Leading Friday Prayers

What is Friday Prayer?

Salaat-ul-Jumma or Friday Prayer is offered in congregation. Friday Prayer is an occasion for the assembly of the Muslims of a whole city or town. In a large city, Friday Prayer can be offered in more than one place for the convenience of the Muslim community. It gives Muslims an opportunity to meet together to discuss and solve their individual as well as community problems.

How to pray?

There are two Adhans for Friday Prayer. The first Athan is recited when the sun begins to decline and the second is recited just before the Imam stands up before the congregation to deliver his sermon.

The sermon consists of two parts:
In the first part:

The Imam begins by saying:
A`ūdhu billāhi min ash-shaitāni r-rajīmi Bismilláhir rahmánir raheem

Then the Imam reads the Dua below and gives the Sermon in English (or any other language), talking to and advising the congregation.

Alhamdu lillahi nahmaduhu wa nasta ‘inuhu wa nastaghfiruhu wa nu’ minu bihi wa natawakkalu ‘alaih. Wa na ‘uThu Billahi min shururi anfusina wamin sayy ‘ati a ‘malina. Man yahdihillahu fala mudhilla lahu wa man yudlilhu fala hadiya lah. Wa nash-hadu alla ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu wa nash-hadu anna Muhmmadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluh.

Ibadallah rahima-kumullah. Innallaha ya’muru bil ‘adli wal-ihsani wa itai Thil-qurba. wa yanha ‘anil fahshai wal- munkari wal-baghyi, Ya ‘izhkum la ‘allakum taThakkarun. UThkurrullah yaTh-kur-kum wad ‘uhu yastajib lakum. Wala Thikrullahi akbar.

All praise is due to Allah. We laud Him, we beseech help from Him and ask His protection; we confide in Him, we trust Him alone and we seek protection against the evils and mischief of our souls and from the bad results of our deeds. Whomsoever He guides on the right path, none can misguide him; and whosoever He declares misled, none can guide him onto the right path. And we bear witness that none deserves to be worshipped except Allah. He is alone and has no partner. We bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. O servants of Allah! May Allah be merciful to you. Verily, Allah commands you to act with justice, to confer benefits upon each other and to do good to others as one does to one ‘s kindred and forbids evil which pertain to your own selves and evils which affect others and prohibits revolts against a lawful authority.

He warns you against being unmindful. You remember Allah; He too will remember you; call Him and He will make a response to your call. And verily divine remembrance is the highest virtue.

After delivering the first part of the sermon, the Imam sits down for a short while, then stands up again and starts with the second part which is in Arabic and which reads as follows:

اَلْحَمْدُ للهِ حَمْدَ الْكَامِلِينَ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلَى رَسُولِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ اْلأَمِينِ وَعَلَى آلِهِ وَاَصْحَابِهِ اَجْمَعِينَ اِنَّ اللهَ وَمَلَئِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا اَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا* اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا صَلَّيْتَ عَلَى اِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ اِبْرَاهِيمَ اِنَّكَ حَمِيد مَجِيدٌ*
اَللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَعَلَى آلِ مُحَمَّدٍ كَمَا بَارَكْتَ عَلَى اِبْرَاهِيمَ وَعَلَى آلِ اِبْرَاهِيمَ اِنَّكَ حَمِيدٌ مَجِيدٌ*

Alhamdu lillahi hamdan kamileen. Was-salaatu was-salaamu alaa rasulinaa Muhammadin-ameen, wa-‘alaa aalihee, wa sahbihee, aj-ma’een.
Innalláha wa malaaikata yusallúna alan nabi. Yá ay yuhal latheena ámanu sallú alayhi wasalli mú tas leema. Allahumma salli alá Muhammad, wa ala áli Muhammad, kama salayta ala Ibrahim, wa ala ali Ibrahim. Allahumma barik ala Muhammad, wa alaa áli Muhammad, kama barakta ala Ibrahim, wa ala ali ibrahim. Fil ála meen, innaka hameedun majeed.”

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the Worlds; may the greetings and peace be upon the best messenger, Muhammad, and upon his family and upon all of his companions.   
Behold, Allah and his angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe! Ask for blessings on him, and salute him with a worthy greeting.
O Allah! Send your greetings upon Muhammad and his family,  just as you sent your greetings on Abraham, and his family. O Allah, send your blessings on Muhammad and his family, just as you blessed Abraham and his family. In both worlds, you are praiseworthy and exalted.”

During the sermon

Muslims are required to listen to the sermon attentively. Any type of conversation during the sermon is prohibited. After the Imam has delivered the second part of the sermon, the Iqamah is recited and the Imam leads the two congregational Raka’at of the Jummah Prayer.