✿ Zawāl on Friday and the Ruling on Offering Nawāfil ✿
✍ Fatwa by: Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakīl Nāṣir ḥafiẓahullāh & Researcher Dāwūd Ismāʿīl ḥafiẓahullāh
Is the time of zawāl (zenith) considered on Friday?
Yes, zawāl does occur on Friday, as it does on other days.
However, its consideration (as a prohibited time for prayer) is not applied on Fridays, similar to how zawāl is not considered in Masjid al-Ḥarām (the Sacred Mosque) throughout the year and at any hour.
➤ Thus, in regular mosques as well, zawāl is not considered on Fridays, meaning one may perform Nawāfil even during this time.
Narrated by Sayyidunā Salmān al-Fārsī رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"لَا يَغْتَسِلُ رَجُلٌ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ... ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي مَا كُتِبَ لَهُ، ثُمَّ يُنْصِتُ إِذَا تَكَلَّمَ الْإِمَامُ، إِلَّا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجُمُعَةِ الْأُخْرَى."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 883]
“Whoever performs ghusl on Friday, cleanses himself as much as he can, uses oil or applies perfume from his house, then sets out for the Friday prayer and does not separate two people (while entering), then offers Nawāfil as much as he is able to, and remains silent when the Imām begins the khuṭbah — his sins between that Friday and the next will be forgiven.”
From this authentic narration, it is clear that:
✔ Offering Nawāfil on Friday before the khuṭbah is not only permissible, but also virtuous.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ encouraged praying as many voluntary prayers as one is able, without any restriction of zawāl.
It is narrated from some of the pious predecessors (salaf) that they would perform up to 34 rakʿāt of Nawāfil on Friday, indicating:
➤ Their great emphasis on voluntary prayers before Jumuʿah.
➤ Their disregard of zawāl restriction specifically for this blessed day.
➤ Zawāl does occur on Friday, but it is not a time during which prayers are prohibited.
➤ One may offer Nawāfil at any time before Jumuʿah, even if it coincides with zawāl.
➤ This practice is based on authentic Sunnah and was followed by our early scholars and righteous predecessors.
✍ Fatwa by: Shaykh ʿAbd al-Wakīl Nāṣir ḥafiẓahullāh & Researcher Dāwūd Ismāʿīl ḥafiẓahullāh
❖ Question:
Is the time of zawāl (zenith) considered on Friday?
✔ Answer:
Yes, zawāl does occur on Friday, as it does on other days.
However, its consideration (as a prohibited time for prayer) is not applied on Fridays, similar to how zawāl is not considered in Masjid al-Ḥarām (the Sacred Mosque) throughout the year and at any hour.
➤ Thus, in regular mosques as well, zawāl is not considered on Fridays, meaning one may perform Nawāfil even during this time.
❖ Supporting Hadith: Encouragement of Nawāfil Before Friday Sermon
Narrated by Sayyidunā Salmān al-Fārsī رضي الله عنه, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"لَا يَغْتَسِلُ رَجُلٌ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ... ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي مَا كُتِبَ لَهُ، ثُمَّ يُنْصِتُ إِذَا تَكَلَّمَ الْإِمَامُ، إِلَّا غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجُمُعَةِ الْأُخْرَى."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 883]
“Whoever performs ghusl on Friday, cleanses himself as much as he can, uses oil or applies perfume from his house, then sets out for the Friday prayer and does not separate two people (while entering), then offers Nawāfil as much as he is able to, and remains silent when the Imām begins the khuṭbah — his sins between that Friday and the next will be forgiven.”
❖ Clarification of the Ruling:
From this authentic narration, it is clear that:
✔ Offering Nawāfil on Friday before the khuṭbah is not only permissible, but also virtuous.
✔ The Prophet ﷺ encouraged praying as many voluntary prayers as one is able, without any restriction of zawāl.
❖ Practice of the Salaf:
It is narrated from some of the pious predecessors (salaf) that they would perform up to 34 rakʿāt of Nawāfil on Friday, indicating:
➤ Their great emphasis on voluntary prayers before Jumuʿah.
➤ Their disregard of zawāl restriction specifically for this blessed day.
✔ Summary:
➤ Zawāl does occur on Friday, but it is not a time during which prayers are prohibited.
➤ One may offer Nawāfil at any time before Jumuʿah, even if it coincides with zawāl.
➤ This practice is based on authentic Sunnah and was followed by our early scholars and righteous predecessors.
