Question # 237: Is there any proof of having two khutbahs in the same masjid at two different times?

Bismi-llahi r-raḥmani r-raḥīm,

Assalamu ‘laikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,

All praise and thanks are due to Allah (سبحانه و تعالى), and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger (صلى الله عليه و سلم).

Dear questioner,

First of all, we implore Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) to help us serve His cause and render our work for His sake.

Shorter Answer: In general, holding two Jumu‘ahs in one masjid is not permissible. However, nowadays, especially in the west, where Masajid are either not spacious enough, or the working hours vary and holding one Jumu’ah might deprive some people from attending, contemporary scholar and Fiqh Councils have permitted holding more than one Jumu’ah as needed only.

Long Answer: The holding two Jumu‘ahs in one mosque is not permissible. The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas replied to a similar question: “Holding two Jumu‘ahs in one mosque is not permissible according to Islam, and we know of no basis for it in the religion of Allah (سبحانه و تعالى). The basic principle is that one Jumu‘ah prayer should be held in one city, and there should not be numerous Jumu‘ahs unless it is for a legitimate shar‘iah reason, such as if the mosque is too far for some of those for whom Jumu‘ah is obligatory, or the first mosque in which Jumu‘ah is held is too small to accommodate all the worshippers, or similar reasons which justify holding a second Jumu‘ah. In that case, another Jumu‘ah should be held in a place that will fulfill the purpose for which another Jumu‘ah is being held. The brothers who are asking this question should look for another location that is central for those who come to the mosque in question for the second Jumu‘ah, and they should hold another Jumu‘ah in that place, even if it is not a mosque, such as private houses or public gardens and squares in which the relevant authorities allow Jumu‘ah prayer to be held.” (Fataawa al-Lajnah ad-Daa’imah) (Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid)

“The default rule is that the whole community in one locality should congregate for Jumu’ah, to the extent that scholars indicated the invalidity of the second Khutbah & Salah if it started right after the commencing of the first one. But this rule was declared in a time where holding one Jumu’ah was sufficient to gather the whole community. However, it is not the case nowadays in many places, especially in the west and North America, where Masajid are either not spacious enough, or the working hours vary and holding one Jumu’ah might deprive some people from attending. Therefore, contemporary scholar and Fiqh Councils permitted holding more than one Jumu’ah as needed only. Some Masajid in the US hold three different Jumu’ah Salah, and they get overcrowded in each Salah…” (Fatwa of Dr. Main Khalid Al-Qudah, Member of the Fatwa Committee of Assembly of Muslim Jurists in America)

Allahu A’lam (Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) knows best) and all Perfections belong to Allah, and all mistakes belong to me alone. May Allah (سبحانه و تعالى) forgive me, Ameen.

Wassalaam