that as a prohibited time. Indeed, it has even been held within his school that the Friday prayer is permissible only at that time—the very time at which prayer is otherwise prohibited. Thus, the distinction between Friday and other days is clear. Delaying prayer until it becomes cooler, which is prescribed on other days, is not prescribed on Friday; rather, it is prohibited. The reason given for this delay is that intense heat comes from the scorching breath of Hell. Likewise, the reason given for the prohibition of prayer at midday is that Hell is then stoked. This is of the same nature as his statement:

“For intense heat comes from the scorching breath of Hell.”

If the former rationale applies only to days other than Friday, the latter does likewise. According to what this rationale entails, prayer at the zenith is not prohibited in winter or on Friday. This is supported by the report in the Sunan collections concerning the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace:

“He forbade prayer at midday except on Friday.”

This report carries greater weight than the evidence they adduced to argue that the prohibition concerning Fajr is tied to the time itself. And Allah knows best.

Shaykh al-Islām said:

All praise is due to Allah. We seek His help and forgiveness, and we seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and from our evil deeds. Whomever Allah guides, none can lead astray; and whomever He leads astray, none can guide. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone, with no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May Allah bless him and his family and grant them abundant peace.