the hour on Friday when a believing servant’s supplication is answered. He told her, “When the sun has moved (1) just past its meridian (2). If you ask me (3) again, you are divorced!”
Those who hold this view also cited the wording in Abū Hurayrah’s hadith, “while he is standing in prayer.” There is no prayer at that time after ‘Asr, and adhering to the apparent meaning of the hadith is preferable.
Abū ‘Umar said (4): Those who hold this view also cite the hadith narrated by ‘Alī from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), who said, “When the sun passes its meridian, the shadows lengthen, and the winds blow, ask Allah to fulfil your needs, for this is the hour of those who turn to Him.” He then recited:
“Indeed, He is ever Forgiving to those who repeatedly turn to Him.” [al-Isrā’: 25]
Sa‘īd ibn Jubayr narrated that Ibn ‘Abbās said: The hour mentioned on Friday is between the ‘Asr prayer and sunset. After praying ‘Asr, Sa‘īd ibn Jubayr would not speak to anyone until the sun had set (5).
This is the view held by most of the early generations, and most of the hadiths support it. Next comes the view that it is the time of prayer. The remaining views have no evidence to support them. In my view, the time of prayer