Jumu'ah salaah in a Shaafi'ee Masjid

Q: Salaah-683: There are several Masaajid in the Bombay area where the people follow the Shaafi'ee Madh'hab. Many of their Masaajid are closed at the time of the Jumu'ah salaah because according the Shaafi'ee Ulema, the Jumu'ah salaah may be performed only in the Jaami Masjid. As a result, people belonging to the Shaafi'ee as well as the Hanafi Madh'hab have to endure great hardship on Fridays because the Jaami Masjid cannot accommodate the overwhelming crowds. In fact, even the Hanafi Masaajid cannot accommodate the people. As a result, when the rainy season starts, many people are deprived of performing the Jumu'ah salaah. Is there no scope for permission to be granted in the Shaafii'ee Madh'hab for the Jumu'ah salaah to be performed in the other Masaajid?

Answer: It is certainly a condition in the Shaafi'ee Madh'hab that the Jumu'ah salaah be performed only in one Masjid. If performed at several venues, only the salaah performed by the Imaam whose Takbeer Tahreema is first will be valid. None of the other salaahs will taken into account.

Such an opinion has been reported from Imaam Abu Haneefan RAH. as well. However, it has also been reported from Imaam Abu Haneefah RAH. that the Jumu'ah salaah may be performed at additional venues when the need arises. This exception is made in the Shaafi'ee Madh'hab as well.

The following is stated in the reliable book of the Shaafi'ee Madh'hab AI Asaas (written by Muhammad Yahya Beiruti RAH.) It is a precondition that the Jumu'ah salaah be performed only in one Masjid. If performed at several venues, only the salaah performed by the Imaam whose Takbeer Tahreema is first will be valid. The second and third salaahs will be invalid. However, if one Masjid is insufficient, it will be permissible to perform the Jurnu'ah salaah at several venues.

The gist of it all is that according to both the Shaafi'ee and Hanafi Madh'habs, it is not permissible to perform the Jumu'ah salaah at several venues without valid reason. Doing so will oppose the spirit of the Jumu'ah salaah. However, it will be permissible to do so according to both Madh'habs when the Jaami Masjid cannot accommodate all the people or it is difficult for people to get there, as is the case with Bombay. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2