Evidence for the obligation of Friday prayer

Allah says:

{O you who believe, when the call is made for prayer on the day of Friday, then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew. Then when the prayer has been completed, disperse through the land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah much so that you may succeed.} [al-Jumu'ah: 9-10].

Arabic wording of the central verse:

{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا البَيْعَ}.

Allah commanded proceeding to Friday prayer and forbade trade at the call, and this indicates its obligation upon those addressed by it.

What is meant by proceeding here is intending, going, and giving importance to it, not running, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, commanded whoever comes to prayer to come with calmness and dignity.

From Tariq ibn Shihab, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"Friday prayer is a binding duty upon every Muslim in congregation, except four: an owned slave, a woman, a child, or a sick person."

Narrated by Abu Dawud, and authenticated by a group of scholars.

Warning against leaving Friday prayer without an excuse

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"Whoever leaves three Fridays out of negligence, Allah will place a seal upon his heart."

Narrated by Abu Dawud, al-Nasa'i, al-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah, and authenticated by scholars.

The warning relates to the one who leaves it out of negligence without an excuse. As for someone prevented by illness, travel, fear, or a recognized excuse, he does not enter this warning. Whoever misses one Friday without an excuse has committed a grave sin, and mentioning three does not mean that less than that is permissible.

Upon whom is Friday prayer obligatory?

Friday prayer is obligatory upon the Muslim who has the following qualities:

1. He is male.
2. He is an adult of sound mind.
3. He is resident, not traveling.
4. He is able to attend without harm or severe unusual hardship.
5. He is from the people of the town or place where Friday prayer is held, or among those required to attend because of proximity and hearing the usual call.

Friday prayer does not fall because of being busy with study, trade, or regular work. Rather, the time must be arranged in a way that allows attendance.

Who is not obligated to attend Friday prayer?

Friday prayer is not obligatory upon the woman, child, traveler, sick person for whom attendance causes clear hardship or fear of harm, or someone with a recognized excuse such as real fear or severe rain that makes going out difficult.

Whoever is legally accountable but Friday prayer falls from him, his obligation is Zuhr. A resident prays four rak'ahs, while a traveler prays two rak'ahs if shortening is legislated for him. If he attends Friday prayer and prays it with the Muslims, it suffices for Zuhr, so he does not pray Zuhr after it.

Is Friday prayer obligatory upon women?

Friday prayer is not obligatory upon women, but it is permissible for a woman to attend if she observes hijab and calmness, is safe from fitnah, does not go out perfumed, and does not adorn herself in a way that draws attention. If she prays Friday prayer with the imam, it suffices for Zuhr by agreement of the scholars.

Women may not be absolutely prevented from mosques if they observe Islamic etiquette, because the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from the mosques of Allah."

Agreed upon.

Is Friday prayer obligatory upon the traveler?

Friday prayer is not obligatory upon the traveler during his journey, and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, did not establish Friday prayer during his travels. If the traveler is present in a town where Friday prayer is held and prays with the people, it is valid from him and suffices for Zuhr.

As for someone who stays in a town for a period, or whose state is uncertain between travel and residence, the details of his ruling may differ according to the length and reality of the stay, so he should return to a trustworthy scholar regarding his specific case.

Excuses for missing Friday prayer

Among the excuses that permit missing Friday prayer are:

• Illness that makes going difficult, or fear that the illness will worsen or recovery will be delayed.
• Fear of transmitting harmful infection to worshipers or the sick person being harmed by mixing with people.
• Severe rain, a dangerous road, or harmful cold that makes reaching the mosque difficult.
• Real fear for oneself, family, or wealth.
• Staying with a sick or helpless person who has no one else to attend to his necessary needs.
• Necessary work upon which people's safety or a public interest depends, which cannot be delayed and for which no replacement can be found, or leaving it would result in severe harm that the worker cannot prevent.

The Muslim should not make slight hardship, limited parking, desire for rest, or ordinary work pressure permanent excuses. Whoever is unsure about his excuse should ask a trustworthy scholar and strive to arrange an alternative that allows him to attend Friday prayer.

The time of Friday prayer

The better and safer practice is that Friday prayer be held after the sun passes its zenith, which is the time of Zuhr. This is the view of the majority of scholars, and it is established that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to pray it at this time.

