Time for Jumu'a Prayer

بســم اللــه الرحمــن الرحيــم

والصلاــة والسلاــم علــى نبيــه الكريــم

وعلــى اهــل بيتــه الطيبيــن الطاهريــن المظلوميــن

والعاقبة للمتقين

One of the errors of the Hanbali madhhab is concerning its allowance for the establishment of the Salat al-Jumu’a (Friday congregational prayers) before the sun passes its zenith, in other words, before noon. The Hanbali madhhab in fact states that the earliest time for the Salat al-Jumu’a is the earliest time for when the Salat al-Eid can be offered (Zad al-Mustaqni p.60):

The reality is that the Friday service is to be established at the time of Zuhr, after the sun has passed its zenith, as narrated by Salama b. al-Akwa^RA:

كُنَّا نُجَمِّعُ مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم إِذَا زَالَتِ الشَّمْسُ ثُمَّ نَرْجِعُ نَتَتَبَّعُ الْفَىْءَ

“We used to observe the Friday prayer with the Messenger of Allah – peace be upon him – when the sun passed the meridian. Then we returned and tried to find our afternoon shade.” (Sahih Muslim)

Anas b. Malik^RA narrated:

أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُصَلِّي الْجُمُعَةَ حِينَ تَمِيلُ الشَّمْسُ

“The Prophet – peace be upon him – used to pray the Jumu’a (prayer) immediately after midday.” (Sahih al-Bukhari #904)

The chapter headings under which both Imams al-Bukhari and Muslim have brought these narrations are also an indication that the Friday prayer service is meant to be established after Zawal, i.e., after the sun has passed its zenith and begun its descent. Tragically, many mosques in the Western world have adapted the weak position of the Hanbali madhhab out of convenience and insincere opportunism and establish the Jumu’a congregational prayers while it is still morning.