I would like clarification on-
1. How many rakaats are to be performed in the jummah salaah?
2. How many azans should be called for Jummah?
3. Can you also advise on some adhabs or etiquettes of this blessed day?
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful
Answer
It is Sunnah to cleanse oneself (hair & nails etc), make ghusl (bath), put on fragrance and wear clean clothes on Friday.
Salman Al Farsi (RA) narrates that the Prophet (SAW) said, “Anyone who takes a bath on Friday, cleans himself as much as he can, puts oil (on his hair) or scents himself, then proceeds for the prayer, does not force his way between two persons (assembled in the mosque for the Friday prayer), prays as much as is written for him and remains quiet when the Imam delivers the khutbah, all his sins in between the present and the previous Friday will be forgiven.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari, VOL2.33)
It is stated in Raddul Muhtar that two Azans should be called out for Friday prayer (Vol1, P607).
Az Zuhri narrates that I heard As-Saib bin Yazid, saying, “In the lifetime of The Prophet (SAW), and Abu Bakr (RA) and Umar (RA) the Azan for the Jummah prayer used to be called after the Imam had taken his seat on the pulpit. But when the people increased in number during the caliphate of ‘Uthman (RA), he introduced a third Azan1 (on Friday for the Jummah prayer) and it was called at Az-Zaura2 and this new state of affairs remained in the succeeding years. (Sahih Al-Bukhari VOL2.39)
The above hadith indicates that the (first) Azan was introduced by Uthman (RA) in order to make the people aware of the time of Jummah and therefore allow them to make the necessary preparations for the Friday prayer. This was done in the presence of the Sahabas who also practiced it. Therefore, the ruling of the (first) Azan is categorized as Ijma e Sahaba (Consensus of the Sahaba). It is mentioned in Noorul Anwar that a ruling through Ijma is similar to a ruling proved from a verse of the Quran or Hadith e Mutawatir. (P225)
In answer to the number of rakats to be preformed for the Friday prayer, the total is twelve. Four sunnath e muakkadah before the fardh Friday prayer and six sunnaths (of which four is sunnath e muakkadah) after it (Raddal Muhtar, Vol1, P497 & Vol2, P144)
In short, twelve rakats should be performed for the Friday prayer with two Azans and one iqamah. The first azan called so that people can prepare for Jummah and the second azan called before the khutba in front of the Imam.
Allah knows best
Sayeedur Rahman
Darul Ifta, Birmingham
- The iqamah for the Friday prayer is counted as one Azan, hence the Azan introduced by Uthman (RA) is referred to as the third Azan in the hadith.
- A place in the market of Al-Madina.
