Minimum number required for Jumu’ah prayer

In regard Jumu'ah prayers, what is the minimum number of people
required to pray in congregation behind the imam. I have heard
different opinions ion reference to this such as some brothers have
told me that a minimum of 40 people are required while others have
said 2.Adifferent source has also said that only 2 people can
constitute to a congregation for jumu'ah prayers. Can you please
clarify this question for me.
Praise be to Allaah.
The Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas was asked the following question:
What is the number of men required for Jumu'ah prayer to be valid?
Some people say that it is not valid with less than forty men, and if
there is one less than that, they should pray Zuhr.
Answer: Establishing Jumu'ah prayers is obligatory (waajib) upon the
Muslims in their villages on Fridays, and it is necessary for there to
be a jamaa'ah (congregation) in order for the Jumu'ah prayer to be
valid. There is no proven evidence (daleel)which states that a
specific number is required; for the prayer to be valid it is
sufficient for there to be three or more people. It is not permissible
for a person who is obliged to pray Jumu'ah to pray Zuhr in its place
when there are less than forty people present – according to the
correct scholarly view. And Allaah is the source of strength. May
Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and
grant them peace.
Fataawaa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, part 8, p. 178

It is part of the Sunnah to turn one’s face towards the khateeb and look at him

During the Friday khutbah, some of the worshippers look at the
khateeb; some look straight ahead; some look at the ground; and some
close their eyes. Is there a specific Sunnah regarding this matter?
Praise be to Allaah.
It was narrated in a saheeh hadeeth that oneof the companions of the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: when the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) mounted the
minbar, we would turn our faces towards him.
(al-Silsilat al_Saheehah by al-Albaani, no. 2080)
It was narrated that Abaan ibn 'Abd-Allaah al-Bajili said: I saw
'Udayy ibn Thaabit turning to face the imaam when he stood todeliver
the khutbah. I said to him, I saw you turn your face towards the
imaam. He said, I saw the Companions of the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) doing that.
It was narrated that 'Abd-Allaah ibn Mas'ood said: when the Messenger
of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) mounted the
minbar, wewould turn our faces towards him him. This was narrated by
al-Tirmidhi, who said, in the same chapter there are reports narrated
from Ibn 'Umar and Muhammad ibn al-Fadl. According to the
scholarsamong the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) and others, this is to be followed. They regard it
as mustahabb to turn to face the imaam when hedelivers the khutbah.
This is the view of Sufyaan al-Thawri, al-Shaafa'i, Ahmad and Ishaaq.
It was narrated that Yahyaa ibn Sa'eed al-Ansaari said: "The Sunnah
when the imaamsits on the minbar on Friday is for all the people to
turn their faces towards him."
It was narrated from Naafi' that Ibn 'Umar used to finish his tasbeeh
before the imaam came out; when he came out, he would turn to face him
before the imaam even sat down.
Al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him) compiled these ahaadeeth in
al-Silsilat al-Saheehah, no. 2080, and commented on them.
It was narrated that Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with
him) said: "The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) sat on the minbar and we sat around him." (Narrated by
al-Bukhaari, 921)
Al-Bukhaari narrated thehadeeth in "Chapter: Theimaam facing the
people, and the people turning their faces towards the imaam when he
delivers the khutbah, and Ibn 'Umar and Anas (may Allaah be pleased
with them) turning their faces towards the imaam."
The point of the hadeethis that the fact that they sat around him to
listen to his words implies thatthey were looking at him in most
cases. This isnot affected by what was said earlier about the khateeb
standing during the khutbah, because this implies thathe used to speak
whilst he was sitting in a high place and they were sitting at a lower
point. If that was the case at times other than the khutbah, then it
is more appropriate to do that atthe time of the khutbah because there
is the command to listen to it attentively.
He said:
"One of the reasons for their turning their faces towards the imaam is
to facilitate their listening to his words, and to observe good
manners when listening to him. If a person turn his face towards him
with the proper physical posture and a focused mind, thatwill better
enable them to understand his preaching and is in accordance with the
reason why the khateeb is commanded to stand."
And Allaah knows best.