The Hanbalis and a group of the early generations and verifying scholars held that it is permissible shortly before the zenith, and there are reports and evidences concerning that. Although this view is valid, holding it after the zenith is better, because it combines the evidences, avoids disagreement, and makes matters easier for people.

The time of Friday prayer ends when the time of Zuhr ends and the time of Asr enters. If Friday prayer is not prayed in its time, people pray Zuhr as four rak'ahs, and Friday prayer is not made up as two rak'ahs after its time exits.

Conditions for the validity of Friday prayer in brief

Among the most important conditions for the validity of Friday prayer are:

1. Its time has entered.
2. It is held in congregation; Friday prayer is not valid from one person alone.
3. The khutbah precedes the prayer.
4. The khutbah includes remembrance of Allah, admonition, and what fulfills the purpose of the khutbah.
5. The prayer is performed as two rak'ahs after the khutbah.

The details of the conditions of Friday prayer, the number by which it is established, and some rulings about where it may be held are matters of disagreement among jurists. Individuals should not independently establish a new Friday prayer that leads to splitting Muslims or competing with existing mosques. Rather, they should return to people of knowledge and the responsible authorities in their country.

Is a mosque required for Friday prayer to be valid?

Holding Friday prayer in the mosque is the default and the most complete form, because it gathers the Muslims and manifests the symbol. However, a building designated as a mosque is not a condition according to a group of scholars. It may be valid in a suitable place when needed if its conditions are fulfilled.

This does not mean every family should hold Friday prayer in its home, or employees should establish a parallel Friday prayer while being able to go to a nearby mosque, because Friday prayer is built upon gathering and not dividing the congregation.

The minimum number by which Friday prayer is established

The scholars famously differed regarding the minimum number by which Friday prayer is established, and there is no authentic explicit text requiring exactly forty.

One of the strongest views is that it is established by three: a khatib or imam and two people with him. This was the view of a group of the early generations and was chosen by Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, Shaykh Ibn Baz, and Shaykh Ibn Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy on them. Some scholars held that it is established by two, while others required larger numbers.

Practice in mosques and Islamic centers should follow what the trustworthy Islamic authority decides. Disagreement over the number should not be made a reason to establish multiple Friday prayers without need.

The form of the Friday khutbah

The imam gives two khutbahs before the prayer and separates them with a brief sitting. This is the established Sunnah, and requiring two khutbahs is the view of the majority of scholars.

From Jabir ibn Samurah, may Allah be pleased with him:

"The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, used to deliver the khutbah standing, then sit, then stand and deliver the khutbah standing."

Narrated by Muslim.

It is prescribed for the khatib to praise Allah, recite the testimony of faith, send blessings upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, recite from the Quran, and admonish people with what benefits them, with clear wording and without tiresome length.

The default is that he addresses people in what they understand and by which the purpose of admonition and teaching is fulfilled. As for the details of how much Arabic is required in the khutbah, there is disagreement, and mosque leaders should return to trustworthy scholars.

Listening to the khutbah and the prohibition of speaking

When the khatib begins his khutbah, listening becomes obligatory, and speaking, fidgeting, and being busy with the phone must be left.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"If you say to your companion on Friday, 'Listen,' while the imam is delivering the khutbah, you have engaged in idle speech."

Agreed upon.

And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"Whoever touches the pebbles has engaged in idle speech."

Narrated by Muslim.

So he should not return salam verbally during the khutbah, should not say yarhamuk Allah to one who sneezes, and should not verbally tell someone else to be quiet. Rather, he may gesture to him when needed. Speaking with the khatib is permissible for a recognized need, and it is permissible for the khatib to address some of those present when needed, because that is established from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him. As for worshipers speaking to one another, it is not allowed except for a necessity that cannot be delayed, such as preventing immediate danger.

Greeting the mosque while the imam is delivering the khutbah

Whoever enters the mosque while the imam is delivering the khutbah should not sit until he prays two brief rak'ahs, then listens to the khutbah.

From Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him:

"Sulaik al-Ghatafani came on Friday while the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was delivering the khutbah, and he sat down. He said to him: O Sulaik, stand and pray two rak'ahs, and make them brief."

