How to pray Jumuah, and the sunnahs of Friday
From the morning bath to the hour of acceptance before Maghrib: follow Friday one step at a time, and tick off the sunnahs as you go.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "When one of you comes to Jumuah, let him take a bath" (Sahih al-Bukhari 877). See how to do ghusl.
Wear your best clean clothes, use perfume (men), and clean your teeth with the miswak or a brush (Sahih al-Bukhari 880 and 883).
The earlier you arrive, the greater the reward: like offering a camel in the first hour, then a cow, a ram, a hen and an egg, until the imam comes out and the angels close their books to listen (Sahih al-Bukhari 881). Walk if you can, and do not step over people.
In the Hanafi school, pray four rakahs of sunnah muakkadah before the khutbah, with one salam. If you arrive with little time, pray two rakahs on entering the masjid.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest.
When the imam comes out, stop praying and talking. The Prophet ﷺ said: "If you say to your companion 'Be quiet' while the imam is giving the khutbah, you have spoken idly" (Sahih al-Bukhari 934). Between the two khutbahs, make dua in your heart.
Intend the two fard rakahs of Jumuah behind the imam. He recites aloud; listen in silence. The Prophet ﷺ often recited Al-A'la and Al-Ghashiyah, or Al-Jumuah and Al-Munafiqun.
اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
Allāhu akbar
Allah is the Greatest.
After the fard, pray four rakahs of sunnah muakkadah with one salam, then two more. Some Hanafi scholars count the four as muakkadah and the two as sunnah.
اَلسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ
As-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatullāh
Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.
Sunan Abi Dawud and Jami at-Tirmidhi, from Ibn Masud.
Read Surah Al-Kahf on Friday. Send many blessings on the Prophet ﷺ, who said: "Among the best of your days is Friday, so send many blessings on me on it" (Sunan Abi Dawud 1047):
اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ، اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَّعَلٰى اٰلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلٰى إِبْرَاهِيْمَ وَعَلٰى اٰلِ إِبْرَاهِيْمَ إِنَّكَ حَمِيْدٌ مَّجِيْدٌ
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā ṣallayta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdum majīd. Allāhumma bārik ʿalā Muḥammadin wa ʿalā āli Muḥammad, kamā bārakta ʿalā Ibrāhīma wa ʿalā āli Ibrāhīm, innaka ḥamīdum majīd
O Allah, send prayers on Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You sent prayers on Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy, Glorious. O Allah, bless Muhammad and the family of Muhammad, as You blessed Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim. You are Praiseworthy, Glorious.
Sahih al-Bukhari 3370, from Kab ibn Ujrah.
There is an hour on Friday in which a Muslim does not ask Allah for anything good except that He gives it (Sahih al-Bukhari 935). Many scholars hold it is the last hour before Maghrib. Make dua then.
- Fard
- 2 rakahs, in place of Dhuhr
- Before
- 4 sunnah muakkadah (Hanafi)
- After
- 4 sunnah muakkadah, then 2
- Who must attend
- Adult, sane, healthy, resident Muslim men
The method shown first is the Hanafi one. Where the other madhhabs differ, the guide below explains how. Use the arrow keys to move between steps.
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Guide
Jumuah, the Friday prayer
Jumuah is two fard rakahs prayed in congregation after a khutbah, at Dhuhr time on Friday, in place of Dhuhr. In the Hanafi school you pray four rakahs of sunnah before the khutbah and four, then two, after the fard. Allah says:
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٩﴾
Yaaa ayyuhal lazeena aamanoo izaa noodiya lis-Salaati miny yawmil Jumu'ati fas'aw ilaa zikril laahi wa zarul bai'; zaalikum khayrul lakum in kuntum ta'lamoon
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.
Quran 62:9 (Surah Al-Jumuah), translation by Sahih International.
How many rakats in Jumuah?
| Part | Rakahs | Ruling (Hanafi) |
|---|---|---|
| Before the khutbah | 4, one salam | Sunnah muakkadah |
| Jumuah, behind the imam | 2 | Fard |
| After the fard | 4, one salam | Sunnah muakkadah |
| Then | 2 | Sunnah |
Jumuah is fard on every adult, sane, free Muslim man who is resident and healthy. It is not required of women, travellers, the sick, or those who cannot get there, but if they pray it, it counts in place of Dhuhr. It needs a town or city, the time of Dhuhr, a khutbah before the prayer, and a congregation of at least three men besides the imam. If you miss it, pray four rakahs of Dhuhr. Once the imam has begun the khutbah, do not start a prayer, not even two rakahs for the masjid.1
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- A congregation of forty men who are residents is required. There is no fixed sunnah before Jumuah in the main view, and two or four after. Someone who arrives during the khutbah prays two short rakahs, following a hadith in Muslim.
- Maliki
- It must be in a masjid, with about twelve men besides the imam. No fixed sunnah before; voluntary prayer after.
- Hanbali
- Forty men are required in the main view. Two short rakahs on entering during the khutbah. Two or four rakahs after.
The sunnahs of Friday
- Ghusl, clean clothes, perfume and the miswak.
- Going early and walking, sitting close to the imam.
- Listening to the khutbah in silence.
- Surah Al-Kahf: "Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on Friday will have a light between the two Fridays", narrated by al-Hakim and al-Bayhaqi from Abu Said al-Khudri, and graded sahih by al-Albani.
- Many salawat on the Prophet ﷺ.2
- Dua, looking for the hour of acceptance.3
Jumuah for women and travellers
Women are not required to attend Jumuah. A woman at home prays four rakahs of Dhuhr. If she attends and prays Jumuah with the imam, it counts and she does not pray Dhuhr. The same applies to a traveller.
See the Jumuah time near you in prayer times, which follows Dhuhr. Your masjid sets its own khutbah time.
- Al-Marghinani, al-Hidayah, Bab Salat al-Jumuah; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar. The other madhhabs' positions are summarised from their standard manuals.
- Sunan Abi Dawud 1047, from Aws ibn Aws, graded sahih by al-Albani.
- Sahih al-Bukhari 935; Sahih Muslim 852. Quran 62:9, translation by Sahih International.
The rulings on this page are pending review by the scholars on our team.
Questions
Good to know
How many rakats is Jumuah?
The fard of Jumuah is two rakahs. In the Hanafi school there are also four sunnah before the khutbah and four, then two, after the fard.
What is the sunnah of Friday?
Ghusl, clean clothes, perfume, the miswak, going early, listening to the khutbah, reading Surah Al-Kahf, sending many salawat on the Prophet ﷺ and making dua in the hour of acceptance.
Is Jumuah compulsory for women?
No. A woman prays Dhuhr at home. If she attends and prays Jumuah with the imam, it counts in place of Dhuhr.
What if I miss Jumuah?
Pray four rakahs of Dhuhr. Missing Jumuah without an excuse is a serious sin, so repent and make sure to attend next week.
Can I pray two rakahs if I arrive during the khutbah?
Not in the Hanafi school: sit and listen. The Shafi'i and Hanbali schools say to pray two short rakahs, following a hadith in Sahih Muslim.
When should I read Surah Al-Kahf on Friday?
Any time from sunset on Thursday until sunset on Friday, since the Islamic day starts at Maghrib.