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Resolutions of Iftaa' Board

Resolution No.(227): "Ruling on Praying Jumu`ah in More than One Mosque in the Same Town"

Date Added : 28-11-2016

Resolution No.(227) by the Board of Iftaa`, Research and Islamic Studies.

"The Ruling on Praying Jumu`ah in more than one Mosque in the Same Town"

Date: (23/Shawal/1437 AH), corresponding to (28/7/2016 AD).

 

All perfect praise be to the Lord of the Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

On the above date, the Board reviewed the question sent from the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and Holy Places, and it reads as follows:

What is the ruling on praying Jumu`ah in more than one mosque in the same town?

After deliberations, the Board decided the following:

Jumu`ah was called as such because it brings people together in one place. Until recently, Jumu`ah was held in the big Jaami` mosque (i.e. the main or central mosque of a town, city or village). When Muslims became numerous and mosques could no longer accommodate them, praying Jumu`ah in more than one mosque has become a necessity. However, holding it in more mosques than what is actually needed is a matter of disagreement amongst the Muslim scholars. For example, the majority of the Shafii, Maliki and Hanabali scholars have considered holding  Jumu`ah in more than one mosque in the same town for no valid reason unlawful. Doing this is lawful if the Jaami mosque is too small to accommodate the number of the people who pray in it or the town has expanded to a level where it is difficult for all its residents to pray in one mosque.

Pointing out the conditions for the validity of the Jumu`ah prayer, Al-Khateeb Ash-Shirbini (May Allah have mercy on him) said: " ………..Third: It shouldn`t be preceded by another Jumu`ah nor coincide with one, unless the town was too expanded and it became difficult for its residents to pray in one mosque. In this case, it is lawful for them to pray Jumu`ah in more than one mosque as much as actually needed." {Moghni Al-Mohtajj}.

Sheikh Miarah, a Maliki scholar, stated: "The apparent view of the Maliki scholars is that they unanimously agree that it is unlawful to pray Jumu`ah in two mosques in a small town. Their disagreement pertains to the big town……their  famous opinion is that it is unlawful. However, people, in my time, consider it lawful because it is difficult for the residents of a big town to pray in one mosque." {Ad-Dur Al-Thameen, pp.363}.

Al-Imam Al-Mardawi (May Allah have mercy on him), a Hanbali scholar, stated: "It is unlawful to hold Friday or Jumu`a prayer in two mosques if there is no necessity for doing so, and this is the approved opinion of our Madhab (school of thought) as well as our fellow scholars. In a narration after Imam Ahmad Bin Hanbal: It is generally lawful, but this opinion is his (Ahmad`s). Al-Qadhi adopted the opinion of Imam Ahmad if there was a need to hold Friday prayer in more than one mosque. Need here means: the mosque is small, far or sedition is likely." {Al-Insaf, vol.2/pp.400}.

Moreover, the Hanafi scholars have two opinions in this regard. Their approved opinion is that it is lawful to hold Friday prayer in two mosques or more, even if there was no necessity, as is the opinion of Al-Imam Abo Hanifah and Mohammad Al-Hasan (May Allah have mercy on both of them).

Al-Imam Al-Sarkhasi (May Allah have mercy on him) stated: "Narrations have differed as regards holding the Friday prayer in two mosques in the same town. The more correct opinion of Abo Hanifah and Mohammad Bin Al-Hasan (May Allah have mercy on them both) is that it is lawful. However, there are two narrations after Abo Yousef: one says it is lawful and the other says it is not." {Al-Mabsoot, vol.2/pp.121}.

Ibn Abdeen stated: "It is lawful to hold the Friday prayer in many mosques according to the Hanafi school of thought, and its approved opinion…so as to ward off harm (sedition, the mosque is far or small) because obligating people to pray the Friday prayer in one mosque means forcing most of them to come from far places, and there is no Sharia-approved evidence that holding Friday prayer in more than one mosque is unlawful." {Ad-Dur al-Mokhtar ala Radd al-Mohtar}.

In conclusion, if it is possible for all the people of the same town to pray in one mosque safely, then this is more prudent because it goes in line with the spirit and the purposes of Sharia as far as uniting Muslims is concerned.

However, if that isn`t possible because the mosque is small or far or the town is too expanded or it was hard for people to come to that mosque, then praying Jumu`ah or Friday prayer in more than one mosque is lawful so long as it is done according to the actual need.

All in all, praying Jumu`ah in different mosques is valid and avails the praying person. And Allah Knows Best.

 

Chairman of Ifta` Board, Sheikh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh

Vice Chairman of Ifta` Board, Prof. Ahmad Hilayel

Dr. Wa`el Arabiat, Member

Dr. Yahia Botoosh/ Member

Sheikh Sa`eed Hijjawi/ Member

Prof. Abdulnaser AbulBasal/ Member

Pro. Abdullah Fawaz/ Member

Judge Khaled Al-Woraikat/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Khai Al-Esa/ Member

Dr. Mohammad Youis Al-Zou`bi

Dr. Mohammad Khai Al-Esa/ Member

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What should a person do if they suffer from an incurable illness that prevents them from fasting?