Acts of worship which are prescribed on Fridays

I know that Friday has many virtues. Could you tell me some acts of
worship that I can do on this day?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Yes, Friday is a good day;there are many ahaadeeth which speak of its
virtues. See Question no. 9211 .
There are many acts of worship which are prescribed for the Muslim to
do on this day.These include:
1 – Salaat al-Jumu'ah (Friday prayer)
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the
Salaah (prayer) on Friday (Jumu'ah prayer), come to the remembrance of
Allaah [Jumu'ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salaah (prayer)] and
leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if
you did but know!"
[al-Jumu'ah 62:9]
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Zaad al-Ma'aad (1/376):
Friday prayer is one of the most important obligations in Islam, and
one of the greatest gatherings of the Muslims. Gathering on Friday is
more importantand more obligatory than any other gathering apart from
'Arafah. Whoever neglects it, Allaah will place a seal on his heart.
It was narrated from Abu'l-Ja'd al-Damari – who was a companion of the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) – that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever neglects
threeJumu'ahs, Allaah will place a seal on his heart."
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1052; classed assaheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh
Abi Dawood, 928
It was narrated from 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Umar and Abu Hurayrah that they
heard the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) say on the minbar:
"Let people stop neglecting Jumu'ah, or Allaah will place a seal on
their hearts, then they will be among those who are neglectful."
Narrated by Muslim, 865.
2 – Making a lot of du'aa'.
On this day there is a time when a person's Lord will answer his
du'aa' – by Allaah's leave.
It was narrated from AbuHurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that
the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
mentioned Friday and said: "On this day there is a time when no Muslim
stands and prays,asking Allaah for something, but Allaah will grant
him it" – and he gestured with his hands to indicate how short that
time is.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari,893; Muslim, 852
3 – Reading Soorat al-Kahf.
It was narrated from AbuSa'eed al-Khduri that theProphet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever reads Soorat al-Kahf
on Friday, he willbe illuminated with lightbetween the two Fridays."
Narrated by al-Haakim; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh
al-Targheeb, 836
4 – Sending a lot of blessings upon the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him).
It was narrated from Aws ibn Aws that the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: "The best of your days is Friday. On that
day Adam(peace be upon him) was created; on that dayhe died; on that
day the Trumpet will be blown; and on that day all of creation will
swoon. So send a great deal of blessings upon me, for your blessings
will be shown to me." They said,"O Messenger of Allaah, how will our
blessings upon you be shown to you when you have turned to dust?" He
said, "Allaah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the
Prophets, peace be uponthem."
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1047; classed assaheeh by Ibn al-Qayyim in his
comments on Sunan Abi Dawood, 4/273; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 925.
He said in 'Awn al-Ma'bood:
Friday is singled out because it is the best of days and the chosen
day.So there is an advantageto sending blessings upon him on that day
that is not present on any other day.
Along with these virtues and acts of worship, the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade singling out Friday for
fasting, or singling out the night of Friday for doing acts of worship
that are not narrated in sharee'ah.
It was narrated from AbuHurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: "Do not single out the night of Friday
for qiyaam al-layl,and do not single out the day of Friday for
fasting, unless that is part of the habitual fasting of any one of
you."
(Narrated by Muslim, 1144).
Al-San'aani said in Subul al-Salaam:
This hadeeth indicates that it is haraam to single out the night of
Friday for worship or reading Qur'aan that is not one's regular
custom, apart from that which is indicated in thetexts, such as
reading Soorat al-Kahf.
Al-Nawawi said:
This hadeeth clearly states that it is forbiddento single out the
night ofFriday for prayer or the day of Friday for fasting. It is
agreed (among the scholars) that this is makrooh.
He also said:
The scholars said that the reason why it is forbidden to single out
Friday for fasting is that Friday is a day of du'aa', dhikr and
worship, such as ghusl, going early to the prayer, waiting for the
prayer, listening to the khutbah and recitinga lot of dhikr
afterwards,because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Then when the (Jumu'ah) Salaah (prayer) is ended, you may disperse
through the land, and seek the Bounty of Allaah (by working), and
remember Allaah much"
[al-Jumu'ah 62:10]
And there are other acts of worship to be done on this day. So it is
preferable not to fast then, as this will help a person to perform
these duties in an energetic manner and enjoy them without feeling
bored ortired. This is like the pilgrim on the day of 'Arafah in
'Arafah, because the Sunnah is for him not to fast on that day for the
same reason… This is the reason for not allowing singling out Friday
for fasting. And it was said that the reason is so thatpeople will
not go to extremes in venerating it as happened in the case of
Saturday. But thisview is weak, because on that day we offer Jumu'ah
prayer and do other acts of worship which are a kind of veneration.
And it was said that the reason for its prohibition is so that people
would not think that this was obligatory. This is also a weak view
because it is encouragedto fast on Mondays and there was no fear that
anyone would think it was obligatory. No attention should be paidto
this far-fetched view. The same argument is applicable in the case of
fasting the day of 'Arafah and the day of 'Ashoora', etc. The correct
view is that which we have stated above.
And Allaah knows best.

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

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Not Afraid of Losing the Job

When Mufti Muhammad Shafee' (rahmatullahi alayh) came to Pakistan
(from India), he was appointed as a member of the Islamic Education
Board by the Government. This Board was one of the sections of the
Government. Oncethe Government decidedto take an action, which was
contrary to Islamic Laws. Mufti Shafee' was prompt to oppose it and
explained that due to it'sbeing against the teachings of Islaam, it
should not be adopted. His remarks, however, prompted a debate between
the Government officers, many of whom began tocriticise the respected
Mufti for having said what he did, as he was amember of the Board and
part of the Government.
Seeing this, Mufti Shafee' bluntly addressed the gatheringand said
that he had agreed to become a Member of the Board only for the sake
of Islaam, and therefore, it was his duty to object to what was
unislamic, regardless of whether his objection was in agreement with
the line of the Government or not. He clarified that he was not a
Government servant and unlike them was not worried about losing his
job. He said, "I have my resignation letter in my pocket and my
expenses do not exceed a few rupees, so Iam not dependent on salary
and allowances like you. I can earn that much money by hard labour
too, while you cannot because your suitalone costs two hundredrupees,
so, you might fear losing your job."