Narrated by Muslim.

The one entering should not lengthen the two rak'ahs so that he misses listening, and after sitting he should not begin another voluntary prayer while the khatib is speaking.

The number of rak'ahs of Friday prayer and its form

Friday prayer is two rak'ahs by consensus of the scholars. The imam recites aloud in them, and they are performed after the two khutbahs. It is an independent prayer and not a shortened Zuhr, so four rak'ahs are not prayed by one who has validly caught Friday prayer.

It is Sunnah for the imam sometimes to recite Surah al-Jumu'ah in the first rak'ah and Surah al-Munafiqun in the second, or to recite Surah al-A'la in the first and Surah al-Ghashiyah in the second. Both forms are established from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in Sahih Muslim.

How does the latecomer catch Friday prayer?

Friday prayer is caught by catching the bowing of the second rak'ah with the imam. Whoever catches the imam while bowing in the second rak'ah before he raises his head, after having said the opening takbir while standing and then bowing, has caught Friday prayer. When the imam says salam, he stands and adds one rak'ah.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"Whoever catches one rak'ah of the prayer has caught the prayer."

Agreed upon.

As for the one who enters after the imam has risen from bowing in the second rak'ah, he enters with the imam in whatever remains of the prayer. Then when the imam says salam, he stands and completes Zuhr as four rak'ahs if he is resident, provided the time of Zuhr has entered. When entering, he intends to follow Friday prayer, then after the imam's salam he intends to complete it as Zuhr once it becomes clear that he did not catch one rak'ah, because there is disagreement among scholars about the details of intention, and this form is easiest for people and furthest from opposing the imam.

If Friday prayer was held before the zenith and Zuhr time had not entered when the imam said salam, he waits until Zuhr time enters and then prays it. As for the traveler who is not obligated to attend Friday prayer, if he does not catch one rak'ah of it, he prays Zuhr as two rak'ahs as long as the ruling of travel remains.

What should someone do if he misses Friday prayer?

Whoever misses Friday prayer in one mosque and can catch another Friday prayer being held must go to it. If he cannot, he prays Zuhr as four rak'ahs if he is resident. He does not pray Friday prayer as two rak'ahs alone, and he does not make it up on another day. As for the traveler, he prays Zuhr as two rak'ahs if shortening is legislated for him.

Whoever missed it because of sleep that overcame him without negligence, illness, or a recognized excuse has no sin. But whoever deliberately delayed or left it out of negligence must make sincere repentance, regret it, resolve to preserve it, and pray Zuhr as four rak'ahs.

Is there a regular Sunnah prayer before Friday prayer?

There is no specific regular Sunnah before Friday prayer with a fixed number. However, whoever comes to the mosque before the imam comes out may pray whatever is easy for him, two by two, then sit for remembrance and recitation of Quran.

So he should not believe that two or four rak'ahs before Friday prayer are a specific regular Sunnah attached to it, while unrestricted voluntary prayer before the khutbah remains prescribed.

The Sunnah after Friday prayer

The command to pray four rak'ahs after Friday prayer is established, and it is established that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to pray two rak'ahs after it in his home.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

"When one of you prays Friday prayer, let him pray four after it."

Narrated by Muslim.

It is established from Ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both:

"The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would not pray after Friday prayer until he left, then he would pray two rak'ahs in his house."

Agreed upon.

Whoever prays two or four rak'ahs after it has acted upon an established Sunnah. Some scholars chose that one prays four in the mosque and two if he prays them at home, and the matter is broad.

The first adhan for Friday prayer

The adhan during the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, Abu Bakr, and Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, was when the imam sat on the minbar. When people became numerous during the time of Uthman, may Allah be pleased with him, he added an adhan before that to alert people. The companions agreed with him and the Muslims continued upon it.

From al-Sa'ib ibn Yazid, may Allah be pleased with him:

"The first call on Friday was when the imam sat on the minbar during the time of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, Abu Bakr, and Umar. When it was the time of Uthman and the people became many, he added the third call at al-Zawra'."

Narrated by al-Bukhari. It was called third when counting the adhan before the khatib and the iqamah.

The first adhan is therefore the Sunnah of a rightly guided caliph, approved by the companions for a need, and it is not a blameworthy innovation.