A person who has an illness that is not expected to be cured and prevents them from fasting must feed a needy person one mudd (600 grams) of food (such as wheat or rice) for each missed day instead of fasting.
Allah Almighty says {what means}: "and [in such cases] it is incumbent upon those who can afford it to make sacrifice by feeding a needy person." [Al-Baqarah/184].

What is the ruling of Islamic Law regarding one who slaughters a ewe and it turns out to have been pregnant, and is it permissible to slaughter the ewe if one knows it is pregnant?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
If a person slaughters a ewe and it turns out to have been pregnant, the fetus becomes lawful (ḥalāl) by virtue of its mother's slaughter (tabaʿan li-ummihā).
It is stated in Mughnī al-Muḥtāj (Vol.6/P.158): "A fetus found dead [after the mother's slaughter], or found alive but in a state resembling that of a slaughtered animal [i.e., dying shortly after], becomes lawful — whether or not it had grown fur — provided it is found in the womb of a mother that was lawfully slaughtered, whether her slaughter was by cutting the throat, or by an arrow or hunting dog sent after her. This is based on the ḥadīth: 'The slaughtering of the fetus is [effected by] the slaughtering of its mother' [narrated by al-Tirmidhī, who graded it ḥasan, and by Ibn Ḥibbān, who graded it ṣaḥīḥ] — meaning that the slaughter which rendered the mother lawful renders the fetus lawful as well, by virtue of following her; and because the fetus is one of her constituent parts, and her slaughter renders lawful all of her parts."
This ruling differs, however, from the case of one who knows from the outset that the ewe is pregnant [and intends to sacrifice her specifically as the udḥiyah while pregnant] — in which case, according to the Shāfi'ī school, she does not fulfill the requirement of a valid sacrifice.
It is stated in Ḥāshiyat al-Bujayrimī 'alā al-Khaṭīb (Vol.4/P.335): "A pregnant animal does not fulfill the requirement [of a valid sacrifice], and this is the authoritative position (al-mu'tamad), because pregnancy diminishes the quality of the meat. As for why such an animal is nevertheless counted as complete [i.e., fully valid] in matters of zakāh, that is because the intent there is reproduction (nasl), not the quality of the meat.". And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

What is the ruling on entering the toilet with something containing the remembrance of Allah?

It is disliked to bring into the toilet anything containing a reminder of Allah, such as the Quran or a sacred name (like the name of Allah, Muhammad, etc.). If one does that, etiquette dictates that he conceal it so it is not visible while entering the toilet, either by cupping his hands over it, putting it in his pocket, or inside his shirt if it is a necklace or ring. And Allah  the Almighty knows best.

What are the Sunnahs and etiquettes recommended for the person offering the Udhiyah?

 
In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
There are several Sunnahs (prophetic traditions) and etiquettes that are highly recommended for the person offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) to observe:
 
First:
It is a Sunnah for anyone intending to offer a sacrifice to refrain from cutting or removing any of their hair or nails once the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah begin. This is based on the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "When the ten days [of Dhul-Hijjah] begin and one of you intends to offer a sacrifice, let him not touch any of his hair or skin." (Narrated by Muslim)
 
However, if someone does happen to remove any hair or nails, they have not committed a sin, and their sacrifice remains perfectly valid.
 
Second:
The person offering the sacrifice should ideally slaughter the animal themselves. If they are unable to do so, they should at least witness its slaughter. This is drawn from what our Master, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), said to Lady Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her):
 
"Stand up and witness your sacrifice, for with its very first drop of blood, every sin you have committed will be forgiven." (Narrated by Al-Tabarani in his Mu'jam, Al-Hakim in his Mustadrak, and Al-Bayhaqi in his Sunan)
 
Third:
Face the Qiblah (the direction of prayer) at the time of slaughtering, as the Qiblah is the most honorable of directions.
 
Fourth:
Pronounce the name of Allah (Tasmiyah) at the moment of slaughter by saying: "Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim" (In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful). Even if one forgets to say it, the meat remains lawful (Halal) to eat. Allah, Blessed and Exalted is He, says:
 
"So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned." (Al-An'am: 118)
 
It is also recommended to send blessings upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and to follow it with the Takbeer (Allahu Akbar).
 
Fifth:
Supplicate for acceptance by saying: "Allahumma hadhihi minka wa ilayka, fa-taqabbal minni" (O Allah, this is a blessing from You and is offered back to You, so please accept it from me). This means: This sacrifice is a blessing that originated from You, and I am offering it to draw closer to You. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

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