Jumuah

Lesson Seventeen

JUM’A PRAYER (FRIDAY PRAYER)

This is an obligatory prayer and is Wajib (necessary) upon the following:

1. Males.

2. Healthy (so a person is not weak or too ill to travel and the weather is also not severe, to prevent one from performing the Jum’a in the Masjid).

3. Resident

Jum’a is not wajib (necessary) upon the following:

1. Women.

2. Slaves/prisoners.

3. The insane.

4. The blind.

5. One that cannot walk to the masjid without support (due to disability etc.).

6. Severe weather conditions that prevent one from traveling for the Jum’a namaz.

7. Travelers.

8. Village dwellers.

The rakaats of Jum’a Namaz

CONDITIONS OF JUM’A

1. Performance of Jum’a in a city/ town:

• a place that is recognised as a city/ town /or classed as the outskirt of a city or town. • a place with a shopping centre/market
• not valid in the villages
• with its own police force/courts/somewhere where justice is found
• multiple Jum’as are allowed in one town

2. Permission of the King or Leader

• This is inapplicable in the west, thus this ruling is dropped
• The aim is to prevent discord regarding the choice of Imam
• If people can resolve this in other ways, it suffices- for example the management committee of a masjid deciding on the Imam to lead the Jum’a

3. Time

• • the Jum’a namaz has the same timing as the zohr prayer

4. khutba

• this is performed before the Jum’a prayer
• it should be loud enough for the people to hear
• there should be at least 3 people present for the khutba, ( other than the Imam), for it to be valid
• One should be present before the khutba begins (though one’s Jum’a is valid, but with dislike If they did not partake in the Khutba).
• The minimal khutba is some dhikr of Allah Almighty, but to make is so short is makrooh, one should adhere and follow the sunnahs of the Khutba.

Sunnah of the Khutba are as follows:

1. the Khateeb (the Imam performing the Khutba), to be sat before the khutba

2. the Khateeb (the Imam performing the Khutba), to be stood up during the khutba- 0n the pulpit

3. the audience to be paying attention to the Imam

4. the imam to pray the ta’awwuz quietly before starting

5. then praising Allah Almighty

6. praising the Beloved Messenger ( Peace and blessings be upon Him)

7. mentioning the Shahadah

8. to recite at least a verse of the Holy Quran

9. the khutba to consist of some dua/advice to the muslims

10. to separate the khutba by a brief sitting

11. to keep the khutba short and not very long

12. It is to be performed in Arabic (apart from the kutba, most masjids have a speech before the khutba in the language understood by the audience).

5. Jamaat (congregation)

• Except for the Imam, there should be at least 3 other people – otherwise the Jum’a will not count

6. The congregation must be free and accessible for anyone to attend

• Meaning nobody should be rejected for the congregation or restricted to attend. Therefore, jum’a in a prison/ private home etc are not valid or any place- where people cannot attend freely.