Can I Miss Friday Prayers for My Hospital Job?
Answered by Shaykh Muhammad Carr
Question
Is it necessary for me to find a new job that allows me to take Fridays off for Jum’ah prayers, given that I work in a hospital where stepping away from my duties could endanger patients’ lives, and there are no nearby mosques with Jum’ah prayers during my lunch break?
Answer
No, it is not necessary (wajib) to find a new job that lets you off on a Friday, but it is recommended.
Obligatoriness of Jumu‘a
Jumu‘a is obligatory upon every free male resident who is not hindered by illness, etc. Allah Most High says, “O you who believe, when the call to prayer is made on a mere part of Friday, make haste to the remembrance of Allah and caste sale aside: That is better for you, did you but know.” [Quran, 62:9]
Valid excuses for missing Jumu‘a
As a general rule, anything that exempts a person from congregational prayer also exempts them from Jumu‘a. [Nawawi, al-Minhaj] Imam Nawawi lists looking after a sick person as a valid excuse for missing congregational prayer, which extends to Jumu‘a. [Nawawi, al-Minhaj]
Importance of Jumu‘a
Despite the above, taking whatever measures necessary to do away with the dispensation is highly recommended. In your case, this would involve seeking alternative employment in which you are not exempt from Jumu‘a.
May Allah facilitate your material and spiritual well-being.
[Shaykh] Muhammad Carr
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Mohammad Abu Bakr Badhib
Shaykh Muhammad Carr has dedicated his life to studying and transmitting our beautiful deen. His studies have taken him around the globe, where he has benefitted from many luminaries. Under the guidance of his teachers – Shaykh Taha Karan, Shaykh Yaseen Abbas, Shaykh Muadh Ali and many others.
Shaykh Muhammad has grown to appreciate the beauty and benefits of diverse scholarship. He completed his memorization of the Qur’an at Dar al-Ulum Zakariyyah in September 1997 and received an Alimiyya Degree in 2006 from DUAI (Darul Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah). He is also affiliated with Masjid Auwal in Bo Kaap, Cape Town (the oldest mosque in South Africa), where he serves as a co-imam, and Dar Al-Safa, where he has taught since 2018. As a teacher, he imparts the wisdom of our heritage and tradition by opening the door for students. As an imam, he has the unique opportunity to serve his community in daily life.
In addition to his roles as a teacher and imam, Shaykh Muhammad Carr has contributed significantly to the administrative and advisory aspects of Islamic institutions. Since 2023, he has served as the Administrative Director at The Imam Kurani Institute, contributing to the institution’s growth and development. He continues to pursue traditional Islamic Sciences, possessing a keen interest in Islamic Contract Law and Finance. Shaykh Muhammad has been a Shari’ah Board Member for Islamic Asset Management & Insurance Companies since 2001, aligning financial practices with Islamic principles.
