Islamic Center of Southern California

FRIDAY PRAYER - (SALAT UL JUMU`AH)

1. Friday is a special day in the Muslim calendar. The Prophet (pbuh) said "Friday is the most prominent of the days and the most honored in Allah's sight."20 He also said "There is a time on Friday in which Allah will grant His servants their good wishes and answer their prayers." 21

2. Friday prayer is an obligatory (fardh) prayer. It is enjoined on every free, adult, sane, resident, male Muslim. The following are excused:

A. Women and children.

B. The sick and the infirm and those who attend to them when their continued presence by their side is necessary.

C. Travelers, even when they are staying at some place and not on the road.

D. A person who is hiding and afraid from an oppressor.

E. When the road to the mosque is hazardous such as at times of heavy rain or snow, strong winds or bitter cold.

3. Friday prayer is a congregational prayer and as such it can be performed by a minimum of two persons. Its time in the opinion of most jurists is that of the noon (Zuhr) prayer. It is preferred that those intending to perform the prayer brush their teeth, take a bath or shower (perform ghusl) and wear their best attire. When one arrives at he mosque, it is recommended that he prays two quick rak`as, even if the imam is giving the khutba, before sitting down.

4. The Friday Prayer sermon (khutba). In the opinion of most jurists, it is highly preferred (wajib). The sequence:

A. When the imam gets to the pulpit, he greets the congregate by saying Assalamu Alaikum (peace be upon you.)

B. The mu`adhin then makes the adhan.

C. The imam stands on the pulpit and delivers his khutba in two parts, with a short pause, sitting, in between.

D. It is preferred that the khutba contains praise of Allah, supplications and salutations to the Prophet, admonitions and Quranic recitation.

E. It is recommended that the khutba be concise, to the point and short. This is especially important in non-Muslim countries where Friday is a workday and people go to the mosque on their lunch break. A long khutba will delay the congregation and may cause serious problems for tardy employees to their jobs. This is unacceptable and such long khutbas should not be tolerated. The Prophet (pbuh) said "prolong the salat and shorten the khutba." 22

F. It is recommended that the imam gives due care and attention to the message of his khutba and its language.

G. It is forbidden to speak when the imam is giving the khutba. One should not even ask his neighbor to be quiet and not to talk. This is considered "needless talk." The prayer of such a person will be rewarded as a Zuhr prayer and not as a Friday prayer.23

5. If one joins the prayer before or during ruk`u in the second rak`a, he is then to proceed to complete his prayer as a Friday prayer (two rak`as). Most of the jurists are of the opinion that a person who joins the prayer after ruk`u in the second rak`a is to complete his prayer by performing four rak`as and will be considered completing a Zuhr (noon prayer) and not a Friday prayer. The Prophet (pbuh) said "if you join us in a prayer while we are prostrating, do the same but this is not counted (as rak`a). One who makes one rak`a (at least) has made the prayer (by completing it)."24

6. Voluntary Prayers with the Friday Prayer: The companions of the Prophet (pbuh) were of the practice of praying any number of rak`as as a voluntary prayer when they arrive at the mosque. This is not a sunnah prayer. The Prophet (pbuh) had never been reported as praying any voluntary prayers after the Adhan and before the Jumu`ah prayer.25 On the other hand, it is sunnah to pray two (or four) rak`as after the prayer.

7. When Eid is on a Friday, those who attend the Eid prayer, may, but do not have to, pray the Jumu`ah prayer. The Friday prayer is still to be held for those who did not attend the Eid prayer and for those who choose to pray both prayers.
Islamic Center of Southern California
All text Copyright © 2002 - 2009 Islamic Center of Southern California
For more about this web site, please contact the Webmaster