Published: 2 Sha’ban 1441 AH / 26 March 2020
Given that the Canberra Masjid is closed until further notice, the advice from the Imam is to pray four raka’at Dhuhr by yourselves in your places. This is based on the Shafa’ee madhab he adheres to which requires a minimum of 40 people to hold a Jumu’ah prayer.
There are other scholarly opinions that allow for Jumu’ah to be held at other locations including homes in cases of necessity with a smaller number of attendees:
- minimum 1 attendee other than the imam – same as the minimum number to establish a jama’ah (congregation) and in absence of any specific restriction/prohibition in the Qur’an and saheeh ahadeeth
- minimum 2 attendees other than the imam – permissible due to lack of any specific restriction/prohibition in the Qur’an and saheeh ahadeeth
- minimum 3 attendees other than the imam (Hanafee madhab)
Please see attached files for details.