Ruling on Jumu‘ah in Villages and the Prohibition of Offering Dhuhr Afterwards

Ruling on Jumu‘ah Prayer in Villages and the Issue of Offering Dhuhr Afterwards


Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah (Tawdih al-Ahkam)

❖ Question​

Some scholars say that Jumu‘ah prayer is only held in cities, but nowadays it is also performed in small villages. If Jumu‘ah is held in a village, is it correct to pray Dhuhr alone or in congregation afterwards?

❖ Answer​

Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba’d!

1. Jumu‘ah is Not Limited to Cities​

• The establishment of Jumu‘ah prayer is not restricted to cities; it may be performed in both villages and cities.
• There is no explicit or decisive prohibition in the Qur’an or Hadith restricting it to cities only.

2. Qur’an and Sunnah on Jumu‘ah​

• The general commands of the Qur’an and the Sunnah regarding Jumu‘ah apply equally to both urban and rural areas.
• Jumu‘ah requires a congregation, and even two people can constitute a congregation:

"الاثنان فما فوقھما جماعة"
(Al-Mustadrak al-Hakim, Hadith: 8027)
“Two or more persons form a congregation.”

3. Obligation of Jumu‘ah in Villages​

• In light of this hadith, Jumu‘ah is obligatory upon the residents of every village.
• No authentic hadith establishes a fixed minimum number (like 40 or 15 people) for Jumu‘ah.

4. Ruling on Offering Dhuhr After Jumu‘ah​

• Performing Dhuhr prayer after Jumu‘ah as a precaution is:
  
  • A bid‘ah (innovation)
  • A deviation (dalalah)
  • Without any evidence from the Qur’an, the Sunnah, or the practice of the Companions.

ھذا ما عندي واللہ أعلم بالصواب