Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
We conduct Friday prayers in a non-Muslim college (in Chennai, India) during the lunch break, as we cannot go over to the mosque for the same due to lack of time. Ever since, we started doing so, by Allah’s grace, the going has been smooth. However, I find that there are a few persons (students and staffs) who , when they miss their jumma prayers in the college do not bother to go over to the mosque. They simply pray Zuhr prayers individually. Earlier, they used to go over to the mosque whenever “time permits them”. Now my question is that whether we can continue to conduct the jumma prayers for the sake of few good Muslims who are interested in the prayers or should we discontinue it because a few other Muslims just don’t feel like going over to mosque when they can because the prayer is conducted within the college premises itself. Therefore, they just pray Zuhr whenever they come late for jumma. Please advise.
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate
Walaikum assalam,
1. It is obligatory for Muslims to establish Friday (Jumu`ah) prayers, and personally obligatory for adult male Muslims to attend this prayer. It is also obligatory to take the reasonable means to ensure that one does, in fact get to pray it.
2. It is highly sinful to simply pray Zuhr instead. As such, all the male Muslims on campus should be encouraged to attend the Friday prayers, in the best and most effective of ways. [ref: Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar; Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]
3. One should take the means, also, to ensure that the khutba (and bayan) given are relevant and inspiring. People who find spiritual benefit in attending would not normally stay away.
And Allah alone gives success.
Walaikum assalam,
Faraz Rabbani.