Jumu‘ah, the Friday prayer: 2 rak‘ahs, step by step
The sermon, the rak‘ahs recited aloud, what to do before and after, and the surahs of the Sunnah
Jumu‘ah is the Friday prayer: 2 rak‘ahs in congregation, at midday, in place of Dhuhr. The imam first gives two sermons, then recites Al-Fatiha and a surah aloud in each rak‘ah. Whoever misses Jumu‘ah prays Dhuhr. The Prophet ﷺ recited Al-Jumu‘ah and Al-Munafiqun in it, or Al-A‘la and Al-Ghashiyah.
What the schools agree on
Jumu‘ah replaces Dhuhr on Friday: 2 rak‘ahs instead of 4, prayed in congregation and preceded by two sermons. It is obligatory for the adult Muslim man who is not travelling; it is not required of women, children, travellers or the sick, and attending it counts in place of their Dhuhr.
Whoever could not pray Jumu‘ah prays Dhuhr instead.
| Rak‘ahs | 2, after two sermons |
|---|---|
| Time | Friday at midday, in place of Dhuhr |
| Voice | aloud (the imam) |
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يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
yā'ayyuha lladhīna 'āmanū 'idhā nūdiya liṣ-ṣalāti miy yawmi l-jumuʿati fasʿaw 'ilā dhikri llāhi wadharu l-bayʿ | dhālikum khayrul lakum 'in kuntum taʿlamūn
O you who have believed, when [the adhān] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumuʿah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allāh and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.
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فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةُ فَٱنتَشِرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ
fa'idhā quḍiyati ṣ-ṣalātu fantashirū fi l-arḍi wabtaghū min faḍli llāhi wadhkuru llāha kathīral laʿallakum tufliḥūn
And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allāh, and remember Allāh often that you may succeed.
Jumu‘ah in congregation is a duty for every Muslim, except for four: the slave, the woman, the child and the sick.
The Prophet ﷺ gave two sermons, sitting down between them.
Jumu‘ah, step by step
From the morning bath to the sunnah rak‘ahs after the prayer.
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Before: the full bathal-ghusl
You take the full bath, put on clean, good clothes and come early to the mosque. The four schools hold this bath to be a sunnah.
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The two sermonsal-khutbatan
The imam gives two sermons, standing, and sits briefly between them. You listen in silence, without talking.
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The first rak‘ah
The imam recites Al-Fatiha aloud, then a surah, often Al-Jumu‘ah or Al-A‘la. The movements are those of any prayer.
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The second rak‘ah and the end
Al-Fatiha, then Al-Munafiqun or Al-Ghashiyah, aloud. You sit for the tashahhud, send prayers upon the Prophet ﷺ and end with the salam.
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After the prayeras-sunnah
The Prophet ﷺ went home to pray two rak‘ahs; the schools also know other practices.
The Prophet ﷺ asked whoever comes to Jumu‘ah to first take the full bath (ghusl).
The Prophet ﷺ said that during the Friday sermon, even telling one’s neighbour to listen quietly is already idle talk.
After Jumu‘ah, the Prophet ﷺ did not pray in the mosque: he went home and prayed two rak‘ahs there.
The four schools, all valid
A man came in during the Friday sermon; the Prophet ﷺ asked him whether he had prayed and, as he had not, told him to pray two rak‘ahs.
Which surahs at Jumu‘ah?
Two pairs of surahs come from the Sunnah, one surah per rak‘ah: Al-Jumu'ah then Al-Munafiqun, or Al-A'la then Al-Ghashiyah. The imam may also recite others.
Abu Hurayrah recited Al-Jumu‘ah and then Al-Munafiqun at Jumu‘ah, and said he had heard the Prophet ﷺ recite them on Fridays.
At both Eids and at Jumu‘ah, the Prophet ﷺ recited Al-A‘la and Al-Ghashiyah, even when Eid fell on a Friday.
| Surah | Verses | Listening | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Jumu'ah | 11 | 4 min 22 s | Sunan Abi Dawud 1124 · rak‘ah 1 |
| Al-Munafiqun | 11 | 5 min 09 s | Sunan Abi Dawud 1124 · rak‘ah 2 |
| Al-A'la | 19 | 1 min 54 s | Sunan Abi Dawud 1122 · rak‘ah 1 |
| Al-Ghashiyah | 26 | 2 min 26 s | Sunan Abi Dawud 1122 · rak‘ah 2 |
Frequently asked questions
How many rak‘ahs is the Friday prayer?
2 rak‘ahs, recited aloud, after two sermons. They replace the 4 rak‘ahs of Dhuhr.
Do women have to pray Jumu‘ah?
They are not required to. If they attend, their prayer is valid and counts in place of Dhuhr; otherwise, they pray Dhuhr at home.
I missed Jumu‘ah: what should I do?
Pray Dhuhr, 4 rak‘ahs, instead. For a particular case (work, travel, illness), ask your imam.
Can I pray when arriving during the sermon?
The schools differ: the Shafi‘is and Hanbalis pray two light rak‘ahs, the Hanafis and Malikis sit down to listen. The box of the schools gives the details.
How can I check my Fatiha and the surahs I recite in prayer?
Recite them out loud in the Tilawa app: it follows your recitation word by word and shows you the words and tajweed rules to work on. During prayer, it can also follow the verses you recite.
Tilawa editorial team · Updated 2026-10-24 · Report an error