Creed | Worship | Character | Tazkiyaa | Innovation | Index

<Two 'Ids have coincided on this day of yours; thus, whoever wishes is exempted from attending the Jumu'ah prayer. Yet, we shall hold it.> ¹

And Iyas Bin Abi Ramlah ash-Shami said:

"I witnessed Muawiyah Bin Abi Sufyan asking Zayd Bin Arqam, 'Were you with Allah's Messenger when one of the 'Ids and Friday occured on the same day?' He said, 'Yes.' He asked, 'What did he do?' He answered, 'He performed the 'Id prayer, then gave the option concerning Jumu'ah, saying, <Let whoever wishes to pray it do so.>" ²

This is the way of the companions . For example, it is reported that on such occasion Ali   said:

"Let the one who wishes to come for Jumu'ah do so, and the one who wishes to sit do so." ³

A similar report is recorded by al-Bukhari in his Sahih regarding Uthman . It is also reported that 'Abdullah Bin az-Zubayr said:

"These are two 'Ids that have come together on one day. Their coincidence makes them one ('Id)."

Then he prayed on that Friday two rak'at in the morning as 'Id ul-Fitr prayer, and did not pray anymore until he prayed the 'Asr prayer." ⁴

Ash-Shawkani commented on this report:

"The apparent understanding from this is that he did not pray zuhr. And that if the Jumu'ah prayer is cancelled for any acceptable reason, then the one for whom it was cancelled is not required to pray zuhr. This is the opinion of 'Ata ..." ⁵ 

Referring to the above reports and other similar ones from Umar and Ibn Abbas , Ibn Taymiyyah concluded:

"The scholars have three different opinions (in this regard):

1) The one is still obliged to pray the Jumu'ah -- whether or not he prayed the 'Id. This is the opinion of Malik and others.

2) That the Jumu'ah becomes optional for the people of the suburbs and villages. This was practiced by Uthman, and ash-Shafi'i took up this opinion. 3) That the Jumu'ah becomes optional for whomever prayed the 'Id. However, the imam is required to establish the Jumu'ah, so that those who wish to attend it can do so ...

This is what has been authentically reported from Allah's Messenger and his successors and Sahabah, and is the opinion of the later scholars who learned these reports, such as Imam Ahmad. Those who disagreed with him did not learn about these hadiths and reports." ⁶

¹ Recorded by Abu Dawud, an-Nasai, Ibn Majah, and others; authenticated by al-Albani in Irwa ul-Ghalil.

² Abu Dawud, an-Nasai, Ibn Majah, Ibn Khuzaymah, ad-Darimi, and Ahmad. Imam Ali Bin al-Madini authenticated it in al-Talkhis ul-Khabir.

³ Abdurrazzaq in his Musannaf, and Ibn Abu Shaybah in his Musannaf with an authentic chain of narrators.

⁴ Abu Dawud and 'Abdurrazzaq with an authentic chain.

⁵ Nayl ul-Awtar 3:348.

⁶ Al-Fatawi 4:212.