Jumu‘ah in Villages — Evidences and Views of the Salaf
Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), Vol. 2, p. 104
Is it permissible to hold the Jumu‘ah prayer in a village?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d:
Yes — not only is it permissible to perform the Jumu‘ah prayer in a village, but it is also obligatory when conditions are met. This is clearly established by the evidences of the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the consensus of the early generations.
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ…﴿٩﴾ [Sūrat al-Jumu‘ah: 9]
"O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for prayer on the Day of Jumu‘ah, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade."
Ḥadīth of Ṭāriq bin Shihāb رضي الله عنه:
"Jumu‘ah is a duty upon every Muslim in congregation, except for four: a slave, a woman, a child, or a sick person."
Source: [Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 1067 — authentic up to Ṭāriq]
Ḥadīth of Ḥafṣah رضي الله عنها:
"It is obligatory upon every adult to attend Jumu‘ah."
Sources: [Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 342], [Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah: 1721], [Ibn Ḥibbān: 1217]
Numerous other authentic narrations also prove its obligation (Muslim 865, Abī Dāwūd 1052, Ibn Mājah 1126, etc.).
① Ibn ‘Abbās رضي الله عنهما: "Whoever abandons three Jumu‘ahs has thrown Islam behind his back."
② Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه: "Pray Jumu‘ah wherever it is held."
③ ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz instructed that Jumu‘ah be held even in places with water sources (small settlements).
④ Imām al-Zuhrī: Gave fatwā for Jumu‘ah in small villages.
⑤ Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه: Offered Jumu‘ah and Eid in the village of Zāwiyah.
⑥ Imām Mālik: Reported that the Companions prayed Jumu‘ah between Makkah and Madinah.
⑦ Imām al-Bukhārī: Made a chapter "Jumu‘ah in Villages and Cities."
⑧ Ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما: Did not object to Jumu‘ah being prayed in water-source settlements.
⑨ Imām Abū Dāwūd: Created a chapter "Jumu‘ah in Villages."
⑩ ‘Aṭā’ ibn Abī Rabāḥ: Said that in any village where houses are connected, Jumu‘ah should be prayed.
From the Qur’an, authentic Sunnah, the practice of the Companions and Tābi‘īn, and the views of the majority of scholars, it is clear that Jumu‘ah is valid and obligatory in villages where the conditions of congregation are met.
وَالله أعلم بالصواب
Source: Fatāwā ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawḍīḥ al-Aḥkām), Vol. 2, p. 104
Question:
Is it permissible to hold the Jumu‘ah prayer in a village?
Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, waṣ-ṣalātu wa-s-salāmu ‘alā Rasūlillāh, ammā ba‘d:
Yes — not only is it permissible to perform the Jumu‘ah prayer in a village, but it is also obligatory when conditions are met. This is clearly established by the evidences of the Qur’an, Sunnah, and the consensus of the early generations.
Part One: Qur’anic Evidence
Allah ﷻ says:
﴿يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ…﴿٩﴾ [Sūrat al-Jumu‘ah: 9]
"O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for prayer on the Day of Jumu‘ah, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade."
- The wording "O you who believe" applies to all believers, whether in cities or villages.
- Imām al-Bukhārī used this verse to prove the obligation of Jumu‘ah.
- Sayyidunā ‘Umar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه interpreted "fa-imḍū" as "go to the remembrance of Allah" (Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī 28/65 — authentic chain).
Part Two: Other Sharī‘ah Evidences
Ḥadīth of Ṭāriq bin Shihāb رضي الله عنه:
"Jumu‘ah is a duty upon every Muslim in congregation, except for four: a slave, a woman, a child, or a sick person."
Source: [Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 1067 — authentic up to Ṭāriq]
Ḥadīth of Ḥafṣah رضي الله عنها:
"It is obligatory upon every adult to attend Jumu‘ah."
Sources: [Sunan Abī Dāwūd: 342], [Ṣaḥīḥ Ibn Khuzaymah: 1721], [Ibn Ḥibbān: 1217]
Numerous other authentic narrations also prove its obligation (Muslim 865, Abī Dāwūd 1052, Ibn Mājah 1126, etc.).
Part Three: Reports from the Salaf
① Ibn ‘Abbās رضي الله عنهما: "Whoever abandons three Jumu‘ahs has thrown Islam behind his back."
② Abū Hurayrah رضي الله عنه: "Pray Jumu‘ah wherever it is held."
③ ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azīz instructed that Jumu‘ah be held even in places with water sources (small settlements).
④ Imām al-Zuhrī: Gave fatwā for Jumu‘ah in small villages.
⑤ Anas ibn Mālik رضي الله عنه: Offered Jumu‘ah and Eid in the village of Zāwiyah.
⑥ Imām Mālik: Reported that the Companions prayed Jumu‘ah between Makkah and Madinah.
⑦ Imām al-Bukhārī: Made a chapter "Jumu‘ah in Villages and Cities."
⑧ Ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنهما: Did not object to Jumu‘ah being prayed in water-source settlements.
⑨ Imām Abū Dāwūd: Created a chapter "Jumu‘ah in Villages."
⑩ ‘Aṭā’ ibn Abī Rabāḥ: Said that in any village where houses are connected, Jumu‘ah should be prayed.
Part Four: Addressing Common Objections
- Claim: Jumu‘ah is only for cities.
Refutation: The villages of Jawāthā and Ḥarrah Bani Bayāḍah were rural, and the Companions prayed Jumu‘ah there. - Claim: Ḥadīth "No Jumu‘ah or Tashrīq except in a main city."
Refutation: This indicates lesser completeness, not invalidity. - Claim: The people of Qubā’ did not pray Jumu‘ah.
Refutation: The Prophet ﷺ was travelling at the time; Jumu‘ah is not obligatory for travellers. - Claim: Narrations that Bedouins are exempt from Jumu‘ah.
Refutation: The narrations are weak in chain. - Claim: Not praying Jumu‘ah in ‘Arafāt proves non-obligation in villages.
Refutation: The Ḥajj prayer at ‘Arafāt is a special case (combined prayers).
Conclusion:
From the Qur’an, authentic Sunnah, the practice of the Companions and Tābi‘īn, and the views of the majority of scholars, it is clear that Jumu‘ah is valid and obligatory in villages where the conditions of congregation are met.
وَالله أعلم بالصواب
