What is the ruling on cooling down the noon (Dhuhr) prayer (delaying its performance for a while until it becomes less hot) despite the existence of means of cooling?

Answer

Praise Be to Allah and Peace Be Upon His Messenger.

Referring to your question, performing the prayers at their due time is required as our Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) guided us to do that. He not only calls people to copy him and perform it early, but also considers that one of the best acts. Ibn Mas’ud said: “I asked the prophet which actions is dearest to Allah? He replied: “Prayer at its proper time.” I asked: “What came next? And he replied that it was kindness to parents. I asked what came next? And he replied that it was the Jihad in the Cause of Allah.” He said, that is, Ibn Mas’ud, and if I had asked him for more, he would have told me more. Agreed upon

Um Salama RAA said: “Allah’s Messenger observed the noon prayer much earlier than you.” Related by Tirmidhi.

It is narrated that A’isha RAA said “I had never seen anyone who observed the noon prayer earlier than the messenger of Allah, Abu Bakr and Omar Ibn Al-Khattab.”

What is understood from the above-mentioned hadith is the prophet PBUH used to perform the noon prayer (Dhuhr) at its proper time (very early). It is well-known that temperature in Medina often reaches 40 °C, but cooling down the noon prayer happens when temperature reaches almost 50 °C.

It was mentioned in the Fatwas of the Standing Committee that it is much preferred to cool down the noon prayer f it is too hot; otherwise, it is preferred to hasten to perform it. It is good for you if you follow the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH); for example, to delay the call for the noon prayer if it is too hot, and to call for the prayer early if it is not. This is to let more and more Muslims come to perform the prayer in a congregation as this is what is needed. Gathering is required while disunity is not allowed. Allah says: “And do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength departs.” Al-Anfal: 46. (Abdel-Aziz Ibn Baz)

If all conditions are available to cool down the noon prayer, this must happen after taking the decision from the Ministry of Endowment, and it should not be taken individually so as not to raise any dispute. If such a decision is taken, any means of cooling are not taken into account because roads and many mosques are not cooled.