Sharʿī Ruling on Ẓuhr Prayer of Dawat wa Irshad Workers
Source: Aḥkām wa Masāʾil, Kitāb al-Ṣalāh, Volume 1, Page 246
❖ Question
I had the chance a couple of times to pray Jumuʿah with the workers of Dawat wa Irshad.
When they go to Ḥanafī mosques (or others) to deliver the Friday sermon for the purpose of collecting donations or funds, since they believe the prayer performed there is not valid for them, they pray Ẓuhr instead of Jumuʿah—and that too individually, because they cannot arrange a congregation there.
What is the Sharʿī ruling in this regard?
Does their Ẓuhr count or not? Kindly explain in the light of Qurʾān and Ḥadīth.
❖ Answer
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, wa-ṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ʿalā Rasūlillāh, Ammā Baʿd!
The practice of Dawat wa Irshad workers in this matter is not correct according to Sharīʿah.
◈ If they are offering Jumuʿah in congregation (even if it is in a Ḥanafī mosque or elsewhere), then that very prayer is sufficient for them, and there is no need to pray Ẓuhr afterward.
◈ If, for some reason, they do not perform Jumuʿah with the congregation, then they must establish their own Jumuʿah in congregation. Simply praying Ẓuhr individually in its place is not correct.
◈ If they are on a journey, and according to their understanding Jumuʿah is not obligatory in that condition, then they must pray Ẓuhr in congregation.
In this regard, Allāh ﷻ has clearly commanded:
﴿وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ﴾
Translation: “And bow down along with those who bow down.”
(Al-Baqarah: 43)
This verse emphasizes the importance of congregational prayer, showing that one must perform the prayer in congregation as far as possible.
Hādhā mā ʿindī wa-Allāhu Aʿlam bi-ṣ-ṣawāb.
