How Late Can You Pray Jumu`ah?

How long does Jumu`ah last?

The time for Jumu`ah lasts until the time for `Asr begins, according to the majority of scholars. If the people pray Jumu`ah before the time for `Asr begins, then they have caught up with Jumu`ah. (Al-Majmu`, 4/377-381, Al-Muhalla, 5/42-45) 

It is better to pray Jumu`ah with those who offer the prayer at the beginning of its time , because that is in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). 

Salamah ibn Al-Akwa` (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We used to pray Jumu`ah with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) when the sun passed its zenith . (Narrated by Al-Bukhaari, 4168 and Muslim, 860)  

It is prohibited to delay Jumu`ah until the time for it is over; that is a major sin, because Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed times.” [Al-Nisa’ 4:103] 

“Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have given up the prayers [i.e. made their prayers to be lost, either by not offering them or by not offering them perfectly or by not offering them in their proper fixed times] and have followed lusts. So they will be thrown in Hell.” [Maryam 19:59]

Is it permissible to delay Jumu`ah prayer? 

The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas were asked about people who are studying in the US, and the study program does not allow any time for prayer. The time for Jumu`ah prayer in the US is 1.30 p.m., but they are forced to delay it until 4 p.m. because of the study program. Is it permissible to delay Jumu`ah until this time? 

They replied: 

“It is not permissible to delay the five prayers for which the Wise Lawgiver (Allah) has stipulated specific times. If the delay in prayer is for a reason which will not cause one to miss its prescribed time, then it is permissible to delay it; if it will cause one to miss the time, it is prohibited. If continuing to study means that the prayer will be done outside of the proper time, then it is not permissible for the student to do that, and he must offer the prayer on time. The end of the time for Jumu`ah is the end of the time for Dhuhr, so it is not permissible to delay it under any circumstances.”  (Shaykh `Abd Al-`Aziz ibn `Abdullah ibn Baz, Shaykh `Abd Al-Razzaq `Afifi, Shaykh `Abdullah ibn Qa`ud, Fatawa Al-Lajnah Ad-Da’imah, 8/197) 

To sum up, it is permissible to delay Jumu`ah prayer until close to the time for `Asr, in such a way that it will end before the time for `Asr begins, but if there is more than one Jumu`ah in the town, it is better to pray with those who pray Jumu`ah when the time for it begins. 

And Allah knows best.