Jumuah Salat and Khutbah When Time is Extremely Short

By Mufti Ebrahim Desai
Posted: 27 Sha'ban 1423, 3 November 2002


Q.) 1- In North-American colleges or universities, where students normally do not have enough time between classes to offer Jumuah Prayer, would you please tell me the Minimum-Requirements for the Jumuah prayer to be valid, and the Shortest-Khutba that can be recited in a total time period of, in my college for example, 20 minutes?

2- Also, please advise me that in a case where we have only 30 to 35 minutes of total time, and when we are forced to have 2 Jammah because of the increasing number of students and less room space, what should we do? How should we do the First Jamah and then the Second Jamah?

Your answer will, inshaAllah, solve a big problem and a big question Muslim students face in the non-Muslim countries. Please reply in detail. InshaAllah, I will circulate your reply to brothers arranging Jumuah Prayer in other educational institutes in Toronto as a perfect guide for arranging Jumuah Prayer. [Umar Asghar]


A.) In principle, the correct way for Jumu'ah is to shorten the Khutbah and lengthen the actual Salat. However, in situation of extreme shortage of time, the following procedure may be adopted so as to save time. Please note that this will be in accordance to the Hanafi Madhab.

First, everybody should perform the four Rakaat Sunnatul Muakkadah. The most that this could take is 5 minutes. Thereafter, both the Khutbahs including the second Adhan prior to the Khutbah can be completed in 5 minutes. This may be accomplished in such a way that the Adhan be read out faster than usual and that only the basic requirements for the Khutbah be read out. Immediately, after the Adhan, the Khateeb should start the first Khutbah. He should praise Allah Ta'ala (Tahmeed), send salutations on Nabi Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam (Salawaat). Thereafter, recite the Shahaadatayn and then merely recite one or two verses from the Qur'an. Pause for a while and do exactly the same in the second Khutbah, reciting maybe a different verse and also making a short du'a in the Khutbah for all the believers. This can comfortably be done in 5 minutes. Thereafter the Iqaamat and the actual Salat which is only 2 Rakaats can also be safely completed within 5 minutes. The Imaam should recite clearly but at a medium to fast speed and recite short Surahs in both Rakaats. Thereafter, one can complete the Sunnats of Jumu'ah. If time permits, one must complete both the four and thereafter the 2 Rakaats of Sunnah, however should time run out, one may suffice only on the 4 Rakaats and leave out the remaining 2 Sunnats. In this way, the entire Jumu'ah can be accommodated for in at least 20 minutes.

Firstly, you should try to overcome the space problem. What about outside the room? Or may be some nearby field, open area or play ground? Rather than organizing two different Jamaats, look for a bigger area that will accommodate everyone. In this way, the time factor will also be overcome. It will be extremely difficult to carry out two Jamaats especially in the same room, all within the space of 30 minutes. Therefore, we suggest that you look and you will definitely have in mind, there must be some sort of open place or hall or bigger room wherein everyone can fit comfortably.