As for others such as women, children, and travelers, this does not apply to them. Ibn Abi Musa mentioned two reports regarding those who are not addressed by the ruling. The correct [opinion] is what we have mentioned, for Allah the Almighty only forbade selling to those He commanded to proceed [to the mosque]. Therefore, the prohibition does not encompass those who are not addressed by the command to proceed. Furthermore, the prohibition of selling is premised on the occupation that occurs from it, distracting one from the Friday prayer, and this is absent in their case. If the traveler is outside the city, or if a person resides in a village where there is no Friday prayer for its people, selling is not forbidden according to a single unanimous opinion, [and it is not disliked] (6). If one of the two parties in the transaction is addressed by the ruling and the other is not, it is forbidden for the one addressed, and it is disliked for the other because it constitutes assistance in sin. It is also possible that it is forbidden [for the latter] as well, due to His saying, the Almighty: {And do not cooperate in sin and aggression} (7).

Section: Contracts other than selling are not forbidden, such as leasing, settlement, and marriage. It is said: They are forbidden, because they are contracts of exchange, resembling a sale. Our position is that the prohibition is specific to selling, and others are not equal to it in terms of distracting [one] from proceeding, due to their less frequent occurrence; therefore, drawing an analogy between them and a sale is not valid.

Section: There are two times for proceeding to the Friday prayer: a time of obligation and a time of excellence. As for the time of obligation, it is what we have mentioned. As for the time of excellence, it is from the beginning of the day, so the earlier one is, the more preferable and virtuous it is. This is the school of Al-Awza'i, Al-Shafi'i, Ibn al-Mundhir, and the scholars of opinion [Ahl al-Ra'y]. Malik said: Proceeding early before the sun passes the meridian is not recommended, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): "Whoever goes [rawaha] to the Friday prayer" (8). "Rawah" [going] is after the meridian, and "Ghudu" [going] is before it. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "A morning [ghudwah] in the path of Allah or an evening [rawhah] is better than the world and what is in it" (9). It is said: I went in the evening [tarawwahtu].