Attending a Second Jumu’ah in the Same Mosque
Fatwa No: 393406

Question

The closest masjid to my school holds 2 Jumuahs because there is not enough space for everyone and other masajid are too far away. First one is at 1-1:30pm and second one at 2-2:30pm while school ends at 1.15pm, so I need to run to catch at least 1 rakah from the first Jumuah.My questions are: 1. What should I do in this situation?and2. What if I miss the 1st Jumuah because the Khutbah is sometimes relatively short, do I pray Dhuhr or wait for the 2nd Jumuah?

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

We have already issued many Fataawa clarifying the ruling on establishing many Jumu’ah prayers in the same mosque, and that it is not permissible to establish two of them in one locality without a need, let alone establishing it more than one time in the same mosque.

What many Muslims do in the West in this regard by establishing more than one Jumu’ah in the same mosque without a need is dispraised and it is something that is not prescribed by the Sharee'ah.

We also clarified (in these Fataawa) that if there is a need for more than one Jumu’ah in the same mosque because there is no other mosque where the worshippers can pray, then, in this case, there is no harm in establishing more than one Jumu’ah.

When it becomes permissible to establish a second Jumu’ah in the mosque that is near you, then you must endeavor to attend it if you miss the first Jumu’ah, and it is not permissible for you to pray Thuhr (instead of Jumu'ah) as long as the time of Jumu’ah still remains and you can attend a legitimate Jumu’ah.

It is not permissible to miss the Friday prayer because of studies, that is because the Friday prayer is obligatory on the men who are resident and who are able to attend it. Allah Says (what means): {O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.} [Quran 62:9]

Not attending the Jumu’ah prayer without a sound excuse is one of the grave major sins.

Ibn ‘Amru and Abu Hurayrah narrated that they heard the Prophet saying whilst he was on the pulpit: “People should stop neglecting the Friday prayers otherwise Allah will seal their hearts and they will be among the heedless.” [Muslim]

Moreover, Abu Al-Ja'd Adh-Dhamri narrated that the Prophet said: “Whoever abandons Jumu’ah three times consecutively, out of negligence, Allah will seal his heart.” [An-Nassa'i and Abu Daawood] Al-Albaani classified it as authentic.

Therefore, one must refrain from not attending the Jumu’ah prayer and congregational prayers without a valid excuse. Whoever had done this must repent to Allah; Allah Says (what means): {And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.} [Quran 24:31]

For more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 96945, 83662, 257203, 90374, and 306409.

Allah knows best.

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