Question:
What is the ruling for a person who purposely arrives late at the mosque for his Friday prayer?
Answer:
Allah SWT states:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
“O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you if you only knew.” [1]
Syeikh Jalaluddin al-Mahalli explained it is prohibited for those of whom it is obligatory for them to perform Friday prayer but busied themselves with trade and other affairs after the muezzin has called out the second adhan in front of the khatib. [2] Furthermore, according to Syeikh ‘Umairah, although the house of a person is near the mosque and he is certain that he will be able to attain the rewards of Friday prayer if he attended in the middle of the sermon, it is still prohibited for him to stay at home on any other matter. This is in accordance with the clear evidence, “إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ…” (When the adhan is called for prayer…) [3]
Let us together reflect on the favours granted for those who are early for the Friday prayer. From Abu Hurairah RA, Rasullullah PBUH said:
مَنِ اغْتَسَلَ يَوْمَ الجُمُعَةِ غُسْلَ الجَنَابَةِ ثُمَّ رَاحَ، فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ بَدَنَةً، وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ، فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ بَقَرَةً، وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ، فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ كَبْشًا أَقْرَنَ، وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الرَّابِعَةِ، فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ دَجَاجَةً، وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الخَامِسَةِ، فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ بَيْضَةً، فَإِذَا خَرَجَ الإِمَامُ حَضَرَتِ المَلاَئِكَةُ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الذِّكْرَ
“If someone does ghusl for major ritual impurity on the day of jumuah and then goes in the first part of the time, it is as if he had offered up a camel. If he goes in the second part of the time, it is as if he had offered up a cow. If he goes in the third part of the time, it is as if he had offered up a horned ram. If he goes in the fourth part of the time, it is as if he had offered up a hen. If he goes in the fifth part of the time, it is as if he had offered up an egg. And when the imam comes out, the angels settle down listening to the dhikr (remembrance of Allah).” [4]
Wallahua’lam.
[2] Kanz al-Raghibin Sharḥ Minhāj al-Ṭālibīn, 1/ 334
[3] Hāshiyah ʿUmayrah ʿalā al-Maḥallī, 1/ 334
[4] Narrated by al-Bukhari, no. 881 dan Muslim, no. 850
