I say, and with God's success: It is not valid if the funeral is attended before this time; because it has become obligatory in full, and cannot be performed with less. It was narrated by Uqbah ibn Amir Al-Juhani, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "There are three times when the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, forbade us to pray or to bury our dead: when the sun rises until it is fully up, when the sun is at its zenith until it tilts, and when the sun begins to set until it has set." This is found in Sahih Muslim 1: 568, Musnad Al-Mustakhraj 2: 424, Sahih Ibn Hibban 3: 348, Sunan Al-Tirmidhi 3: 348, and Sunan Abu Dawood 3: 208. And from Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, he said: "There were men who were pleasing to me, and the most pleasing among them to me was Umar, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, forbade praying after dawn until the sun rises, and after Asr until the sun sets." This is found in Sahih Al-Bukhari 1: 211. As for if it is attended at this time, it is permissible without dislike; because it is performed as it should be; since the obligation is in attendance, which is better, and delaying it is disliked. It was narrated by Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Do not delay the funeral when it arrives." This is found in Sunan Ibn Majah 1: 476, and Sunan Al-Tirmidhi 3: 387, and he said: It is strange, and I do not see its chain of narration as connected. See: Al-Wiqayah p. 137, and Tabyin Al-Haqaiq 1: 85, and Allah knows best.