Question:
Assalamualaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu. We live in a community with a few masajid that offer Salat-ul-Jumma however due to the tight schedule of many students, we also have a small University congregation that comes together every Friday to perform Salat-ul-Jumma’ in a building open to anyone (non-University individuals as well). I often have been asked to lead the Khutbah which leads me to my question. I have read on the website about the issue of having 40 congregants and thus my question is regarding the desirability of leading a congregation of anywhere between 10-30 individuals when you had advance knowledge of the rough numbers being less than 40. The reason I ask this is because there are very few brothers here willing to lead the Khutbah. Lastly, if it is permissible to lead the Khutbah, would it be desirable to offer Salat-ul-Dhuhr as a precaution afterwards?
Country: United States
Answer:
Wa alaykum salam wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuHu,
As known, the number of participants needed to perform the Friday prayer is an issue upon which the scholars differ.
In Kitab al-Umm v. 2, p. 378-80, and likewise in Mukhtasar al-Muzani p. 42, Imam Shafi’i discussed requirements for the number of participants, the characteristics of the town in which the Friday prayer is performed, and specifics regarding those attending. Imam Shafi’i opined that forty participants are the minimum to ensure validity. It is the Madhhab’s well-known view, being documented in Imam Shafi’i’s books and transmitted from the majority of the As-hab al-Wujuh, as Imam Nawawi stated in Sharh al-Muhadhdhab v. 4, p. 502.
Imam Nawawi does cite Ibn al-Qass’ Talkhis as transmitting another view from Imam Shafi’i, namely a qawl qadim [an ‘Iraqi/withdrawn opinion] that three suffices. And ascribing this to Imam Shafi’i is a matter contested by the As-hab; in fact, both Qaffal and Abu ‘Ali al-Sinji refuted it. (Rawdat al-Talibin v. 2, p. 7; Sharh al-Muhadhdhab v. 4, p. 502)
The first Friday prayer was performed at Medinah. (Fath al-Bari v. 2, p. 378-80) In Kitab al-Umm, Imam Shafi’i related that when the Prophet Muhammad reached Medina, he performed it with forty men. In Mustadarak v. 1, p. 417, Hakim related a report stating that one of the first Friday prayers in Medinah was attended by forty men. Hakim said this is to Imam Muslim’s standard, as Hafiz Dhahabi also affirmed. In Kabir v. 1, p. 305, Tabarani also narrated it.
According to other authorities, like Imam Abu Hanifah, the Friday prayer may be performed with less: three and an imam. (Hashiyat Ibn ‘Abidin v. 3, p. 24) According to the Hanafis, in the verse, “Then come to Allah’s remembrance [i.e. the Friday prayers],” (Surah al-Jumu’ah 9) the verb فاسعوا is featured in the plural form; and in the Arabic language the minimum implied with a plural is three. Thus, it is said that the minimum required for the Friday prayer is three.
Other authorities applied their independent legal reasoning [ijtihad], and thereby reached an opinion that conforms to the Hanafi view. Imam Suyuti, Ibn al-Mundhir, and Imam Muzani all maintain the view. (al-Hawi lil-Fatawi v. 1, p. 66) Perhaps these authorities would understand the reports in which a greater number was mentioned, like Hakim and Tabarani’s hadith as not being explicit in negating that a lesser number of participants would also allow for a valid Friday prayer.
In conclusion, Imam Shafi’i opined that forty is requisite for the Friday prayer. And thus, this is the well-known position of the Shafi’i Madhhab. Other mujtahids well-versed in deriving guidance from the primary sources researched the issue and reached a conclusion that less is also acceptable. It is permissible to follow their view.
And Allah knows best.
Shafiifiqh.com Fatwa Dept.