Part 24

As for the reasoning of those who argued this by saying that offering the Friday prayer in a number of Masjids is not permissible, and that if it is offered in a number of Masjids, then the Friday prayer is for the Masjid which begins first, and that here the first Masjid is unknown, and that this leads to the invalidity of all of the Friday prayers, and the the Zuhr prayer should be perfromed after it, we say to these people: How can you state this as an evidence, or as a justification? Is it based upon a foundation from the Sunnah or any correct opinion? The answer is: No.

Indeed, we say that if the Friday prayer was performed in many locations for some need, then each Friday prayer is valid, according to the Words of Allah, the Most High:

Aci t it Va

“So keep your duty to Allah and fear Him as much as you AL] can.

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If the corners of this town are far from each other, or the Masjids are insufficient and the Friday prayers are repeated according to need, then these people have feared Allah as much as they are able, and whoever fears Allah as much as he is able, then he has done what is incumbent upon him. So, how can it be said that his action is invalid and that he must perform another prayer in its place, which is the Zuhr prayer instead of the Friday prayer?

But if the Friday prayers are performed in a number of different places without need, then there is no doubt that this contradicts the Sunnah, and the practice of the Prophet # and his righteous caliphs, and it is unlawful, according to the majority of scholars. In spite of this, we do not say that the act of worship is not valid, because the responsibility here is not upon the general populace, but upon those in authority, who have permitted numerous Friday prayers to be performed without need.

So, on this basis, we say: It is incumbent upon the authorities who are responsible for the affairs of the Masjids not to allow numerous Friday prayers unless there is a need for it. This is because the Lawgiver (Allah) holds in high regard the gathering of the people for the purpose of performing acts of worship, that it may result in harmony, affection, the teaching of the ignorant and numerous other great benefits.

The legislated gatherings are either weekly, or yearly or daily, as is well known. The daily gatherings take place in the communities, in the Masjids of every locality, because if the Lawgiver had enjoined upon the people that they gather five times a day in one place, this would be a burden on them; for this reason, He has lightened the burden on them, and their gatherings have been made in their Masjids, each community in its own Masjid.

As for the weekly gathering, it is on Friday, for the people gather every week, which is why the Sunnah necessitates that they be in one Masjid, not in a number of Masjids, because this weekly

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gathering does not harm them if they undertake it, nor is it burdensome for them.

There is also a great benefit in it, for the people gather around one Imam and one Khatib''! who guides them with a single guidance, so that they leave having received one admonition and having offered one prayer.

As for the annual gathering, it is such as the ‘Eid prayers; this is an annual gathering, and it is also for the whole town, which is why it is not permissible for the ‘Eid prayer to be performed in a number of Masjids, unless there is a need for it, as in the case of the Masjids of the Friday prayers.

Q. 320. The time for the Friday prayer came upon us while we were working at sea, and half an hour after the time for the Zuhr prayer, we left it (i.e. the boat). Is it correct for us to call the adhan and perform the Friday prayer?

A. The Friday prayer is not valid except in the Masjids in the towns or in the villages, and it is not valid for a group who are working in the countryside or at sea.

It was not from the guidance of the Messenger #% that the Friday prayer be performed except in the towns and the villages, for he, peace be upon him, would travel for many days and he would not perform the Friday prayer. You are now at sea, not settled, but moving from place to place, so what is incumbent upon you is only to perform the Zuhr prayer and not the Friday prayer; and you may shorten the four Rak‘ah prayers if you are travelling.

Q. 321. What should the one who is led in prayer do on Friday if he comes to the prayer and the Imam is in the final Tashahhud, should he make up four Rak‘ahs, or offer two?

"1 Khatib: The one who delivers the Khutbah (sermon).

