I say, and with Allah'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 a deficiency. For, from `Uqbah ibn `Amir al-Juhani, may Allah be pleased with him, he 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 elevated, when the sun is at its zenith until it tilts, and when the sun is about to set until it sets." This is 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 both of them, he said: "There were men present with me who were pleasing, and the most pleasing among them to me was `Umar, that the Prophet, peace be upon him, forbade praying after the dawn until the sun rises, and after the `Asr until the sun sets." This is 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 by attendance, which is better, and delaying is disliked. For, from `Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, he said, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "Do not delay the funeral when it is present." This is 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. Refer to: Al-Wiqayah p. 137, and Tabyeen al-Haqaiq 1: 85, and Allah knows best.