike, while no other prayer is.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.