Can I Pray on Fridays When the Sun Is at Its Zenith?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam

Question: Assalam alaykum

Can I pray on Fridays when the sun is at its zenith?

Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,

It is impermissible to pray whilst the sun is at its zenith (zawal). The same ruling applies to Fridays.

‘Uqba ibn ‘Amir (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “There are three times the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) forbade us from praying in: during sunrise until the sun rises, when the sun is at its highest point in the sky until it moves, and when sunset begins until the sun sets.” [Muslim]

However, it is permissible to pray without dislike from after sunrise until the sun reaches the highest point in the sky.

Please also see: Prohibited times for Prayers and Makeup Prayers

And Allah Most High knows best.

wassalam,

[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Tabraze Azam holds a BSc in Computer Science from the University of Leicester, where he also served as the President of the Islamic Society. He memorised the entire Qur’an in his hometown of Ipswich at the tender age of sixteen, and has since studied the Islamic Sciences in traditional settings in the UK, Jordan and Turkey. He is currently pursuing advanced studies in Jordan, where he is presently based with his family.