“I once said to abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), that ’Umar ibn Hanzalah has reported to us from you about timing (for Salah (prayer)). Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), then said, ‘If so, he does not fabricate things to call them to be from us.’ I (the narrator) then said that he quotes your statement. It says, ‘The first Salah (prayer) that Allah made obligatory on His Holy prophet was al-Dhuhr Salah (prayer). Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has said, “Perform Salah (prayer) from the time of declining of the sun toward the west at noontime” (17:78), so when the sun declines toward the west at noontime, there is no other obstacle except your Nafl (optional Salah (prayer)). This time continues until the shadow of an object becomes equal to its length and that is the end of this time. When the shadow of an object becomes equal to its length, it is the time for al-‘Asr Salah (prayer) which continues until the shadow of an object becomes double its length and that is evening.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘He has spoken the truth.’”