Friday (Jumu'ah) Prayer Time and How to Prepare
The Friday (Jumu'ah) prayer is the most important congregational act of worship of the week. It is performed at the time of the Dhuhr prayer, with a khutbah (sermon) and in congregation. In this article we summarize the time of the Friday prayer, who it is obligatory for, the situations of excuse, and frequently asked questions about preparing for the mosque, based on the explanations of Diyanet and the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam.
For information only. For religious rulings, consult the Diyanet (Alo 190 Fatwa Line).
Time of the Friday prayer
The Friday prayer is performed at the time of Dhuhr. The exact hour varies according to the arrangements of the local mufti's office and the mosques; a time is chosen after Dhuhr begins at which the congregation can gather. Because the Dhuhr time changes in every city and every day, Friday prayer is not performed before the Dhuhr time given on our province pages. In the Hanbali school, the Friday prayer may begin earlier (TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, entry "Cuma").
Performing voluntary prayer after the imam has ascended the pulpit on Friday is makruh (disliked). For this reason it is preferable to go to the mosque early and perform the sunnah prayers before the imam arrives.
Who is it obligatory for?
According to the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, for the Friday prayer to be obligatory, a person must be male, free, resident (not a traveler) and without an excuse. There is no significant difference among the schools on this. Illness, caring for a sick person, extreme weather conditions and safety concerns are considered excuses.
The Friday prayer is not obligatory for a traveler; if a traveler does attend Friday prayer, it takes the place of the Dhuhr prayer. Women are not obligated to attend Friday prayer, but they may participate if they wish (Diyanet fatwa).
How the Friday prayer is performed
The Friday prayer is completed by the delivery of the khutbah after the time has entered, followed by the two-rak'ah obligatory prayer performed in congregation. In Hanafi practice, sunnah prayers are performed before and after the obligatory prayer; in the Diyanet catechism (ilmihal) it is presented as 4 rak'ahs of first sunnah, 2 rak'ahs of obligatory prayer, and then 4 rak'ahs of last sunnah. The number of sunnah prayers may differ by school; for definitive information, you can consult your local mufti's office or Diyanet's Alo 190 line.
The khutbah is one of the conditions of the Friday prayer and must be listened to. Speaking or busying oneself with other things during the khutbah is not considered appropriate. Diyanet publishes a common khutbah every week; the text is released on Thursday through Diyanet's channels and read in the mosques.
The relationship between the khutbah and the Friday prayer
The khutbah is one of the conditions of the Friday prayer and is delivered before the prayer. A person who arrives late at the mosque may miss part of the khutbah; for this reason, Diyanet sources encourage going early. The language of the khutbah is Turkish and Arabic; the meaning of the verses and hadiths is included in the weekly text published by Diyanet. Since the same topic need not be addressed every week, looking at the topic of the khutbah beforehand improves the quality of listening.
Preparing for Friday prayer
Among the suggestions Diyanet presents as preparation for Friday are ghusl (a full wash), clean clothes and going early to the mosque. In practical terms, you can pay attention to the following:
- Performing ghusl, or at least keeping the body clean,
- Wearing clean and tidy clothes,
- Going to the mosque early and performing the sunnah prayers before the imam ascends the pulpit,
- Silencing or turning off your phone,
- Listening to the khutbah attentively.
These points are for information purposes; for a detailed ruling suited to your personal situation, you should consult Diyanet.
Size of the congregation and differences between schools
The number of people required in the congregation for the Friday prayer to be valid differs by school. The situation according to the comparison in the TDV Encyclopedia of Islam is as follows; for a detailed ruling and local practice, the mufti's office should be consulted.
| School | Congregation size (excluding the imam) |
|---|---|
| Hanafi | 3 according to Abu Hanifa, 2 according to Abu Yusuf |
| Shafi'i | 40 |
| Maliki | The minimum population of a village is the basis; 12 according to one view |
| Hanbali | 40 |
Because in Turkey the Friday prayer is performed in mosques with large congregations in line with Diyanet's arrangements and the calendars of the local mufti's offices, most people do not come across this detail in daily life. Whether Friday prayer can be performed in places with restricted entry, such as barracks, schools, residential compounds or factories, is also among the questions addressed by the Supreme Board of Religious Affairs; for your own situation, consult Diyanet.
Friday and prayer-time apps
In prayer-time apps, the Dhuhr row on Fridays is usually shown under the name "Jumu'ah", because on that day the Dhuhr time is the time of the Friday prayer. The text and topic of the khutbah are announced weekly by Diyanet; reading the khutbah beforehand makes it easier to be prepared for the subject when listening in the mosque. When heading to the mosque, taking travel and parking time into account and taking your place before the imam ascends the pulpit lets you perform the sunnah prayers in peace and avoid any problem with makruh times and with the ban on voluntary prayer after the imam has ascended the pulpit.
Friday prayer via media broadcast
Whether the Friday prayer can be performed at home through a live broadcast or other media is among the topics addressed by the Supreme Board of Religious Affairs. Offering an opinion on this is outside the scope of this site; the relevant fatwa can be reached through kurul.diyanet.gov.tr, or you can call Alo 190.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the Friday prayer performed?
The Friday prayer is performed at the time of Dhuhr; the exact hour varies by local mufti's office and mosque. The start of Dhuhr differs in every city; you can check your city's Dhuhr time on our province page.
Who is the Friday prayer obligatory for?
It is obligatory for Muslims who are male, free, resident and without an excuse. It is not obligatory for a traveler; women are not obligated but may attend.
When is the Friday khutbah published?
Turkey's Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) publishes the Friday khutbah on Thursday each week, and it is read in the mosques on Friday.
Sources
- TDV İslâm Ansiklopedisi, Cuma maddesi
- Diyanet Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu, Hangi vakitlerde kaza ve nafile namaz kılınmaz?
- Diyanet (Presidency of Religious Affairs), Friday khutbahs (diyanet.gov.tr)
For information only. For religious rulings, consult the Diyanet (Alo 190 Fatwa Line).
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Related guides
- What Are Makruh Times? When Is Prayer Not Performed?
Prayers not performed at sunrise, at midday and at sunset; Diyanet's duration measures.
- Traveler's Prayer: Shortening Prayers (Qasr) on a Journey (90 km, 15 Days)
Diyanet's 90 km and 15-day criteria, qasr prayer and the differences between schools.
- How Are Prayer Times Determined? What Is Temkin?
How times are calculated from the sun, Diyanet's temkin margins and the mosque's morning adhan difference.