Ruling on Offering Zuhr Prayer After Jumu‘ah Prayer
Source: Fatāwā Arkān-e-Islām
Question:
If a person performs the Jumu‘ah prayer, is it then obligatory upon him to also perform the obligatory Zuhr prayer afterwards?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu was-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d!
When a person has performed the Jumu‘ah prayer, the obligatory Zuhr prayer is no longer required from him, because the obligatory prayer for that time is Jumu‘ah itself. Therefore, offering Zuhr after Jumu‘ah is considered a bid‘ah (innovation), since there is no evidence for it in the Qur’an nor in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. It is obligatory to forbid such a practice.
Even if in a city or area multiple Jumu‘ah prayers are held at different locations, it is still not legislated to perform Zuhr after Jumu‘ah. Rather, this is an innovation and a condemned practice. Allah ﷻ has made only one obligatory prayer for each prescribed time, so once Jumu‘ah is performed, Zuhr is no longer required.
Some People’s Argument and Its Refutation
Certain people think that since multiple Jumu‘ah congregations in one city are not permissible, only the Jumu‘ah held in the mosque where it was first offered is valid. If it is not known which mosque was first, then in their view, all other Jumu‘ah prayers are invalid and Zuhr must be offered instead.
Such people should be asked: From where did you derive this reasoning? Is it taken from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ or from any sound rational proof? Certainly, the answer will be negative.
The Correct Position in Light of the Sharī‘ah
If multiple Jumu‘ah prayers are held in a city out of necessity and genuine need, they are all valid, for Allah ﷻ says:
﴿ فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا استَطَعتُم ﴾
(Sūrat at-Taghābun: 16)
“So fear Allah as much as you are able.”
If the city is large or the mosques are small, and due to the large number of worshippers separate Jumu‘ah congregations become unavoidable, then this is a clear indication that people have feared Allah to the best of their ability and fulfilled their obligation. Hence, it is incorrect to declare such Jumu‘ah prayers invalid or insist that Zuhr must be offered along with them.
An Act Contrary to the Sunnah and Its Responsibility
If, however, multiple Jumu‘ah prayers are held in one city without any genuine need, then this is certainly against the Sunnah and contrary to the practice of the Prophet ﷺ and the Rightly Guided Caliphs رضي الله عنهم.
Most scholars have prohibited this practice. Yet, to claim that such Jumu‘ah prayers are invalid or corrupted is not correct; rather, the blame lies on the rulers and organisers who allowed multiple Jumu‘ah congregations without necessity.
Thus, it is obligatory for the authorities not to permit multiple Jumu‘ah congregations without need, because the intent of the Sharī‘ah is that all Muslims gather in one place for worship, so that mutual love and unity are fostered, and those unfamiliar with Islamic rulings can learn the laws of the religion.
Types of Sharī‘ah-Prescribed Gatherings
① Daily Gathering:
In each neighbourhood mosque for the five daily prayers.
- The Sharī‘ah has allowed this in every locality to avoid hardship.
② Weekly Gathering:
On Friday, the Sunnah is for the entire city to gather in one place for Jumu‘ah.
- The great benefit is that all people pray behind one imām and khatīb and receive the same reminder.
③ Annual Gathering:
On the occasions of the two ‘Eids.
- Just as the Jumu‘ah gathering should be in one place, the ‘Eid gathering should also be in one place, except in cases of genuine necessity or valid excuse.
ھذا ما عندي والله أعلم بالصواب
