Q: I put before you an incident of an Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer) of a Masjid (mosque) in our district. He combined between the Jumu`ah (Friday) and `Asr (Afternoon) Prayer in the time of the earlier one as there was rain at the time of the Jumu'ah Prayer. Many of the attendees questioned the validity of their Salah and whether they should repeat offering `Asr Prayer. Do Your Eminence see that the congregation should be informed during the next Jumu`ah Prayer that they should repeat offering `Asr Prayer on grounds that the one they offered was invalid? I hope that Your Eminence will consider this issue and provide us with your Fatwa in this regard. May Allah grant you good health, double your reward, and help us and all Muslims benefit from your knowledge! As-salamu `alaykum warahmatullah wabarakatuh (May Allah's Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be upon you!).

A: The way the Imam has acted, combining the `Asr Prayer with Jumu`ah Prayer due to rain is an incorrect Ijtihad (juristic effort to infer expert legal rulings) which has no origin in Shari`ah. But may Allah reward him! Basically, it is impermissible to combine between the Jumu`ah and `Asr Prayers as nothing has been reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him) or his Sahabah (Companions of the Prophet) in this regard, and each of Jumu`ah Prayer and `Asr Prayer are a different sort. Accordingly, both the Imam and Ma`mums (persons led by an Imam in prayer) have to repeat offering `Asr Prayer as they offered it before its time and without any Shar`y (Islamic legal) excuse. (Part No. 7; Page No. 45) They should further be informed of this ruling, and all Imams of other Masjids should likewise be informed of the impermissibility of this action, lest this incorrect Ijtihad be exercised again and cause confusion to the Ma`mums and harm them in their religion by offering Salah before its time which results in repeating it beyond its due time. It is worth mentioning that rain fell in the lifetime of the Prophet (peace be upon him) while he was leading Muslims for Jumu`ah Prayer and he (peace be upon him) did not combine it with `Asr Prayer.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.