Question
(#018)
What is the minimum amount of people for Jumuah Salaah?
Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
حامدا و مصليا و مسلما
Muhtaram
We have received your query with regards to Jumuah Salaah, our response is as follows:
Jumuah Salaah is Fard Ayn (compulsory on each individual) upon whom the conditions of Jumuah are found. It has been established from the Noble Qur’an, Hadith and the consensus of the Ummah. It is one of the most salient features of Islam. The one who misses it without a valid excuse is a Fasiq.
Hadrat Ibn Umar and Abu Hurairah radiyallahu anhuma narrate that they heard Rasulullah Sallallahu alai wa sallam saying: “People should abstain from leaving out Jumuah Salaat. If not, Allah Ta’ala will put a seal over their hearts whereby they will fall into severe negligence.” (Muslim)
In Jumuah Salaah there needs to be at least three persons apart from the Imam i.e. four people in total. These four people need to be present from the beginning of the Khutbah till the Sajdah of the first Rakaat. Furthermore, the condition is that these four people are such that they are eligible for Imamat. Therefore, if there are only women or immature children, the Salaat will not be valid.
Therefore, under level 2 lockdown, people should try to perform their Jumuah Salaah (and also Eid Salaah) together with abiding by the guidelines set out by the government, such as not exceeding ten people etc. If the prerequisites for Jumuah are not met, then a person will perform Zuhr Salaah.
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Muhammad Irshad Motara
18th Ramadan 1441
12th May 2020
احسن الفتاوى:ج4-ص 439
رد المحتار: ج2-ص 416 -سعيد
فتاوى دار العلوم زكريا: ج3-ص302
