Special Prayers: How to Pray Jummah Salah 

How to Prepare for Jummah Prayer 

On the blessed day of Jummah, there are several positive etiquettes that have been recommended (especially for men) to prepare for the Friday prayer. These include: 

1. Perform Ghusul (Ritual purification bath) 

2. Use the Miswaak (Toothstick) 

3. Wear the best, cleanest clothes according to the Sunnah (modest but elegant) 

4. Apply Ittar (Natural fragrance oils) 

5. Cut the fingernails and toenails 

6. Conduct private self-grooming (clean private areas of hair) 

7. Conduct outer self-grooming by combing the hair and beard 

Where to Offer Jummah Prayers 

The Jummah prayer must be offered in a central place where the largest congregation can most easily gather; this is preferably the main Masjid in a locality. The larger the residential area of a population (e.g. a town, city), the more important it is that the prayer location be a centralised one for everyone’s access. 

Jummah Salah is a means to gather the whole community together, and therefore the more central and bigger the Masjid, the better. It is not obligatory for every Masjid to offer the Jummah prayers, however it is better if the location of the Jummah Prayer is a place where the five daily prayers are offered regularly.  

If there is no Masjid in a locality then Jummah is permitted in any location where it is also permitted to offer the five daily prayers. 

How to Perform Jummah Prayer 

The method of performing the Jummah prayer is not the same as any of the other congregational prayers. The Jummah prayer must be offered during Zuhr time, and it replaces the Zuhr prayer on Friday. 

There are Two Adhaans (Calls to Prayer); the first is called at the beginning of the prayer time and the second is called just before the Imam (Congregational prayer leader) stands to recite the Arabic Khutbah (Obligatory Jummah Sermon). 

This is the sequence of the acts of worship, in order: 

1. First Adhaan 

2. 4 Sunnah Mua’akkadah (Regularly performed, emphasised Sunnah) Rakats 

3. Second Adhaan 

4. Public Sermon (if being offered) 

5. Arabic Khutbah  

6. 2 Fard (Obligatory) Rakats in congregation 

7. 4 Sunnah Mua’akkadah Rakats  

8. 2 Sunnah Mua’akkadah Rakats 

9. 2 Nafal (Optional) Rakats 

Importance of Jummah Khutbah and Etiquettes of Listening to it 

The Imam must recite the Obligatory Khutbah in Arabic from the pulpit before the Jummah Salah begins. As the Arabic Khutbah is an act of worship, it is Makrooh Tahrimi (Disliked to the point of prohibition) for anybody present to do anything other than listening to the Khutbah. 

This prohibition extends to: 

• Eating 

• Drinking 

• Talking 

• Walking 

• Reading Dua (Supplication) 

• Reading Tasbeeh (Litany on prayer beads) 

• Offering (any) prayer  

Those present must sit quietly listening to the Khutbah as if they were sitting in prayer. The level to which we should be silent is communicated to us by holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. It is reported in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 851 that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

إِذَا قُلْتَ لِصَاحِبِكَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ أَنْصِتْ، وَالإِمَامُ يَخْطُبُ، فَقَدْ لَغَوْتَ 

‘If you say to your companion on Friday, ‘Be quiet,’ while the Imam is delivering the Khutbah, then you have engaged in idle talk (Laghw).’ 

Significance of Supplication Between the Two Khutbahs 

There is no specific supplication recommended on the day of Jummah. However, there is a time on the day of Jummah when Duas (supplications) are said to be answered and some scholars have said that it is when the Imam sits down between the two Khutbahs.  

Therefore, it is highly recommended for people to silently make Dua in their hearts when the Imam or the speaker of the sermon sit down between the two Khutbahs. Any supplication should be silent and without raising one’s hands as it is still Makrooh Tahrimi to disrupt the time of the Khutbah in any way. 

Recommended Optional Actions Prescribed for the Day of Jummah 

Some other highly recommended acts on Jummah include: 

1. Reciting Surah Al Kahf 

2. Increasing in Salawaat and Durood (Salutations on holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) 

3. Increasing Wazaaif and Awraad (Prescribed Invocations) and Zikr (Remembrance of Allah Almighty) 

4. Seeking forgiveness from Allah Almighty 

5. Visiting family members 

6. Visiting the sick and offering them help 

7. Visiting the cemetery to make Dua for the deceased 

8. Increasing in good actions generally 

It is reported in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 1098 that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

إِنَّ هَذَا يَوْمُ عِيدٍ، جَعَلَهُ اللَّهُ لِلْمُسْلِمِينَ 

‘Indeed, this is a day of Eid which Allah Almighty has prescribed for the Muslims.’  

The day of Jummah brings Muslims together all over the world to worship Allah Almighty in a unified manner, no matter where they are. And is an unparalleled opportunity for mankind to benefit every week from the amazing rewards and mercy Allah Almighty has filled it with. 

We should never forget the immense mercy Allah Almighty has allowed us through gifting us this beautiful day in such regularity. 

Shaykh Asim Awan

Author

LLB, BA Islamic Scholar, Solicitor & Senior Partner

Graduate of Hijaz College, Maulana Asim completed his LLB at the University of London while he was studying at Hijaz College, attaining an MA Islamic Law and Theology in 2009. He is a qualified solicitor working in Birmingham. He is a Hafiz of the Quran and has been teaching Islamic theology since his graduation. He is also the curriculum convener for the Hijaz Diploma course and a key member of the Muslim Arbitration Tribunal. He is happily married and a father of three beautiful children.