2/230. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1083 — Prayer at Meridian on Friday
Praying The Friday Prayer Before The Sun Reaches Its Zenith
Hadith About Prayer at Meridian Except on Friday
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1083
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1083
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى، حَدَّثَنَا حَسَّانُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، عَنْ لَيْثٍ، عَنْ مُجَاهِدٍ، عَنْ أَبِي الْخَلِيلِ، عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ كَرِهَ الصَّلاَةَ نِصْفَ النَّهَارِ إِلاَّ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَقَالَ " إِنَّ جَهَنَّمَ تُسْجَرُ إِلاَّ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ " . قَالَ أَبُو دَاوُدَ هُوَ مُرْسَلٌ مُجَاهِدٌ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ أَبِي الْخَلِيلِ وَأَبُو الْخَلِيلِ لَمْ يَسْمَعْ مِنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ .
Abu Qatadah Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) disapproved of the offering of prayer at the meridian except on Friday. The Hell-fire is kindled except on Friday. Abu Dawud said: This is a mursal tradition (i.e. the successor is narrating it directly from the Prophet). Mujahid is older than Abu al-Khalil, and Abu al-Khalil did not hear (any tradition from) Abu Qatadah.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1083In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 694English translation : Book 3, Hadith 1078
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1083
This Hadith speaks about offering prayer at the meridian, meaning the middle part of the day when the sun is at its height. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم is reported to have disliked prayer at that time except on Friday. The narration also mentions that Hell-fire is kindled except on Friday. The text includes Abu Dawud's note about the chain, saying it is mursal and explaining the hearing issue between narrators. So the safest explanation stays close to the wording: this report connects Friday with a special exception from the usual disliked time. It is mainly searched as a hadith about prayer at meridian, zawal time prayer, and Friday prayer time.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Hadith mentions a disliked time for prayer at midday, with Friday named as an exception.
- Abu Dawud included a note about the chain, so the narration should be read with care.
- Friday is treated distinctly in this report.
- Hadith study includes both the wording and the condition of the narration.
