❀ Time for Zuhr and Jumu‘ah Prayer & Duration of Friday Sermon
✿ Sourced from: Aḥkām wa Masā’il, Volume 1, Page 237
❖ Question
What is the correct time for Zuhr and Jumu‘ah prayers these days? And what is the Shar‘i ruling regarding the length of the Friday khutbah?
✦ Correct Time for Zuhr and Jumu‘ah Prayers
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, Ammā ba‘d!
The correct time for both Zuhr and Jumu‘ah prayers begins after the sun passes its zenith (Zawāl ash-Shams).
✔ This timing continues until the shadow cast after zawāl becomes equal to the object’s length (excluding the shadow at zawāl).
✦ Structure and Content of the Friday Khutbah
The Friday Khutbah delivered by the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was composed of the following:
➊ He ﷺ used to deliver two khutbahs.
➋ He ﷺ would sit between the two khutbahs.
➌ The khutbahs included:
– Recitation of the Qur’an
– Admonition (maw‘iẓah) and reminders (tadhkīr)
– Supplications (du‘ā’)
➍ They always began with praise of Allah (ḥamd wa thanā’).
✦ Qur’anic Recitation in the Khutbah
According to Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, in the Book of Jumu‘ah, the following is reported:
“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to recite Sūrah Qāf وَالْقُرْآنِ الْمَجِيدِ in the Friday khutbah.”
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jumu‘ah)
This narration reflects that the khutbahs of the Prophet ﷺ were brief, yet comprehensive and purposeful.
✦ Duration of the Friday Khutbah
There is no explicit Shar‘i limit in minutes for the khutbah. However, the general principle was outlined by the Prophet ﷺ:
“إِنَّ طُوْلَ صَلٰوةِ الرَّجُلِ وَقِصَرَ خُطْبَتِه مَئِنَّةٌ مِنْ فِقْهِه“
“The lengthening of a man’s prayer and the shortening of his khutbah are signs of his understanding (fiqh).”
[Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, Kitāb al-Jumu‘ah, Bāb Takhfīf aṣ-Ṣalāh wa al-Khuṭbah]
✔ Summary & Ruling
❖ The time for both Zuhr and Jumu‘ah begins after the sun passes its zenith and continues until the shadow equals the object’s length after zawāl.
❖ The Friday khutbah should be short yet meaningful, containing Qur’anic recitation, praise of Allah, reminders, and supplications.
❖ The khutbah’s duration is not defined in minutes, but brevity with depth is encouraged in line with the Sunnah.
ھذا ما عندي، والله أعلم بالصواب
