Nahj al-Balāgha

ومن كتاب له (عليه السلام) إلى أمراء البلاد في معنى الصلاة

To the Governors of various places concerning prayers

أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَصَلُّوا بَالنَّاسِ الظُّهْرَ حَتَّى تَفِيءَ الشَّمْسُ مِنْ مَرْبِضِ الْعَنْزِ.

Now, say the ẓuhr (noon) prayers with the people when the shade of the wall of the goats’ pen is equal to the wall.

وَصَلُّوا بِهِمُ الْعَصْرَ وَالشَّمْسُ بَيْضَاءُ حَيَّةٌ فِي عُضْوٍ مِنَ النَّهَارِ حِينَ يُسَارُ فِيهَا فَرْسَخَانِ.

Say the ‘aṣr (afternoon) prayers with them when the sun is still shining in a portion of the day enough for covering the distance of two farsakhs (about six miles).

وَصَلُّوا بِهِمُ الْمَغْرِبَ حِينَ يُفْطِرُ الصَّائِمُ، وَيَدْفَعُ الْحَاجُّ إِلَى مِنًى.

Say the maghrib (sunset) prayers when he who is fasting ends the fast and the pilgrim rushes (from ‘Arafat) to Minā.

وَصَلُّوا بِهِمُ الْعِشَاءَ حِينَ يَتَوَارَى الشَّفَقُ إِلَى ثُلُثِ اللَّيْلِ.

Say the ‘ishā’ (night) prayers with them when twilight disappears and upto one third of the night.

وَصَلُّوا بِهِمُ الْغَدَاةَ والرَّجُلُ يَعْرِفُ وَجْهَ صَاحِبِهِ.

Say the (early) morning prayers with them when a man can recognize the face of his companion.

وَصَلُّوا بِهِمْ صَلَاةَ أَضْعَفِهِمْ، وَلَا تَكُونُوا فَتَّانِينَ.

Say the prayers with the people as the weakest of them would do and do not be a source of trouble to them.