How Should a Woman Pray the Friday Prayer?

Answered by Ustadh Sufyan Qufi

Question

I understand that Muslim women are not obligated to go to jumu‘a prayer. However, in the case that she does attend, does she have to pray an additional 2 rakats after the jumu‘a prayer for it to count?

I am asking because I have read something along the lines of this online, but I don’t know if it is true.

Answer

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,

I pray this finds you in the best of states.

When a woman prays the Friday prayer at the mosque behind the Imam with two cycles of prayer then the duty to pray the dhuhr prayer with four cycles has been lifted from her. [Shurunbulali, Nur al-Idah]

Thus adding two cycles of prayer to the Friday prayer would be a mistake.

The reason for the validity of her Friday prayer is that the duty to perform the Friday prayer has been lifted from her out facilitation from the Law Giver, Allah, Most High. Thus performing the Friday prayer despite the facilitation will fulfill her duty to pray during dhuhr time. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

Nonetheless, it remains superior for a woman to pray the dhuhr prayer with four cycles at her home. [Shurunbulali, Maraqi al-Falah]

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings upon him) said: “A woman’s prayer inside her house is better than her prayer in her courtyard, and her prayer in her private room is better than her prayer in her house.” [Abu Dawud]

Related:
The Rulings Related to Friday Prayer
What Is the Ruling of Women-Only Congregational Prayers? [Hanafi]
What Is the Shafi’i View On All Women’s Congregational Prayer?
Women’s Prayer: Praying in Congregation, Reciting Aloud, and Calling the Adhan and Iqama
How Should Women Pray Behind an Imam? (Hanafi)
How Should Women Pray in Congregation in the Shafi’i School?
Can Muslim Women Be Imams?

And Allah knows best.

Wassalam,
[Ustadh] Sufyan Qufi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani