Jumu'ah (Friday Prayer)

Definition

Jumu'ah (جمعة) is the congregational Friday prayer, an obligation upon every free, adult, sane, resident Muslim male. It replaces the Dhuhr prayer on Fridays and consists of a khutbah (sermon) followed by two rak'ahs of prayer.

Virtues of Friday

The Prophet said: 'The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he entered Paradise, on it he was expelled from it, and the Hour will not be established except on Friday' (Sahih Muslim 854). He also said: 'There is an hour on Friday during which a Muslim does not ask Allah for anything but He gives it to him' (Sahih al-Bukhari 935).

Etiquettes of Jumu'ah

The Sunnah practices for Friday include: performing ghusl (bathing), wearing the best clothes, using perfume (for men), arriving early to the mosque, walking to the mosque, not stepping over people's shoulders, sitting close to the imam, listening attentively to the khutbah without speaking, and sending abundant blessings (salawat) upon the Prophet throughout the day.

Conditions for Validity

The minimum number required for Jumu'ah varies by madhab: the Hanafi school requires the imam plus three others, the Shafi'i school requires forty adult male residents, the Maliki school requires twelve, and the Hanbali school requires forty. The prayer must be performed within the town or city limits and during the time of Dhuhr.