Jumu'ah Prayer in Non-Muslim Countries

8-7-2002 | IslamWeb

Question:

Regarding Friday prayer in non-Islamic countries if there is no Masjid available. Is it possible to pray Friday at home if there is no other place? What should be done if there are only 2 or 3 people for Salat?
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 sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

If a group of Muslims live in your area or a mosque is near to you, then you are obliged to offer the prayer in congregation and the Friday prayer. If it is impossible, then you should offer the obligatory prayers in congregation wherever it is possible. The most learned in the Quran should lead you in the prayers. If there are only two persons, then offering the Friday prayer is not compulsory on you, according to the view of the majority of Muslim scholars. If there are three persons, then you are obliged to offer the Friday prayer according to the preponderant opinion of Muslim scholars.

Ibn Taymiyyah may Allaah have mercy upon him said: “The Jumu'ah prayer is valid if there are only three persons; one of them should deliver the sermon of Jumu'ah and two of them will be his audience. This is one of the sayings of Imam Ahmad.” [End of quote]

Therefore, you may establish a temporary or permanent place for prayer: it may be a part of someone's house, since building a mosque and making it an endowment is not a condition for offering the Jumu'ah prayer.

For more benefit on the conditions for Friday prayer, please refer to Fataawa 82835, 82979, 356992 and 257203.

Allah knows best.

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