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A. If a person comes to the Masjid and finds the Imam in the final Tashahhud on Friday, then he has missed the Friday prayer. He should join with the Imam and offer the Zuhr prayer, according to the words of the Prophet #8:

“Whoever caught a Rak‘ah of the prayer has caught the prayer.’ q

So, what is understood from this is that whoever caught less than this, he has not caught the prayer. It has been narrated from the Prophet #% that he said: “Whoever caught a Rak‘ah of the Friday prayer has caught (it).’"*! That is, he has caught the Friday prayer if he stands and offers the second Rak‘ah (after the Imam makes the Taslim).

Q. 322. Is the saying Ameen, when the Imam supplicates after the sermon during the Friday prayers, a form of innovation?

A. Saying Ameen after the supplication of the Khatib in the sermon is not an innovation. If he begins to supplicate for the Muslims, it is recommended to say Ameen after his supplication. But it should not be said in unison and in a loud voice; rather each person should say Ameen by himself and in a low voice, so that there is no disturbance or raised voices. Every person should say Ameen after the supplication of the Khatib quietly and separately from the other worshippers.

"The reference for this Hadith was mentioned under no. 209.

'2) Reported by An-Nasa’i in the Book of the Friday Prayer, in the Chapter: Whoever Caught a Rak‘ah of the Friday Prayer 3:92; and by Ibn Majah in the Book of Establishing the Prayer, in the Chapter: What Has Been Said Regarding One Who Catches a Rak’ah of the Friday Prayer 1:356.

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Q. 323. What is the ruling on raising the hands when the Imam is delivering the sermon during the Friday prayer?

A. Raising the hands when the Jmam is delivering the sermon on Friday is also not legislated; and the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, rebuked Bishr bin Marwan when he raised his hands during the Friday sermon. However, the supplication during the prayer for rain is an exception from this, because it has been confirmed from the Prophet #% that he raised his hands and asked Allah, the Most High for rain, and that was during the Friday sermon, and the people raised their hands with him. But other than this, it is not proper to raise the hands at the time of supplication during the Friday sermon.

Q. 324. What is the ruling on delivering the sermon in a language other than Arabic?

A. The correct opinion in this matter is that it is not permissible for the one who delivers the Friday sermon to do so in a language which those present do not understand. So, if the people are not Arabs, and they donot know the Arabic language, then he should deliver the sermon in their language, because this is the means of communicating the message to them, and the point of the sermon is to explain the limits set by Allah, the Most Glorified, the Most High to the worshippers, and to admonish and guide them. However, the Quranic Verses must be recited in the Arabic language and then explained in the language of the people.

Evidence that he should deliver the sermon in the language of the people is in the Words of Allah, the Most High: Ch en A aap be WY LS os CL ‘And We sent not a La Messenger except with the language of his people, in order that he might make (the Message) clear for them.”\"!

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So Allah, the Most High has made clear that the means of explanation must only be in a language which those being addressed can understand.

Q. 325. Is performing Ghus! and adoring oneself on Friday a duty incumbent upon both men and women? And what is the ruling on bathing a day or two before it?

A. These rulings are applicable only to men, since it is he who attends the Friday prayer, and it is he who is required to adorn himself before leaving the house. As for women, this is not legislated for them. But every person is required to remove dirt if he finds it on his person, for that is a praiseworthy act which no one should fail to do.

As for performing Ghusi for the Friday prayer one or two days before, that is of no benefit, because the Ahadith which have been reported mention Friday specifically, and that is between the start of Fajr until the time for the Friday prayer. This is the time for the bathing that should be done; as for doing it a day or two before, there is no benefit in it and it does not count as the Ghusl of the Friday prayers.

Q. 326. If a person enters the Masjid on Friday while the Mu’aththin is calling the second adhan, should he offer the prayer of salutation to the Masjid or follow the Mu’aththin (i.e. repeat the adhan after him)?

A. The scholars have said that when a man enters the Masjid on Friday and he hears the second adhan, he should offer the prayer of salutation to the Masjid and not occupy himself with following the Mu‘aththin and answering him, in order that he be free to listen to the sermon. This is because listening to the sermon is an obligation, while answering the Mu‘aththin is a Sunnah, and a Sunnah does not take precedence over an obligation.