The time of the afternoon prayer, from its beginning to its end
When does the time of the afternoon prayer begin and when does it end according to the four imams?
Hanafi
It begins when a thing's shadow reaches twice its length, apart from the shadow at zenith, and lasts until sunset.
Reference: Radd al-Muḥtār — Al-Durr al-Mukhtār — Al-Hidāyah
Maliki
It begins when a thing's shadow equals its length; its preferred time runs until the sun yellows, and its time of necessity until sunset.
Reference: Al-Sharḥ al-Kabīr — Ḥāshiyat al-Dasūqī — Minaḥ al-Jalīl
Shāfiʿī
It begins the moment a thing's shadow exceeds its length, counted after the shadow at zenith, and lasts until sunset.
Reference: Mughnī al-Muḥtāj — Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj — Nihāyat al-Muḥtāj
Hanbali
It begins when a thing's shadow equals its length, counted after the shadow at zenith; its preferred time runs until a thing's shadow reaches twice its length, counted after the shadow at zenith, and its time of necessity until sunset.
Reference: Kashshāf al-Qināʿ — Sharḥ Muntahā al-Irādāt — Al-Inṣāf