Recitation in the Friday Prayer
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Fatwa No. ( 19302 )
Q: Your Excellency, the Mufti of the Kingdom, I have been assigned the duty of delivering the sermon at the Mutamud Grand Mosque. I am one of three other preachers who take turns throughout the year, so I deliver the sermon in the following months (Muharram, Jumada al-Ula, and Ramadan).
I began in Muharram 1416 AH. I am a newcomer among my colleagues, who have preceded me by more than ten years. Since I took the pulpit, a few scholars have been attacking me, perhaps out of envy or perhaps out of lack of knowledge. This has led me to consult with the virtuous and knowledgeable scholars like yourselves. They accuse me of departing from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) — may Allah protect us from that — because when I lead them in the Friday prayer, I do not recite Surat al-A'la and Surat al-Ghashiyah. When I recite Surat al-Jumu'ah, I recite only the last three verses of it, and likewise with Surat al-Munafiqun. They want me to recite both surahs in their entirety or not recite them at all, and the same applies to Surat al-A'la and Surat al-Ghashiyah. In reality, I recite verses in the first rak'ah that are appropriate to the sermon, and then in the second rak'ah I recite some verses from Surat al-Jumu'ah or al-Munafiqun or al-A'la, and sometimes other verses besides those mentioned. Therefore, I ask you to inform me of what is the truth in this matter?
A: It is the Sunnah for the imam to recite in the Friday prayer, in the first rak'ah, Surat al-Jumu'ah after Surat al-Fatihah, and in the second rak'ah, Surat al-Munafiqun, or to recite Surat Saba in the first and Surat al-Ghashiyah in the second, or to recite Surat al-Jumu'ah in the first rak'ah and Surat al-Ghashiyah in the second rak'ah; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite these in the Friday prayer; as the Imam Muslim reported in his (Sahih) from Ibn Abi Rafi' who said: (Sahih Muslim with the commentary of al-Nawawi ) Vol. 6, p. 166. And in a narration of Muslim also, Vol. 6, p. 167, from al-Nu'man ibn Bashir who said: Mishkat al-Masabih 840 And in a narration of Muslim also from Dhamrah ibn Sa'id from 'Ubayd Allah ibn 'Abd Allah who said: . Sahih Muslim with the commentary of al-Nawawi Vol. 6, p. 167. And based on that, your recitation of three verses from the aforementioned surahs or
some of them is contrary to the Sunnah and to the practice of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and the righteous Salaf. It is recommended for you to follow the example of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) in reciting the aforementioned surahs, reciting each surah in its entirety. You should accept the truth from the one who calls you to it, and be a good example for those you lead, especially since you are the preacher of the Grand Mosque. You should seek reward and recompense in reciting the aforementioned surahs by following the Sunnah and emulating the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). And you should be patient with whatever is said to you, for that will not harm you as long as you fear Allah in your work, are sincere in it, and follow the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Q: Your Excellency, the Mufti of the Kingdom, I have been assigned the duty of delivering the sermon at the Mutamud Grand Mosque. I am one of three other preachers who take turns throughout the year, so I deliver the sermon in the following months (Muharram, Jumada al-Ula, and Ramadan).
I began in Muharram 1416 AH. I am a newcomer among my colleagues, who have preceded me by more than ten years. Since I took the pulpit, a few scholars have been attacking me, perhaps out of envy or perhaps out of lack of knowledge. This has led me to consult with the virtuous and knowledgeable scholars like yourselves. They accuse me of departing from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) — may Allah protect us from that — because when I lead them in the Friday prayer, I do not recite Surat al-A'la and Surat al-Ghashiyah. When I recite Surat al-Jumu'ah, I recite only the last three verses of it, and likewise with Surat al-Munafiqun. They want me to recite both surahs in their entirety or not recite them at all, and the same applies to Surat al-A'la and Surat al-Ghashiyah. In reality, I recite verses in the first rak'ah that are appropriate to the sermon, and then in the second rak'ah I recite some verses from Surat al-Jumu'ah or al-Munafiqun or al-A'la, and sometimes other verses besides those mentioned. Therefore, I ask you to inform me of what is the truth in this matter?
A: It is the Sunnah for the imam to recite in the Friday prayer, in the first rak'ah, Surat al-Jumu'ah after Surat al-Fatihah, and in the second rak'ah, Surat al-Munafiqun, or to recite Surat Saba in the first and Surat al-Ghashiyah in the second, or to recite Surat al-Jumu'ah in the first rak'ah and Surat al-Ghashiyah in the second rak'ah; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite these in the Friday prayer; as the Imam Muslim reported in his (Sahih) from Ibn Abi Rafi' who said:
Marwan appointed Abu Hurayrah as governor of Madinah and went to Makkah. Abu Hurayrah led us in the Friday prayer and recited after Surat al-Jumu'ah in the last rak'ah: "When the hypocrites come to you." I caught up with Abu Hurayrah when he had finished and said to him: "You recited with two surahs that 'Ali ibn Abi Talib used to recite with in Kufah." Abu Hurayrah said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) recite with them on Friday."
استخلف مروان أبا هريرة على المدينة وخرج إلى مكة فصلى لنا أبو هريرة الجمعة فقرأ بعد سورة الجمعة في الركعة الآخرة: إِذَا جَاءَكَ الْمُنَافِقُونَ قال: فأدركت أبا هريرة حين انصرف فقلت له: إنك قرأت بسورتين كان علي بن أبي طالب يقرأ بهما بالكوفة ، فقال أبو هريرة : إني سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقرأ بهما يوم الجمعةGod’s Messenger used to recite at the two festivals1 and on Friday, “Glorify the name of your most high Lord", 2 and “Has the story of the overwhelming event reached you?"3
كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقرأ في العيدين وفي الجمعة بـ: سَبِّحِ اسْمَ رَبِّكَ الأَعْلَى و هَلْ أَتَاكَ حَدِيثُ الْغَاشِيَةِal-Dahhak ibn Qays wrote to al-Nu'man ibn Bashir asking him what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to recite on Friday other than Surat al-Jumu'ah. He said: "He used to recite 'Has there reached you'."
كتب الضحاك بن قيس إلى النعمان بن بشير يسأله أي شيء قرأ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم الجمعة سوى سورة الجمعة فقال: كان يقرأ هل أتاكsome of them is contrary to the Sunnah and to the practice of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) and the righteous Salaf. It is recommended for you to follow the example of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) in reciting the aforementioned surahs, reciting each surah in its entirety. You should accept the truth from the one who calls you to it, and be a good example for those you lead, especially since you are the preacher of the Grand Mosque. You should seek reward and recompense in reciting the aforementioned surahs by following the Sunnah and emulating the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions (may Allah be pleased with them). And you should be patient with whatever is said to you, for that will not harm you as long as you fear Allah in your work, are sincere in it, and follow the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). And success is from Allah, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions.
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.