The Time of the Friday Prayer: A Jurisprudential and Hadith Study

Abstract

Scholars have differed regarding the prescribed time of the Friday prayer (Jumu'ah). The majority of scholars, including the Hanafis, Malikis, Shafiʿis, and Zahiris, maintain that its prescribed time is the same as that of the Dhuhr prayer, beginning when the sun passes its zenith (zawāl) and ending with the commencement of the ʿAsr prayer. The Malikis further hold that the time of the Friday prayer extends until sunset, considering it to have a period of necessity (waqt al-ḍarūrah), similar to that of the Dhuhr prayer.The Hanbalis, however, maintain that the Friday prayer has two valid times. The first corresponds to the view of the majority, namely, performing the prayer after the sun has passed its zenith. This is regarded by the Hanbalis as the preferred time and is the practice currently observed in their mosques. The second permits the performance of the Friday prayer before the sun reaches its zenith. This opinion was also adopted by the later scholar Mohammed ibn Ali al-Shawkani and the contemporary scholar Mohammed Nasir al-Din al-Albani.After presenting and critically examining the evidence advanced by both positions, this study concludes that the opinion of the majority—namely, that the Friday prayer should be performed after the sun has passed its zenith—is the stronger view. This conclusion is based on the greater authenticity and strength of the evidence supporting this opinion, both in terms of its transmission and legal reasoning, as well as the relative weakness of the evidence cited by those who permit the performance of the Friday prayer before the sun reaches its zenith.