'Pray when it is gets cooler'

05/12/2013 02:31

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'Pray when it is gets cooler'

Prayer [1]
Date:
Thu, 01/08/2009
Author:
Sheikh Sulaymn al-Mjid, judge at the Riyadh Supreme Court [2]
Hadith:
Ab Dharr relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When the heat of day becomes
intense, wait to pray when it gets cooler, for indeed the severe heat is a gust from Hell."
Short Content:
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When the heat of day becomes intense, wait to pray
when it gets cooler..."
Body:
This is an authentic hadth related in Sahh al-Bukhr and Sahh Muslim. Similar hadth are
related in the same sources from Ab Hurayrah ad Ab Sa`d al-Khudr.
The meaning of the hadth:
This hadth refers to postponing the Noon prayer during the Summer. In the narration of Ab
Sa`d Sahh al-Bukhr (505) it reads "Wait to pray the Noon prayer when it gets cooler..."
As for the time period we should wait until it is "cooler", there is a narration of the hadth from
Ab Dharr related in Sahh al-Bukhr (506) where he says: "He waited after noon until we
saw he shadows of the hills. Then he had the second call for prayer and he offered the
prayer."
The timeframe between the beginning of the Sun's decline from its zenith in the sky until the
shadows of the hills appears is a short period of time. It is fifteen minutes at most.
Its legal implications:
Scholars have differed as to the underlying reason why we are supposed to postpone the
Noon prayer in the Summer time. Is it due to the difficulty imposed by the heat or merely as
an act of ritual worship?
The question has practical relevance. If the delay is prescribed to alleviate difficulty, then the
purpose is a practical one, and the delay should be commensurate to the need. By contrast, if
the purpose of the delay pertains to the ritual manner of offering the prayer, then the delay
should preferably be only as long as prescribed by the texts.
Scholars have expressed three different views on the matter:
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'Pray when it is gets cooler'

05/12/2013 02:31

1. The difficulty the heat imposes upon the worshippers who have to leave their
homes and go to the mosque.
2. The difficulty that the heat imposes upon the worshippers during their prayers.
3. The consideration is purely ritual. It concerns pinpointing the ideal time to offer
the Noon prayer within its total timeframe. The purpose is to refrain from offering
prayers in such heat as reminds us of being in the Hellfire.
It seems to me that the third suggestion is most likely the correct one. This is because the
time period Ab Dharr describes for the delay is so brief. Usually, the heat of the midday Sun
does not abate to any appreciable degree in so short a time.
There is considerable evidence in the Sunnah to support the idea that the reason for the
delay is not to allieviate any inconvenience caused to the worshippers of account of the heat,
but is rather for the sake of the prayer. Consider the following:
1. A narration of the above hadth in Sahh al-Bukhr and Sahh Muslim indicates that the
people involved were on a journey. Therefore, the full force of the midday Sun was already
upon them.
2. Further support can be found in a separate hadth regarding the Noon prayer narrated by
Khabbb, who says: "We complained to the Prophet (peace be upon him) of having to offer
prayers on the hot, sun-baked ground, but he did not make any concession for us." [Sahh
Muslim (982)]
3. Then we have where Jbir b. `Abd Allah says: "The Prophet (peace be upon him) used to
offer the noon prayer in the midday heat." [Sahh al-Bukhr (527) and Sahh Muslim (1023)]
4. We are not supposed to offer prayers at the precise toime the Sun reaches its zenith.
Consider the reason given in the following hadth: Amr b. `Abasah relates that the Prophet
(peace be upon him) said: "When the day reaches its precise midpoint, then leave off prayer,
since this is the hour that Hell heats up." [Sahh Muslim (1374)]
Therefore we conclude:
1. Waiting for the maximum intensity of the heat to subside is for the sake of the prayer, due
to the connection described between this heat and the fire of Hell. This is not a consideration
of comfort.
2. From the short period of time that we wait, we know that what matters is that the heat
decreases a small amount from its maximum intensity on whatever particular day we are in.
3. The time of delay is extremely brief. The fifteen minutes people typically wait after the call
for the Noon prayer is sufficient to put this Sunnah into practice.
4. This Sunnah concerning the time of the Noon prayer is to be observed even by people
staying in closed buildings who are altogether unaffected by changes in the outside
temperature. The Sunnah of postponing the Noon prayer is likewise equally applicable in
summertime in cold climates, like northern Europe.

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5. Also during hot days, this delay applies to the Jumu`ah prayer on Friday as well as the
Noon prayer during the rest of the week. This means that, on a hot day, if the preacher takes
the option of starting the Friday sermon before noon and offering the Jumu`ah prayer right
after the Sun begins to decline from its zenith, he is neglecting this particular Sunnah of
waiting until it gets cooler. He should preferably make sure to wait at least 15 minutes after
the Sun begins its decline before offering the Jumu`ah prayer in order to uphold this Sunnah
6. The Summertime in the locality is what matters. For instance, in January it is winter in
Europe and Arabia but Summer in Australia and South Africa. Therefore, the Sunnah of
waiting will apply in Australia and South Africa in the month of January, but not in Europe or
Arabia.
7. This Sunnah only applies in the season of Summer, when the region experiences its
hottest noontime temperatures. The Prophet (peace be upon him) would offer the Noon
prayer closer to its earliest time in the winter and postpone it a bit in the Summer. Anas
relates: "When it became very cold, he used to perform prayer earlier, and when it became
extremely hot, he used to delay the prayer until it became cooler." [Sahh al-Bukhr (855)]
And Allah knows best.
Image:

Prayer
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Links:
[1] http://en.islamtoday.net/artlist-12-378.htm
[2] http://en.islamtoday.net/author-356.htm

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