Performing the Jumu'ah salaah in more than One Masjid

Q: Salaah-642: By the grace of Allaah, we have several Masaajid in our town. There is a small Masjid that is only a few steps away from the Jaami Masjid. The Jumu'ah salaah takes place there as well. Apart from this Masjid, there are two or three other Masaajid close to the Jaami Masjid where the Jumu'ah salaah takes place as well. is it appropriate to have the Jumu'ah salaah performed in these Masaajid?

Answer: Men have been emphatically instructed to perform the five daily salaahs in the Masjid and this instruction cannot be left out without a valid excuse. However, we have been advised to close the local Masaajid to perform the Jumu'ah salaah in the Jaami Masjid. The Jumu'ah salaah has therefore been termed. "The combiner of all Jamaa'ahs". Performing the Jumu'ah salaah in the local Masaajid will defeat the purpose that the Shari'ah aims to achieve and will destroy the might of Islaam. The Jumu'ah salaah may however be performed in two or more Masaajid when the Jaami Masjid cannot accommodate everyone or if it is too difficult for people to travel to it.
Kif'aayatul Mufti (Vol.3 P5.247) adds that although it is permissible to perform the Jumu'ah salaah at more than one venue when the need arises, doing so is contrary to the best option.

In the stated case where there are other Masaajid close to the Jaami Masjid, it is inappropriate and reprehensible to have the Jumu'ah salaah in these Masaajid as well. This fails in the objective of displaying the might and grandeur of Islaam and also deprives people of the greater rewards of performing salaah in a large Jamaa'ah. It is for this very reason that Rasulullaah SAW. would leave the Masjidun Nabawi on the days of Eid to perform the Eid salaah at the Eid Gah. And Allaah knows best what is most correct.

Fatawa Rahimiyyah vol.2