Jumuah Prayer at College Campus

By Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Posted: 2 Rajab 1424, 30 August 2003


Q.) I am a student in a college where a mosque is situated far away from my college and there are no Muslims nearby. My lunch break is from 12.30 to 1.30 and the Jumuah prayer in the nearest mosque 7 km is at 1.25.There are no transport facilities to go there and return by 1.30. As such, we Muslim students [8-10 in number] have decided to conduct the prayer in our hostel itself with a short Khutbah of 15-20 minutes followed by the prayer. What is the shariah rule regarding this? [Please note there are only a maximum of ten persons]. If yes, what are the compulsory things to be followed?

One more question regarding Jumah- Allah forbid, but if I miss a jumuah prayer -what should I do instead of it-pray Zuhr or the 2 rakahs of Jumah? [Muhammed Suhail]


A.) In principle, Jumu'ah Salat is valid in a city, town or its suburbs. Jumu'ah Salat is not valid in an independent village.

If the college is situated in a town or city, or in the suburb of a town or city, then Jumu'ah Salat may be performed at the college. The minimum number of people required for Jumu'ah Salat is four - the Imam and three followers. If these two conditions for the validity of Jumu'ah Salat are found in the college, then every possible effort should be made to perform Jumu'ah Salat there.

If the college is not in a town or city or in its suburbs, or there are less than four people, then only Zuhr Salat may be performed. All the Muslim students at the college should endeavor to perform all Salats at the college in congregation. That will also be a means of Da'awah for non-Muslims.

And Allah Ta'ala Knows Best