Muslim

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues: There is much disagreement regarding the "hour" (sa‘ah) of Friday. Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah has transmitted more than forty opinions. However, the two most authentic views are those which are established from hadith. It is established from the narration of Abu Musa al-Ash‘ari radi Allahu anhu that this hour is from the time the imam sits on the pulpit until the end of the prayer. And from the narrations of various Companions radi Allahu anhum in Musnad Ahmad and the Sunan, it is understood that this hour is after ‘Asr. Therefore, some have given preference to the narration of Sahih Muslim, and according to the majority, this hour is after ‘Asr. Hafiz Ibn al-Qayyim rahimahullah, based on evidences, has given preference to the hour after ‘Asr, but he has written that the gathering of people, their prayer, their humility and supplication before Allah, and their earnest pleading are also included in the acceptance of supplication.

Therefore, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam encouraged his ummah to supplicate and earnestly plead before Allah during both these times, and instilled eagerness and readiness for it. However, both these times are such that a person cannot perform prayer (salah) in them. Therefore, for the phrase "qā’imun yusalli" (standing, he is praying), there is a need for interpretation. Either it must be understood that "standing" means persistence and regularity, and "prayer" (salat) means supplication (du‘a), that he is persistent and regular in supplication, or it means he is waiting for the prayer, that he is awaiting the prayer.

As in the narration of Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu anhu, I asked Abdullah bin Salam radi Allahu anhu about this hour, and he replied that it is the last hour of Friday. I objected: (wa tilka as-sa‘atu la yusalla fiha) — "In that hour, prayer is not performed." He replied: "Did not the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam say that whoever sits waiting for the prayer (fa huwa fi salatin) — he is in prayer?" So I said, "Yes." He said, "That is the matter." And in the narration of Ibn Majah, it is mentioned that this question was asked by Abdullah bin Salam radi Allahu anhu to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and he gave him this answer.

In summary, this hour is indeed after ‘Asr, but what is required is to supplicate at both times. And from this, it is also established that supplicating during the sermon (khutbah) is not contrary to listening attentively and remaining silent. (Because according to ‘Allamah Shami, this hour is from the time the imam sits on the pulpit until the completion of the prayer) (Sharh Sahih Muslim, ‘Allamah Sa‘idi, vol. 2, p. 648)

1049. Commentary:
One way to reconcile and harmonize the various narrations is that the "hour" (saa‘at) keeps shifting to different times.