Al-Shāfi‘ī, may Allah have mercy on him, said (1): “People customarily go early to Friday prayer and pray until the imam comes out.” Al-Bayhaqī said (2): “What al-Shāfi‘ī referred to is found in authentic hadiths: the Prophet (3), may Allah bless him and grant him peace, encouraged going early to Friday prayer and praying until the imam comes out, without exception. This accords with these hadiths permitting prayer at midday on Friday. Reports permitting this have also been transmitted to us from Tāwūs (4), al-Hasan, and Makhūl (5).”

I say: There are three views concerning whether prayer at midday is disliked:

The first is that it is never a time when prayer is disliked. This is Mālik’s view (6).

The second is that it is a time when prayer is disliked, whether on Friday or any other day. This is Abū Hanīfah’s view (7) and the well-known position of Ahmad’s school (8).

The third is that it is a time when prayer is disliked except on Friday, when prayer at that time is not disliked. This is