Fatwa ID: 04073

Answered by: Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Question

Can you pray the Jumua prayer before zawal time or before Zuhr pray time. One of the imam in Oklahoma city Islamic School saying that Jumua prayer is different than Zuhr prayer, so can be prayed before zawal time. Please help us to guide us in this issue

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيْم

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer

According to Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal (RA), jumua salah begins before zawal, whereas the other Imams, including Imam Abu Hanifa (RA) say that it begins after zawal. (Dars Tirmizi p.276 v.2)

Zawal means the time when the Sun moves away from its peak and this is when Zuhr time starts. Istiwa is when the Sun is at its highest peak at noon and that is when to read salah is impermissible.   (Raddul Muhtar p.31 v.2)

To calculate ‘Istiwa’, it is half of the time between Sunrise and Sunset.  The time when the Sun is at its peak, is for a momentary period; therefore it is difficult to pinpoint the exact moment. Hence, the jurists out of caution have said five minutes before and five minutes after ‘Istiwa’ time one should refrain from reading any salah.   (Aapke Masaail p.144 v.2)

In the aforementioned situation, try advising the Imam that, as there may be followers from other Schools of Thoughts and Madhabs, it will be best to pray the Salah after zawal and not before.

Only Allah Knows Best

Written by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham