Also, he asks: Is it permissible for me to pray two units of the recommended practice before the imam enters the pulpit? Some scholars said it is permissible, and others said it is not permissible. Please inform us.
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The questioner : Also, he asks: Is it permissible for me to pray two units of the sunnah (recommended practice) before the imam enters the pulpit? Some scholars said it is permissible, and others said it is not permissible. Please inform us, and may Allah guide you?
The Shaykh : It is understood from this question that he means before the imam arrives on Friday.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : We say that if it is for a reason, such as a man who entered the mosque before the imam arrived, he should not sit until he prays two units. However, if it is for no reason, such as a person who came early and then, as the imam’s arrival neared, he stood up to pray, then this issue, as the questioner said, has scholarly disagreement among the people of knowledge. Some say that on Friday, one is not prohibited from praying before the sun reaches its zenith. Some scholars say that one is prohibited because the hadiths reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding this are general, and the exception of Friday from them is weak. However, some people of knowledge affirmed the permissibility by stating that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to pray until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is an affirmation during the time of revelation, and affirmation during the time of revelation is a proof, as is well known to the people of knowledge. Therefore, the most cautious course is that a person should not stand up to pray before the sun reaches its zenith on Friday, except as I mentioned first: if he has entered the mosque, he should not sit until he prays two units.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : On this occasion, I say: If a person enters on Friday while the mu'adhdhin (the one who calls to prayer) is calling to prayer, is it better to respond to the mu'adhdhin and then pray the greeting of the mosque? That is, does he stand until he responds to the mu'adhdhin and then pray the greeting of the mosque? Or is it better to pray the greeting of the mosque and respond to the mu'adhdhin either during the prayer, as has been said, or after finishing the prayer? The closest view is this: If you enter while the mu'adhdhin is calling to prayer on Friday, specifically the second call which occurs after the preacher arrives, you should pray the two units of the greeting of the mosque so that you are free to listen to the sermon. This is because listening to the sermon is obligatory, and freeing oneself for an obligatory act is better than freeing oneself for a recommended act. Responding to the mu'adhdhin is recommended, not obligatory, according to the correct view. As for listening to the sermon, it is obligatory. Therefore, we say: Pray the two units so that you can listen to the sermon. Yes.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : It is understood from this question that he means before the imam arrives on Friday.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : We say that if it is for a reason, such as a man who entered the mosque before the imam arrived, he should not sit until he prays two units. However, if it is for no reason, such as a person who came early and then, as the imam’s arrival neared, he stood up to pray, then this issue, as the questioner said, has scholarly disagreement among the people of knowledge. Some say that on Friday, one is not prohibited from praying before the sun reaches its zenith. Some scholars say that one is prohibited because the hadiths reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding this are general, and the exception of Friday from them is weak. However, some people of knowledge affirmed the permissibility by stating that the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) used to pray until the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) arrived.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : This is an affirmation during the time of revelation, and affirmation during the time of revelation is a proof, as is well known to the people of knowledge. Therefore, the most cautious course is that a person should not stand up to pray before the sun reaches its zenith on Friday, except as I mentioned first: if he has entered the mosque, he should not sit until he prays two units.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : On this occasion, I say: If a person enters on Friday while the mu'adhdhin (the one who calls to prayer) is calling to prayer, is it better to respond to the mu'adhdhin and then pray the greeting of the mosque? That is, does he stand until he responds to the mu'adhdhin and then pray the greeting of the mosque? Or is it better to pray the greeting of the mosque and respond to the mu'adhdhin either during the prayer, as has been said, or after finishing the prayer? The closest view is this: If you enter while the mu'adhdhin is calling to prayer on Friday, specifically the second call which occurs after the preacher arrives, you should pray the two units of the greeting of the mosque so that you are free to listen to the sermon. This is because listening to the sermon is obligatory, and freeing oneself for an obligatory act is better than freeing oneself for a recommended act. Responding to the mu'adhdhin is recommended, not obligatory, according to the correct view. As for listening to the sermon, it is obligatory. Therefore, we say: Pray the two units so that you can listen to the sermon. Yes.
The questioner : Yes.