Some preachers enter the mosque and begin the sermon before the sun reaches its zenith. What is the ruling?
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The questioner : Some preachers, may the Shaykh be respected, enter the mosque on Friday when the midday call to prayer is made at, for example, eleven fifty-five. They enter at, for example, eleven forty. What is the ruling in that case, whether they have prayed or the sermon is a quarter of an hour, ten minutes, or more?
The Shaykh : Do you mean they enter the mosque and sit down?
The questioner : No, he begins the sermon.
The Shaykh : Do you mean he preaches before the time has entered?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This issue, namely beginning the sermon and the prayer on Friday before the sun reaches its zenith, is a matter of scholarly disagreement among the scholars. Some said: It is not permissible until the sun has passed its zenith. Others said: It is permissible. The correct view is that it is permissible before the zenith by an hour, half an hour, or something close to that. However, the better course is after the zenith, even according to those who say it is permissible to advance it by an hour or the like. This is because if the mu'adhdhin calls and those in the houses hear it, they may hasten and pray the midday prayer, which would lead to excessive uncertainty for the people. Furthermore, the passing of the sun from its zenith is, by consensus, a condition for performing the Friday prayer in the most preferred manner. However, some scholars permitted advancing it before the zenith, while others did not permit it. But they agreed that delaying it until the sun passes its zenith is better.
The questioner : Do you mean if he prays before?
The Shaykh : According to the opinion that permits it before the zenith, if he prays before the zenith, there is nothing wrong with it, but it must be a short time.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.
The Shaykh : Do you mean they enter the mosque and sit down?
The questioner : No, he begins the sermon.
The Shaykh : Do you mean he preaches before the time has entered?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This issue, namely beginning the sermon and the prayer on Friday before the sun reaches its zenith, is a matter of scholarly disagreement among the scholars. Some said: It is not permissible until the sun has passed its zenith. Others said: It is permissible. The correct view is that it is permissible before the zenith by an hour, half an hour, or something close to that. However, the better course is after the zenith, even according to those who say it is permissible to advance it by an hour or the like. This is because if the mu'adhdhin calls and those in the houses hear it, they may hasten and pray the midday prayer, which would lead to excessive uncertainty for the people. Furthermore, the passing of the sun from its zenith is, by consensus, a condition for performing the Friday prayer in the most preferred manner. However, some scholars permitted advancing it before the zenith, while others did not permit it. But they agreed that delaying it until the sun passes its zenith is better.
The questioner : Do you mean if he prays before?
The Shaykh : According to the opinion that permits it before the zenith, if he prays before the zenith, there is nothing wrong with it, but it must be a short time.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good, O Shaykh.