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Can I Pray Friday Prayer on Campus?

23 February, 2024
Q Can Muslim students at western universities perform Friday prayer at university campus?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.


In this fatwa:

There is nothing wrong with performing Friday Prayer on campus  keeping in mind class schedules that prevent them from reaching mosques.


Answering your question about offering Friday prayer on campus, Sheikh Kifah Mustapha, the Imam and Director of The Prayer Center of Orland Park and representative for Dar El Fatwa of Lebanon in the US, states:

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Significance of Friday Prayer

Friday prayer is an obligation on all Muslim adult males. Allah the Almighty said:

{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.} (Al-Jumuah 62:9)

Maintaining Friday prayer next to daily prayer and fasting Ramadan is a source of forgiveness. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “The five daily (prescribed) prayers, and Friday (prayer) to the next Friday (prayer), and the fasting of Ramadan to the next Ramadan, is expiation of the sins committed in between them, so long as major sins are avoided.” (Muslim)

Prophet Muhammad threatened those who keep missing Friday prayer for no reason. He said: “He who leaves the Friday prayer (continuously) for three Friday on account of slackness, Allah will print a stamp on his heart.” (Abu Dawud)

Offering Friday Prayer on Campus

With that being said, Muslim male adults must make sure to establish Friday prayer anywhere they live.

Now, living in the West and attending colleges or universities, where not many mosques are available to reach, with class schedules that prevent them from being able to reach such mosques because of limited time or convenience, they must establish Friday prayer at university campus.

If they have student clubs or associations, they can request a small room from the administration to pray or even use the chaplain designated area for prayer.

Here in the USA, most universities have Muslim Student Association chapters that provide such places of worship on campus not just for Friday prayer but for daily prayers and meetings and lectures.

There are so many views on how many people are needed to establish Friday prayer. It ranged between two or fifty as a minimum. Since there is no clear authentic reference that states the number to establish Friday prayer, I lean to the view that even two individuals can establish Friday prayer preferably three, one Imam and two people behind him.

Almighty Allah knows best.

About Sheikh Kifah Mustapha
Sheikh Kifah Mustapha is the Imam and Director of The Prayer Center of Orland Park and representative for Dar El Fatwa of Lebanon in the US