Jumu'ah: the Friday prayer
On Friday the midday prayer is replaced by the Jumu'ah prayer: a sermon (khutbah) and two rak'ahs in congregation. It is one of the clearest signs of the Muslim community.
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوۡمِ ٱلۡجُمُعَةِ فَٱسۡعَوۡاْ إِلَىٰ ذِكۡرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُواْ ٱلۡبَيۡعَۚ ذَٰلِكُمۡ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ ﴿٩﴾ فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةُ فَٱنتَشِرُواْ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱبۡتَغُواْ مِن فَضۡلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱذۡكُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرٗا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ ﴿١٠﴾
Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo itha noodiya lilssalati min yawmi aljumuʿati faisʿaw ila thikri Allahi watharoo albayʿa thalikum khayrun lakum in kuntum taʿlamoona Faitha qudiyati alssalatu faintashiroo fee alardi waibtaghoo min fadli Allahi waothkuroo Allaha katheeran laʿallakum tuflihoona
O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often that you may succeed
Quran 62:9-10 · Surah Al-Jumu'ah · Translation: Saheeh International · Transliteration: Tanzil.net
The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday: on it Adam was created, on it he was admitted to Paradise and on it he was expelled from it.
Sahih Muslim
Who must attend?
Jumu'ah is obligatory for every adult, sane, healthy Muslim man who is not travelling. Women, children, the sick and travellers are not obliged, but if they attend, their Jumu'ah counts and they do not pray Dhuhr.
Whoever leaves three Jumu'ahs out of negligence, Allah seals his heart.
Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasa'i
How it works
- Time: the time of Dhuhr. The adhan is called when the imam sits on the minbar.
- Khutbah: the imam gives two sermons with a short sitting between them. Listen in silence.
- Prayer: two rak'ahs, recited aloud, in place of the four of Dhuhr.
Whoever arrives during the second rak'ah still catches Jumu'ah and adds one rak'ah after the imam's salam; whoever only catches the final sitting prays four rak'ahs of Dhuhr, according to most scholars.
Etiquette of Friday
- Ghusl, clean clothes and perfume (al-Bukhari)
- Come early: the earlier, the greater the reward, like offering a camel, then a cow, then a ram (al-Bukhari, Muslim)
- Silence during the khutbah: even saying "be quiet" to your neighbour is idle talk (al-Bukhari, Muslim)
- Read Surah al-Kahf, send many blessings on the Prophet ﷺ and make dua in the hour of acceptance
More about the Sunnah of Friday: Sunnah of Friday.
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Frequently asked questions
How many rakats is Jumu'ah?
Two obligatory rak'ahs after the khutbah. Many pray sunnah before it, and after it four rak'ahs (or two at home), as the Prophet ﷺ did (Muslim).
Do I pray Dhuhr after Jumu'ah?
No. Jumu'ah replaces Dhuhr. Whoever missed Jumu'ah prays four rak'ahs of Dhuhr instead.
This article was written with the help of AI. Quran verses are inserted directly from the Quran text (translation: Saheeh International); it is general information, not a religious ruling (fatwa). For your own situation, ask a qualified scholar. Found a mistake? Write to support@hadaff.de.