(210) Chapter: The Excellence of Friday Prayer

Abu Burdah bin Abu Musa Al-Ash'ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
'Abdullah bin 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) said to me: "Did you hear your father narrating something from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) about the special moment during Friday?" I said: "Yes, I heard him report from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ): 'It occurs between the time when the Imam sits down (on the pulpit after the first Khutbah) and the time Salat is over."'

[Muslim].

Commentary: There is a difference of opinion among `Ulama' in respect of this moment. Some `Ulama' prefer the version given in this Hadith, that is, this moment could be any time in the period from the time the Imam sits down after the first Khutbah and the end of Salat-ul-Jumu`ah. But Sheikh Al-Albani has regarded this Hadith as "Mauquf'' (its chain of narrators does not reach up to the Prophet (PBUH)) (See Riyadh-us-Saliheen edited by Sheikh AlAlbani). For this reason other `Ulama' have inclined to a Marfu` Hadith (i.e., its chain of narrators reaches up to the Prophet (PBUH)) and urged to find this moment in the last hour of `Asr before the Maghrib.