Liaison office of Grand Ayatullah Sayyid Ali Al Sistani (L.M.H.L) in London, Europe, North and South America.
740. Friday prayers consists of 2 Rak'ats like Fajr prayers. The
difference between these two prayers is that Namaz-e-Jumuah has two sermons
before it. Namaz-e-Jumuah is Wajib Takhyiri, which means that we have an option
to offer Jumuah prayers, if its necessary conditions are fulfilled, or to offer
Zuhr prayers. Hence, if Namaz-e-Jumuah is offered then it is not necessary to
offer Zuhr prayer.
The following conditions must be fulfilled for Jumuah prayers to become
obligatory:
The time for Jumuah prayers should have set in. And that means that the
midday time should have begun to decline. The time for Namaz-e-Jumuah is the
earliest part of Zuhr. If it is very much delayed, then Namaz-e-Jumuah time
will be over, and Zuhr Namaz will have to be prayed.
The number of persons joining Namaz-e-Jumuah should be at least five,
including the Imam. If there are less than five people, Namaz-e-Jumuah would
not become obligatory.
The Imam should fulfil the necessary conditions for leading the prayers.
These conditions include righteousness ('Adalat) and other qualities which
are required of an Imam and which will be mentioned in connection with the
congregational prayers. In absence of an Imam qualifying to lead,
Namaz-e-Jumuah will not be obligatory.
The following conditions should be fulfilled for the Namaz-e-Jumuah to be
correct:
The prayers should be offered in congregation. Hence, Namaz-e-Jumuah
cannot be prayed alone. If a person joins Namaz-e-Jumuah before the Ruku of
the second Rak'at his prayers will be valid and he will have to add another
Rak'at to complete it. But, if he joins the Imam in the Ruku of the second
Rak'at then the prayers may not suffice, and as a measure of precaution Zuhr
Namaz should be prayed.
Two sermons should be delivered before the prayers. In the first sermon
the preacher should praise Allah and exhort the people to observe piety, and
then he should also recite a short chapter (Surah) from the holy Qur'an.
Thereafter he should sit down for a while and then stand up again. This time
also he should praise Allah and invoke peace and blessings upon the holy
Prophet and the holy Imams and, as a recommended precaution, seek
forgiveness for the believers. It is necessary that the two sermons should
precede the Namaz.
It will not be correct to offer the prayers before
the two sermons. And, it is not permissible to deliver the sermons before
Zuhr time has set in. It is also necessary that the preacher should be
standing while delivering the sermons. Hence, if he delivers sermons while
sitting, it will not be in order. It is also necessary and obligatory that
there should be a break between the two sermons by way of sitting down
during the interval for a while. It is also necessary that the preacher who
delivers the sermons should also lead the prayers.
Taharat may not be
a condition for delivering the sermons, but as a precaution, it should be
maintained. As far as the glory of Allah, invocation of prayers and mercy
upon the Prophet and the Imams are concerned, it must be rendered in Arabic,
but the rest of it need not be in Arabic. In fact, if the majority in the
audience are non-Arabs, then as an obligatory precaution, words of
admonition and exhorting people to be pious and virtuous should be delivered
in their language.
The distance between the two places where Namaze-Jumuah are offered should
not be less than one Farsakh (3 miles). Hence if the distance between the
two places is lesser and both the prayers commence at one and the same time
both will be void. And if one of those prayers precedes the other (even to
the extent of Takbiratul-ehram i.e. the first Takbir) the one which precedes
will be in order and the other will be void.
If, it transpires after the
Namaz-e-Jumuah is over that another Namaz-e-Jumuah had commenced earlier or
simultaneously at a distance of less than farsakh, it will not be obligatory
to offer Zuhr prayers. It is immaterial whether this information is received
within the time or later. Moreover, a Namaz-e-Jumuah can stop another from
being held within the stipulated distance only if it is itself valid,
comprising of all conditions, otherwise it cannot have any prohibitive
effect.
741. When Namaz-e-Jumuah, with all its requirements is held, it will
be obligatory to attend it if one who established it is Imam (A.S.) or his
representative. But in a situation other than this, joining or attending it is
not obligatory.
When attending is obligatory, the following points must be considered:
The person joining should be man. Presence in Jumuah prayers is not
obligatory for women.
Freedom. Hence it is not obligatory for a slave to be present in Jumuah
prayers.
Not being a traveller. Hence Jumuah prayers is not obligatory for a
traveller, regardless of whether the traveller prays Qasr or full prayers,
as he would do if he intends staying for 10 days or more.
Being free from ailment and blindness. Hence it is not obligatory for a
sick or a blind man to offer Jumuah prayers.
Not being old. Hence Jumuah prayers is not obligatory for old men.
That the distance between the place a person is and where Jumuah prayers
is going to be held should not be more than 2 farsakh (11 Km) and it would
be obligatory for a person who is at the end of 2 farsakh to join the Namaz.
And similarly, participation in Jumuah prayers will not be obligatory for a
person who finds it extremely difficult, because of rains, severe cold and
so on.
742. A few rules concerning Jumuah prayers:
It is permissible for a person, who is exempted from Jumuah prayers, and
for whom presence in Jumuah prayers is not obligatory, to hasten for Zuhr
prayers in the early part of its time.
It is Makrooh to talk while Imam delivers the sermon. And if the noise
created by talking prevents others from listening to the sermon, then it is
haraam, regardless of whether the attendance is the minimum required or
more.
As an obligatory precaution, it is wajib to listen to both the sermons.
However, listening to the sermons is not obligatory upon those, who do not
understand their meanings.
The second Adhan on Friday is an innovation. And it is the same Adhan
which is usually called the third Adhan.
It is not obligatory for a person wishing to join Jumuah Namaz to be
present while Imam is delivering the sermon.
Conducting purchase and sale at the time when people are called to Jumuah
prayers is haraam, if it hinders the prayers, and not if it does not hinder.
And inspite of it being haraam, the transaction done would not be void. When
it was obligatory for a person to be present in Jumuah prayers and he
abandoned it, and offered Zuhr prayers, his prayers would be in
order.