Can Jumuʿah (Friday Prayer) Be Held in Small Villages or Settlements?
Source: Fatāwā Amunpūrī by Shaykh Ghulām Mustafa Zaheer Amunpūrī
Is it permissible to establish Jumuʿah (Friday) prayer in villages or small settlements?
Yes, Jumuʿah prayer can be performed in villages and small towns.
The term “qaryah” (قَرْيَة) in Arabic refers to both cities and villages.
According to the consensus of the Muslims, Jumuʿah is to be established wherever there are Muslims — be it a city, village, desert, or forest.
Where three or more Muslims are present, they may establish the Friday prayer.
To say that Jumuʿah is only valid in large cities and not in villages is a baseless claim.
Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:
"The first Jumuʿah prayer after the one held in the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was held in the Masjid of ʿAbd al-Qays in Jawāthā, a village in Bahrain."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 892)
Imām Ibn al-Jawzī رحمه الله (597 AH) said:
"This is evidence that Jumuʿah may be held in villages. It is the view of Imām Mālik, Imām al-Shāfiʿī, and Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.
As for Abū Ḥanīfah, he held the view that Jumuʿah is valid only in cities."
(Kashf al-Mushkil min Ḥadīth al-Ṣaḥīḥayn: 2/420)
Sayyidunā ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه wrote in a letter:
"Establish Jumuʿah wherever you are."
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: 2/101 – Chain is ṣaḥīḥ)
→ This statement is general and unrestricted, showing that Jumuʿah can be held in any place, not just major cities. To restrict it to cities only is an unproven condition.
Sayyidunā ʿAlī رضي الله عنه said:
"There is no Jumuʿah or Eid except in a place where there is a central congregation (miṣr jāmiʿ)."
(Maʿrifat al-Sunan wa al-Āthār by al-Bayhaqī: 6330 – Chain is ṣaḥīḥ)
This statement does not negate Jumuʿah in villages, but scholars have explained it in two ways:
① Imām al-Dhahabī رحمه الله (748 AH) said:
"What is most consistent with the sayings and practices of the Salaf is that Jumuʿah is established in villages where the inhabitants are residents and not travelers. This is what ʿAlī رضي الله عنه meant."
(al-Muhadhdhab fī Ikhtiṣār al-Sunan al-Kabīr: 3/1109)
② Imām Ibn Rajab رحمه الله (795 AH) said:
"ʿAlī رضي الله عنه meant such villages where an official governor (appointed by the Caliph or Imām) exists. His intention was to affirm that Jumuʿah requires the permission of the Imām, and is valid in a place where his deputy leads it with that permission. This is the explanation given by Imām Aḥmad in one of his narrations."
(Fatḥ al-Bārī by Ibn Rajab: 8/140)
✔ Jumuʿah prayer is valid in villages, settlements, and all places where Muslims are settled.
✔ To restrict it only to large cities is a minority opinion and contradicts authentic texts, the practice of the Companions, and the majority of the jurists.
✔ The correct view is that wherever there are resident Muslims (not merely travelers), and they fulfill the necessary conditions for Jumuʿah, it should be established.
Source: Fatāwā Amunpūrī by Shaykh Ghulām Mustafa Zaheer Amunpūrī
❖ Question:
Is it permissible to establish Jumuʿah (Friday) prayer in villages or small settlements?
✿ Answer:
Yes, Jumuʿah prayer can be performed in villages and small towns.
The term “qaryah” (قَرْيَة) in Arabic refers to both cities and villages.
According to the consensus of the Muslims, Jumuʿah is to be established wherever there are Muslims — be it a city, village, desert, or forest.
Where three or more Muslims are present, they may establish the Friday prayer.
To say that Jumuʿah is only valid in large cities and not in villages is a baseless claim.
❀ Authentic Evidence:
Sayyidunā ʿAbdullāh ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما said:
"The first Jumuʿah prayer after the one held in the Masjid of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was held in the Masjid of ʿAbd al-Qays in Jawāthā, a village in Bahrain."
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 892)❀ Scholarly Commentary:
Imām Ibn al-Jawzī رحمه الله (597 AH) said:"This is evidence that Jumuʿah may be held in villages. It is the view of Imām Mālik, Imām al-Shāfiʿī, and Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal.
As for Abū Ḥanīfah, he held the view that Jumuʿah is valid only in cities."
(Kashf al-Mushkil min Ḥadīth al-Ṣaḥīḥayn: 2/420) Sayyidunā ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه wrote in a letter:"Establish Jumuʿah wherever you are."
(Muṣannaf Ibn Abī Shaybah: 2/101 – Chain is ṣaḥīḥ)→ This statement is general and unrestricted, showing that Jumuʿah can be held in any place, not just major cities. To restrict it to cities only is an unproven condition.
❖ Clarification on the Statement of ʿAlī رضي الله عنه:
Sayyidunā ʿAlī رضي الله عنه said:
"There is no Jumuʿah or Eid except in a place where there is a central congregation (miṣr jāmiʿ)."
(Maʿrifat al-Sunan wa al-Āthār by al-Bayhaqī: 6330 – Chain is ṣaḥīḥ)This statement does not negate Jumuʿah in villages, but scholars have explained it in two ways:
Two Scholarly Interpretations:
① Imām al-Dhahabī رحمه الله (748 AH) said:
"What is most consistent with the sayings and practices of the Salaf is that Jumuʿah is established in villages where the inhabitants are residents and not travelers. This is what ʿAlī رضي الله عنه meant."
(al-Muhadhdhab fī Ikhtiṣār al-Sunan al-Kabīr: 3/1109)② Imām Ibn Rajab رحمه الله (795 AH) said:
"ʿAlī رضي الله عنه meant such villages where an official governor (appointed by the Caliph or Imām) exists. His intention was to affirm that Jumuʿah requires the permission of the Imām, and is valid in a place where his deputy leads it with that permission. This is the explanation given by Imām Aḥmad in one of his narrations."
(Fatḥ al-Bārī by Ibn Rajab: 8/140) Conclusion:
✔ Jumuʿah prayer is valid in villages, settlements, and all places where Muslims are settled.
✔ To restrict it only to large cities is a minority opinion and contradicts authentic texts, the practice of the Companions, and the majority of the jurists.
✔ The correct view is that wherever there are resident Muslims (not merely travelers), and they fulfill the necessary conditions for Jumuʿah, it should be established.
