His statement: “Its beginning is the beginning of the time for the Eid Prayer.” This is a cross-reference to something unavailable, for the student of knowledge who begins the book and proceeds through it does not know the time of the Eid Prayer, since the chapter on the two Eid Prayers comes after the chapter on the Friday Prayer. Thus, it is a cross-reference to something unavailable.

If we say that the chapters on acts of worship are to be regarded as a single unit, then it is a cross-reference to something available, because the beginning and end of the acts of worship are one whole.

In any case, what an author ought to do is refer only to something already known; he should not refer to something that has not yet come.

In any case, the beginning of the time for the Friday Prayer is after the sun has risen to the height of a spear—that is, approximately the length of a spear. A spear is roughly one metre long, so we may perform it once the sun has risen by the height of a spear.

If someone were to ask: Why is the time specified as beginning after the sun has risen to the height of a spear, rather than from the moment it rises?

The answer is that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him—the truthful one whose truthfulness was affirmed—said: “The sun rises between the two horns of Satan—that is, Satan literally accompanies it—and when the polytheists see it, they prostrate.” (1) Satan then trembles with delight and says, “They have prostrated to me,” even though they are prostrating only to the sun. Yet in reality, when they prostrate to the sun, they have obeyed Satan. Therefore, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, prohibited prayer at the time of sunrise until it has risen to the height of a spear, which is approximately ten to fifteen minutes. During this period, the polytheists’ prostration to the sun