Dear respected Shaykh, assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. There is a woman who delays performing the Dhuhr Prayer every day until 2:30 PM without a valid excuse. What is the ruling on that? تأخير المرأة لصلاة الظهر

Praise be to Allah, and may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family and his companions.

Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

As to what follows:

There is no problem in delaying, so long as the prayer time does not expire. The time for the Dhuhr Prayer begins when the sun crosses the celestial meridian until the shade of an object is as long as its length. This is evidenced by numerous narrations of hadiths. The Dhuhr Prayer ends with the entering time of the `Asr Prayer. There is no separation between the times of the Dhuhr and `Asr Prayers. In fact, the time for the Dhuhr Prayer expires the moment the time for the `Asr Prayer enters. This is evidenced by the words of Allah Almighty:

“Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night, and [also] the Qur’an of Fajr. Indeed, the recitation of Fajr is ever witnessed.” [Al-Isra’ 17:78]

Hence, the Dhuhr, `Asr, Maghrib and `Isha’ Prayers, do not have a separator between them. Rather, the time for one ends when the time of the next one comes in. This differs from the Fajr Prayer, as it is separate. Because of this, Allah Almighty says:

“... and [also] the Qur’an of Fajr. Indeed, the recitation of Fajr is ever witnessed.” [Al-Isra’ 17:78]

As its beginning and ending times are separate. And Allah knows best.

Your brother,

Dr. Khalid al-Muslih

5 / 3 / 1434 AH

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They also sought evidence from the hadith narrated by Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Two Eids have coincided on this day of yours. So whoever wants, it (the Eid Prayer) will suffice him, and he will not have to pray the Friday Prayer, but we will pray the Friday Prayer.” [Abu Dawud (1073) and Ibn Majah (1311)]

This hadith is not free from criticism, but it is strengthened by the previous narration. And Allah knows best. 

Your brother,

Dr. Khalid al-Muslih

29 / 9 / 1428 AH