❖ The Issue of Zawāl on Friday and the Ruling on Nawāfil ❖
Adapted from: “Ahkām wa Masāʾil fī Ḍawʾ al-Qurʾān wa al-Ḥadīth”, Volume 2
Yes, just like every day, there is Zawāl on Friday. Zawāl refers to when the sun reaches its zenith and begins to decline. According to jurists, once a shadow appears along a mosque’s wall and extends a finger’s breadth beyond, it is then permissible to pray.
➋ Prohibition of Prayer During Zawāl:
The Prophet ﷺ prohibited praying during Zawāl, whether on Friday or any other day.
Hadith - Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (831):
Narrated by ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir (RA), the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Three times are there in which prayer is not allowed:
➌ Claim of Exception on Friday:
Some narrations suggest Friday as an exception to this rule.
Example - Musnad al-Shāfiʿī:
Abū Hurayrah (RA) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Prayer is prohibited at Zawāl, except on Friday.”
Authenticity Analysis:
This narration contains weak narrators like al-Wāqidī and ʿAṭāʾ ibn ʿAjlān, as noted by Imām al-Bayhaqī, and thus cannot be relied upon.
➍ Position of Majority Scholars:
The majority of scholars, based on authentic Hadiths, prohibit Nawāfil during Zawāl, regardless of whether it is Friday or another day. Since the narrations permitting it are weak, and the prohibitory narrations are authentic, acting upon the authentic ones is obligatory.
References:
al-Talkhīṣ al-Ḥabīr, Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ
✔ Zawāl occurs on Friday as on other days.
✔ Nawāfil should be avoided at Zawāl, even on Friday, based on authentic Hadiths.
✔ Narrations allowing such prayer on Friday are weak, and cannot override clear, authentic prohibitions
Adapted from: “Ahkām wa Masāʾil fī Ḍawʾ al-Qurʾān wa al-Ḥadīth”, Volume 2
◈ Question:
Is there a time of Zawāl (solar zenith) on Friday as on other days? If so, until when does it last? Is it permissible to offer Nawāfil (voluntary prayers) during Zawāl on Friday? What is the evidence?❖ Ruling and Explanation
➊ The Time of Zawāl:Yes, just like every day, there is Zawāl on Friday. Zawāl refers to when the sun reaches its zenith and begins to decline. According to jurists, once a shadow appears along a mosque’s wall and extends a finger’s breadth beyond, it is then permissible to pray.
➋ Prohibition of Prayer During Zawāl:
The Prophet ﷺ prohibited praying during Zawāl, whether on Friday or any other day.
Hadith - Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim (831):Narrated by ʿUqbah ibn ʿĀmir (RA), the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Three times are there in which prayer is not allowed:
- When the sun rises until it is fully up.
- When the sun is at its zenith (Zawāl) until it begins to decline.
- When the sun is about to set until it fully sets.”
➌ Claim of Exception on Friday:
Some narrations suggest Friday as an exception to this rule.
Example - Musnad al-Shāfiʿī:Abū Hurayrah (RA) narrates that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Prayer is prohibited at Zawāl, except on Friday.”
Authenticity Analysis:This narration contains weak narrators like al-Wāqidī and ʿAṭāʾ ibn ʿAjlān, as noted by Imām al-Bayhaqī, and thus cannot be relied upon.
➍ Position of Majority Scholars:
The majority of scholars, based on authentic Hadiths, prohibit Nawāfil during Zawāl, regardless of whether it is Friday or another day. Since the narrations permitting it are weak, and the prohibitory narrations are authentic, acting upon the authentic ones is obligatory.
References:al-Talkhīṣ al-Ḥabīr, Mishkāt al-Maṣābīḥ
Conclusion:
✔ Zawāl occurs on Friday as on other days.✔ Nawāfil should be avoided at Zawāl, even on Friday, based on authentic Hadiths.
✔ Narrations allowing such prayer on Friday are weak, and cannot override clear, authentic prohibitions
