ElifHow many rak'ahs is Jumu'ah, and how is it prayed?
Short answer
The Friday prayer (Jumu'ah) is 10 rak'ahs in total: 4 rak'ahs of sunnah before, 2 rak'ahs of fard prayed in congregation after the khutbah, and 4 rak'ahs of sunnah after. It is obligatory for men who are sane, adult, resident and have no valid excuse. According to Türkiye's Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet), someone who prays Jumu'ah does not also need to pray zuhr al-akhir.
The order of the prayer
- First sunnah — 4 rak'ahs. It is prayed like the first sunnah of Dhuhr; the intention is made as "the first sunnah of today's Friday prayer".
- When the imam ascends the minbar, the second adhan is called inside the mosque, and then the khutbah is delivered. The congregation listens without talking.
- The iqamah is called and the fard — 2 rak'ahs is prayed with the imam. The imam recites Al-Fatihah and the surah aloud, and the congregation listens.
- Final sunnah — 4 rak'ahs, prayed like the first sunnah.
According to Abu Yusuf, the final sunnah is 6 rak'ahs, as 4+2.
Who is it obligatory for?
Jumu'ah is an individual obligation (fard 'ayn) for men who are sane, have reached puberty, are resident and have no valid excuse. It is not obligatory for women, travellers and the sick, or for those with an excuse such as illness, heavy rain, extreme cold or heat, or an epidemic. If these people attend Jumu'ah, their prayer is valid and they do not need to pray that day's Dhuhr separately. For women this is an exemption, not a prohibition.
Etiquette of the khutbah and arriving late
- The khutbah is a condition for the validity of Jumu'ah and is delivered before the prayer.
- During the khutbah you do not talk, give or return greetings, or pray voluntary prayers. You may say "amin" inwardly to the imam's supplication, and send salawat silently when the Prophet ﷺ is mentioned.
- Someone who enters the mosque while the khutbah is being delivered sits and listens without praying the first sunnah.
- Someone who misses the khutbah still has a valid Jumu'ah. Someone who joins before the imam gives the salam counts as having caught Jumu'ah and completes the missed rak'ahs on their own; if they joined during the Tashahhud, they pray two rak'ahs.
What should someone who misses Jumu'ah do?
Jumu'ah cannot be made up; someone who misses it prays that day's Dhuhr prayer. Praying at home along with a broadcast on television or the internet does not count as Jumu'ah.
Those who cannot go because of work: according to Diyanet, working hours are not normally an excuse for missing Jumu'ah; the employer should make it possible and the employee should seek their right. For someone who cannot earn a living any other way, this is accepted as a temporary excuse until they find a new job. Employees at workplaces that run without a break may go to Jumu'ah in turns; those who cannot go pray Dhuhr.
Is it necessary to pray zuhr al-akhir?
According to a 2002 decision of Diyanet's High Council of Religious Affairs, those who pray Jumu'ah do not need to pray zuhr al-akhir as well; this prayer is not part of Jumu'ah and was not practised in the time of the Prophet ﷺ. Those who wish to pray it are not prevented.
Differences between schools
In the Hanafi school, Jumu'ah can be held with at least three people besides the imam; the Shafi'is and Hanbalis require forty, and the Malikis twelve. According to the Shafi'is and Malikis, to count as having caught Jumu'ah you must have prayed at least one rak'ah with the imam; otherwise the prayer is completed as a four-rak'ah Dhuhr.
Related verses
- Al-Jumu'ah 62:9 —
…then proceed to the remembrance of Allāh and leave trade.
- Al-Jumu'ah 62:10 —
And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land…
- Al-Jumu'ah 62:11 —
But [on one occasion] when they saw a transaction or a diversion…
Quotations are from the Saheeh International translation; links open the full verse on Quran.com.
Frequently asked
How many rak'ahs is the Friday prayer?
10 rak'ahs in total: 4 rak'ahs of sunnah before, 2 rak'ahs of fard and 4 rak'ahs of sunnah after. Zuhr al-akhir is not included in this number.
Do women have to pray Jumu'ah?
No. However, if they attend Jumu'ah their prayer is valid and they no longer have to pray that day's Dhuhr.
I missed Jumu'ah. What should I do?
Jumu'ah cannot be made up; you pray that day's Dhuhr as four rak'ahs.
I missed the khutbah. Is my Jumu'ah valid?
Yes. If you joined before the imam gave the salam, you count as having caught Jumu'ah, and you complete the missed rak'ahs on your own.
In Elif
Elif's Friday section brings together Surah Al-Kahf, salawat and Jumu'ah greeting cards you can share; if you like, you can get a reminder for the Friday prayer and Surah Al-Kahf every Friday. The Dhuhr time is calculated for where you are, and the tool that shows nearby mosques is also in the app.
Sources
- Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs — What is the ruling on the Friday prayer? (in Turkish)
- Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs — How many rak'ahs is the Friday prayer? (in Turkish)
- Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs — What is the zuhr al-akhir prayer? (in Turkish)
- Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs decision — The ruling on the Friday prayer and zuhr al-akhir (2002) (in Turkish)
- Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs — Is the Friday prayer compulsory for women? (in Turkish)
- Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs — Someone who joins the Friday prayer before the salam (in Turkish)
- Diyanet High Council of Religious Affairs — Are working hours that clash with Jumu'ah a valid excuse? (in Turkish)
- Diyanet Haber — How is the Friday prayer prayed? (in Turkish)
This page is compiled from the rulings of Türkiye's Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet) and the sources listed. Rulings follow the Hanafi school; where other schools differ, this is noted. For your personal situation, please ask a scholar at your local mosque. Last updated: 5 October 2026.