If Jumu’ah coincides with Eid

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ قَالَ

‏ قَدِ اجْتَمَعَ فِي يَوْمِكُمْ هَذَا عِيدَانِ فَمَنْ شَاءَ أَجْزَأَهُ مِنَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَإِنَّا مُجَمِّعُونَ

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رضى الله عنه narrates: The Prophet ﷺ said: “Two festivals (Eid and Jumu’ah) are combined on this day. If anyone wants, the Eid prayer is sufficient for him, but we shall offer the Friday prayer.” [Abu Dawud, #1073]

The statement, “But we shall offer the Friday prayer,” demonstrates that the Noble Prophet ﷺ himself performed the Jumu‘ah (Friday) prayer, as he was a resident of Madinah Munawwarah. The accompanying concession, “Whoever wishes, Eid will suffice for him,” was directed toward individuals from outlying areas, village dwellers who had come to attend the Eid prayer. This is how the noble Companions understood it.

قَالَ أَبُو عُبَيْدٍ: ثُمَّ شَهِدْتُ مَعَ عُثْمَانَ بْنِ عَفَّانَ فَكَانَ ذَلِكَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ، فَصَلَّى قَبْلَ الْخُطْبَةِ ثُمَّ خَطَبَ فَقَالَ: يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّ هَذَا يَوْمٌ قَدِ اجْتَمَعَ لَكُمْ فِيهِ عِيدَانِ، فَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَنْتَظِرَ الْجُمُعَةَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعَوَالِي فَلْيَنْتَظِرْ، وَمَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَرْجِعَ فَقَدْ أَذِنْتُ لَهُ

Narrated by Abu Ubaid: “Then I witnessed the Eid with Sayyiduna Uthman bin Affan, and that was on a Friday. He offered the prayer before the khutbah, saying, ‘O people! Today you have two Eids together, so whoever of those who live at Al-‘Awaali (suburbs) would like to wait for the Jumu’ah prayer, he may wait, and whoever would like to return is granted my permission to do so.’” [Bukhari, 5572]

When Eid day coincided with Friday (Jumu’ah), the Bedouins, who would travel to Madinah Munawwarah to attend the Eid prayer held in the early morning, faced a question: should they remain in Madinah for the Jumu’ah prayer, or could they return to their villages?

Given the circumstances, these villagers, who were not city residents, were presented with two options: to stay behind and wait for the Jumu’ah Salat or to return to their villages. This permission was granted because it was the day of Eid, and remaining in Madinah Munawwarah from early morning until Jumu’ah would have been burdensome. Furthermore, they would still have to make the journey back home afterward.

Sayyiduna ‘Uthman رضى الله عنه granted this permission in the presence of many noble Companions رضى الله عنها, and none of them objected or corrected him. This indicates their tacit approval and consensus on this ruling, affirming the validity of the special permission granted to the villagers.

The majority of Islamic jurists (fuqahaa) hold the position that when Eid coincides with a Friday, the obligation of Jumu’ah remains in effect for residents of urban areas. The concession allowing one to forgo Jumu’ah applies specifically to those upon whom Jumu’ah is not ordinarily obligatory, namely, rural residents.

This concession does not extend to those living within cities or towns where Jumu’ah is established and binding. For such individuals, both Eid and Jumu’ah prayers must be performed. The Prophet’s ﷺ own action, performing the Jumu’ah prayer despite it being the day of Eid, serves as clear evidence for this ruling and sets the precedent for residents of urban centers. This is the position of the majority of the fuqahaa.

And Allah the Exalted knows best, and His knowledge is most complete.

by Maulana Mushtaq Shaikh