Is it permissible to delay the Dhuhr prayer by three hours from the time of the Adhan, so that it is performed at 4:00 PM, under the pretext of cooling the mosque, knowing that the mosques are close and air-conditioned, the temperature does not exceed 34 degrees Celsius, and this measure is only practiced in this town?

The preferable and original practice for Dhuhr prayer is to hasten it at the beginning of its time, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Rightly Guided Caliphs used to do. It is desirable to delay it (al-Ibrad) during extreme heat, which is close to 45 degrees Celsius or more, and not merely when the temperature rises to forty degrees, because the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions used to pray Dhuhr at the beginning of its time on most summer days despite the high temperatures.

Al-Ibrad should not be a cause for discord, or for contradicting the apparent guidance of Muslims, or for stirring up problems in mosques, especially since many of the reasons that previously called for al-Ibrad (such as walking long distances under the scorching sun and the absence of air conditioning) have now disappeared.

The Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta' has issued a fatwa (definition) stating that al-Ibrad is specific only to intense heat; otherwise, the original principle of hastening the prayer remains. Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen affirmed that performing Dhuhr prayer early is better when there is no intense heat. Sheikh Ibn Jibreen explained that there is no need for al-Ibrad in current times due to the presence of air conditioning. Jurists also hold that al-Ibrad is specific to hot countries and to congregations who travel a long distance to the mosque under the sun.