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Multiple Salaatul Jumu’ah During the COVID

Answered as per Hanafi Fiqh by DarulIftaBirmingham

Answered by: Maulana Burhaan Rahman

Question:

Hope you are well and in good spirits. Due to coronavirus restrictions everywhere in the world and people adopt new procedures and trying to keep Masajids open.

We are living in Canada here is not like Muslim countries (India, Pakistan or Egypt) lots of Masajids. Due to COVID, there are restrictions on 30 people who can only be in prayer at one time.  At this unprecedented time of pandemic can we make more than one (Multiple) Salatul Jummah Iqama in one masjid?

For example 1st Jummah 1:15 pm, 2nd Jummah 1:45 pm 3rd Jummah 2:15 pm 4th Jummah 2:45 pm or more before starting time of Salatul ASR.

Our main reason is to facilitate as much as possible worshipers praying Salatul Jumma. Keep in mind we are in a pandemic and in our city only 4 Masjids and Thousands of Muslims living in the city. As you know everywhere in the huge world is gathering in Salatul Jumma in Masajid.

Please guide us in this matter as per Quran and Sunnah which is highly appreciated.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

Every aqil (sane), baligh (puberty-aged) Muslim man is required to attend Friday prayer. It is forbidden to skip Jumu’ah prayers prayed in congregation.

Allah SWT has mentioned:

يٰۤاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡۤا اِذَا نُوۡدِىَ لِلصَّلٰوةِ مِنۡ يَّوۡمِ الۡجُمُعَةِ فَاسۡعَوۡا اِلٰى ذِكۡرِ اللّٰهِ وَذَرُوا الۡبَيۡعَ​ ؕ ذٰ لِكُمۡ خَيۡرٌ لَّـكُمۡ اِنۡ كُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُوۡنَ

When the call to prayer is made on Friday, believers rush to Allah’s remembrance and abandon all trading. If you only knew, it would be better for you [Surah Jumu’ah verse 9]

Now if there is a situation like what we have right now (Covid-19) where fewer people are allowed to attend congregation than normal, then multiple Jamaa’ahs (congregations) can be held to have as many people as possible to attend the Jumu’ah prayers.

Suppose the government decides to impose quarantine, isolation, or a reduced congregation on someone. In that case, he must obey, including not attending Friday prayers or prayers in congregation/attending in particular numbers, etc.

Our beloved Prophet (SAW) said:

الصُّلْحُ جَائِزٌ بَيْنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إِلاَّ صُلْحًا حَرَّمَ حَلاَلاً أَوْ أَحَلَّ حَرَامًا

Reconciling between Muslims is permissible, except for reconciliation that forbids something that is allowed, or allows something that is forbidden. [Ibn Majah Hadeeth no: 2353]

You are trying to reconcile a matter regarding praying Jumu’ah at covid times for the Muslims, multiple Jumu’ah congregations are allowed by the will of Allah

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Burhaan Rahman

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

This answer was collected from DarulIftaBirmingham.co.uk, which is run under the supervision of Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah from the United Kingdom.

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