As Salamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu, I live in a city where there is much fitnah and I'm not about to find a job. There is a smaller city about an hour away that has a good community but they do not pray Salatul Jum'ah at the correct time (they pray before the time of Salatul Thuhr). Is it haram for me to move to this city since there would be no way of attending Salatul Jum'ah?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

A Muslim is required to avoid the reasons of temptation, so we advise you to move to the other city where you will be able to preserve your religion.

As regards the Friday prayer, the scholars differed in opinion about its time. The majority of them are of the opinion that its time begins when the sun is at its meridian, just like the Thuhr prayer. However, some other scholars are of the view that its time starts before the time of Thuhr. The most preponderant opinion is the first opinion, but the second opinion is also a considerable opinion and if a person acts according to it he is not sinful; for more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 84549.

It should be noted that residing in a non-Muslim country exposes a person to the reasons of temptation in general. Therefore, if a Muslim has no dire need for residing there, he should migrate to a Muslim country where he may be able to preserve his religion; for more benefit, please refer to Fatwa 86405.

Allaah Knows best.