Fatwaa ID: 1772

Question:
Assalam Alaikum, Respected Mufti

I had a question regarding start of Jummah Prayer as I am a Muslim Student Association President at my University and recently this topic became center of debate causing problems.

We live in New York City, where Zhuhr Time is 12:51PM as of today. Zawal Time: 12:12PM to 12:50PM.

University classes end at 12PM For Graduate Classes and they restart at 1PM. On Friday, it is obligatory to pray Jummah.

Is it Okay to Pray Jummah Before Zawaal Time since there are classes right after the end of zawaal time. Missing Classes would mean getting behind on courses materials and put much stress later on the student. It would be ideal to pray during Zawaal since it is impractical for student to get to the musalla on campus within 5 minutes of the end of class but ofcourse the question of permissibility remains.

Otherwise if before Zawaal and during zawaal, Jummah is not permissible, Jummah will Not be held as students will be return to classes after.

We have already tried to get classes times moves or delayed but the university has not moved class times. We have made every effort to engage university administration on such topics, but nothing has been done by administration.

What is the best course of action?

Answer:
In the Name of Allaah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salaamu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullaahi wa-barakaatuh.

We take note of the details of your query. We pray that Allaah Ta’aala makes it easy for you and all the students.

Salaah must be performed in its respective time. Performing salaah before its time will not be permissible nor sufficient. It will render the fardh invalid. This includes Jumu’ah Salaah. This is the mainstream position of the legal schools. Jumu’ah before its time is invalid.

In the enquired situation, the students must give preference to their Deen. They must take out time to pray the Jumu’ah Salaah, even if that means that they will miss class. They cannot conduct Jumu’ah before its time nor can they miss the Jumu’ah. Other than that being disobedience to Allaah Ta’aala, it will be a means of regret and remorse for them in their education and perhaps even after. On the contrary, being steadfast upon the Deen will bring about barakah in the studies.

The students should continue demanding accommodation from the administration. The more students reach out, the greater the impact. Make du’aa to Allaah Ta’aala every day, begging Him for His divine assistance. Everything in His Hand. Everything is in His control. However, you have to show Him your earnest concern and effort.

The time of Zuhr/Jumu’ah in NYC today is 12:49 pm. ‘Asr is at 4:13 pm according to the mainstream position and 5:06 pm according to the later Hanafi position. You must perform your Jumu’ah between the Zuhr and ‘Asr times. It may not be performed before or after this time frame. Jumu’ah khutbah or salaah does not have to be long. The khutbah and the salaah together may be done in 7-9 minutes or even less. I am sure the students can catch up if they miss this much from classes. They may also request their classmates to record for them.

It should be noted that Zuhr Salaah on other days is also fardh. The students must make every endeavor to pray this on time as well as in congregation.

And Allaah Ta’aala knows best.
Mufti Muajul I. Chowdhury
Darul Iftaa New York
https://askthemufti.us/

03/07/1445 AH – 09/23/2023 CE | AMG3-4151

وصل اللهم وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى ءاله وصحبه أجمعين

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