Short answer
Dhuhr ends when Asr begins, and the schools differ on when that is. Imam Abu Hanifa held it is when an object's shadow is twice its length (plus its shadow at noon), so Hanafi timetables start Asr later. His two students and the other three schools say it is when the shadow equals the object's length.
Dhuhr begins at zawal, just after the sun passes its highest point, and on Abu Hanifa's view, which is the main Hanafi position, it lasts until each thing's shadow is twice its length. The cautious course is to pray Dhuhr before the one-length time and Asr after the two-length time, so both are valid on every view.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- Dhuhr ends and Asr begins when an object's shadow equals its length, plus the noon shadow.
- Maliki
- Dhuhr ends when the shadow equals the object's length, with a short time shared with Asr.
- Hanbali
- Dhuhr ends and Asr begins when the shadow equals the object's length, plus the noon shadow.
Explanation
Prayer times after noon are set by shadows. At midday a stick's shadow is at its shortest; this is the noon shadow (fay' al-zawal). As the sun moves west the shadow grows. Scholars measure Asr by how long the shadow has grown beyond the noon shadow: one length (mithl) or two lengths (mithlayn).
Imam Abu Hanifa held that Dhuhr continues until the shadow reaches two lengths. Abu Yusuf, Muhammad and the other three schools said Asr begins at one length. This is why many timetables show two Asr times, often labelled "Hanafi" and "standard" or "Shafi'i". Hanafi scholars generally give fatwa on Abu Hanifa's view for the start of Asr, and they advise praying Dhuhr before the one-length time where you can, so that it is valid on both views.
- Can I pray Dhuhr 10 minutes before the Hanafi Asr? Yes. On Abu Hanifa's view it is still on time.
- Can a Hanafi pray Asr at the earlier time? Hanafi scholars allow it in real need, such as a work schedule, since it follows the view of Abu Yusuf and Muhammad, but the normal practice is to wait.
- Summer heat: it is sunnah to delay Dhuhr a little in hot weather and pray it early in winter.
Hanafis do not combine Dhuhr and Asr in one time; see can you combine prayers. For Asr's end, see can you pray Asr just before Maghrib.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Israa 17:78
أَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ لِدُلُوكِ ٱلشَّمْسِ إِلَىٰ غَسَقِ ٱلَّيْلِ وَقُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ ۖ إِنَّ قُرْءَانَ ٱلْفَجْرِ كَانَ مَشْهُودًۭا ﴿٧٨﴾
Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur'an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed.
Dhuhr begins when the sun declines from its highest point.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 149
Grading to be checked... أمني جبريل عند البيت مرتين ...
"Jibril led me in prayer at the House twice."
Jibril set the start and end of each prayer time over two days.
Sahih al-Bukhari 536
Sahih... إذا اشتد الحر فأبردوا بالصلاة فإن شدة الحر من فيح جهنم ...
"When the heat is intense, delay the prayer until it is cooler, for the intensity of heat is from the breath of Hell."
Dhuhr may be delayed in summer, which Hanafis cite for its long time.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, chapter on prayer times. Dhuhr lasts until the shadow is twice the object's length according to Abu Hanifa, and one length according to his two students.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, chapter on prayer times. Discusses the mithl and mithlayn views and the cautious practice.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Chapter on prayer times. The Hanbali school ends Dhuhr at one shadow length.
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.