When does trade become forbidden on Friday?

It becomes forbidden for the one upon whom Friday prayer is obligatory to be occupied with buying and selling after the call that occurs when the imam sits on the minbar and the khutbah begins, because Allah says: {and leave trade}. Included with trade is every work or transaction that distracts him from the obligatory attendance.

As for someone upon whom Friday prayer is not obligatory, such as a woman, the prohibition is not directed at that person in themselves. However, they may not help someone upon whom Friday prayer is obligatory to leave it or distract him from it.

Is Friday prayer valid at home or behind a livestream?

Following the imam of a mosque from home through television, radio, or the internet is not valid, because the rows and place are disconnected, and the broadcast does not fulfill valid following or the congregation of the mosque.

Whoever is resident and excused from attending Friday prayer prays Zuhr in his home as four rak'ahs. As for the traveler, he follows the ruling of shortening if it is legislated for him. The family should not establish Friday prayer in the home merely because they wish to do so. The default is that Friday prayer is held in a visible congregation fulfilling its conditions, while respecting mosque organization and not dividing Muslims.

May Asr be combined with Friday prayer?

Asr is not combined with Friday prayer according to the stronger view, neither because of travel nor rain, because the Sunnah is established regarding combining Zuhr with Asr, and it is not established from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, nor from his companions that Asr was combined with Friday prayer.

Whoever prays Friday prayer prays Asr in its time. If a traveler needs to combine, he may pray Zuhr instead of attending Friday prayer since it is not obligatory upon him, then combine Asr with it according to the rulings of combining.

If Eid coincides with Friday

The scholars differed regarding someone who prayed Eid and then that day coincided with Friday. The majority held that Friday prayer remains obligatory, while a group of companions and scholars held that whoever attended Eid is given a concession to leave Friday prayer, but he must pray Zuhr as four rak'ahs.

This second view is strong and was chosen by a group of verifying scholars. It is better for whoever is able to attend both Eid and Friday prayer to do so, avoiding disagreement and seeking virtue. The imam of Friday prayer must establish it so that whoever wishes to attend, and whoever did not pray Eid, may attend. Zuhr prayer does not fall from the one who takes the concession and leaves Friday prayer.

Multiple Friday prayers in one town

The default is that the people of the town gather as much as possible, and multiple Friday prayers are not established without need. Multiple Friday prayers are permissible when the town is large, mosques are too small, distances are far, or times and needs differ in a way that makes gathering in one place difficult.

Establishing a new Friday prayer should not become a reason for dispute or splitting the mosque congregation. Rather, it should be organized through consultation with people of knowledge and responsible authorities.

A practical program for preparing for Friday prayer

1. Perform ghusl, clean oneself, apply perfume, and wear the best permissible clothing.
2. Leave early for the mosque with calmness and dignity.
3. Do not harm people by stepping over necks or separating between two people.
4. Pray whatever is easy before the khatib comes out.
5. Turn off the phone or silence it before the khutbah.
6. Listen to the khatib with the heart and limbs.
7. Pray Friday prayer as two rak'ahs with the imam.
8. Pray the Sunnah after it as two or four rak'ahs.
9. Increase on Friday in sending blessings upon the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, making du'a, and reciting Surah al-Kahf.

Common mistakes in Friday prayer

1. Leaving Friday prayer or being late for it because of regular work without making a serious attempt to arrange it.
2. Regularly arriving after the khutbah has ended without an excuse.
3. Speaking or browsing the phone during the khutbah.
4. Returning salam and saying yarhamuk Allah to one who sneezes out loud during the khutbah.
5. Sitting down upon entering while the khatib is speaking without praying the greeting of the mosque.
6. Believing in a specific regular Sunnah before Friday prayer.
7. Praying Zuhr after Friday prayer as a precaution without a valid Islamic reason.
8. Combining Asr with Friday prayer.
9. Praying Friday prayer at home behind a livestream.
10. Establishing many small Friday prayers while being able to gather in one mosque.
11. Believing that if a woman prays Friday prayer, she must pray Zuhr afterward.
12. Praying only two rak'ahs for someone who entered after the imam rose from the bowing of the second rak'ah.