Jumu’a
Friday is the most blessed day of the week, the day on which the Muslim community gathers in congregation for the Jumu’a prayer. At the Jumu’a Mosque of Cape Town, the Jama’at has observed this central act of worship since the mosque’s founding, preserving the traditional Maliki form of the Jumu’a and the spirit of brotherhood that surrounds it.
Allah, the Exalted, says in His Noble Book:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
“You who have iman! when you are called to salat on the Day of Jumu’a, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and abandon trade. That is better for you if you only knew.”
Qur’an, Surah al-Jumu’a 62:9 (translation: Aisha Bewley)
The Prophet (ﷺ) emphasised the immense merit of arriving early for the Jumu’a prayer. He said:
حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ يُوسُفَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مَالِكٌ، عَنْ سُمَىٍ، مَوْلَى أَبِي بَكْرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ أَبِي صَالِحٍ السَّمَّانِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ: “مَنِ اغْتَسَلَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ غُسْلَ الْجَنَابَةِ ثُمَّ رَاحَ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ بَدَنَةً، وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ بَقَرَةً، وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ كَبْشًا أَقْرَنَ، وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الرَّابِعَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ دَجَاجَةً، وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الخَامِسَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ بَيْضَةً، فَإِذَا خَرَجَ الإِمَامُ حَضَرَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الذِّكْرَ.”
Narrated Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever performs ghusl on Friday as the ghusl of janabah, then proceeds early to the mosque, it is as if he has offered a camel in sacrifice. Whoever goes in the second hour, it is as if he has offered a cow. Whoever goes in the third hour, as if he has offered a horned ram. Whoever goes in the fourth hour, as if he has offered a hen. And whoever goes in the fifth hour, as if he has offered an egg. When the Imam comes out, the angels present themselves to listen to the remembrance.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 881 (also Sahih Muslim 850)
The Order of the Jumu’a
The Jumu’a at JMCT follows the established Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the practice of the early Muslim community of Madinah, as transmitted through the Maliki school. It unfolds in the same way each week, allowing the congregation to enter the prayer with focus and presence.
| Stage | Time | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12:55 | First Adhan is called |
| 2 | 13:05 | Imam Khatib enters the mosque and ascends the mimbar |
| 3 | Second Adhan is called | |
| 4 | Two-part Khutbah is delivered from the mimbar | |
| 5 | Imam Khatib descends and enters the mihrab | |
| 6 | Iqamah is called | |
| 7 | Two raka’ats of Jumu’a prayer led in congregation | |
| 8 | Tasbih of Fatima and Salawat an-Nabi (ﷺ) |
The Khutbah from the Mimbar
The khutbah at JMCT is delivered in two parts by the Imam Khatib of the Jumu’a Mosque, Shaykh Isma-eel Isaacs. Both parts are delivered in a combination of Arabic and English, weaving the language of revelation together with the language of the congregation so that the meanings are conveyed clearly to all who attend.
In keeping with the practice of the Prophet (ﷺ) and the salaf, there is no informal pre-khutbah talk. The Imam Khatib enters the mosque, ascends the mimbar at the time of the second adhan, and proceeds directly with the khutbah. This preserves the reverence of the moment, allowing the congregation to enter into the spiritual atmosphere of the Friday remembrance without interruption.
Browse previous khutbahs delivered at JMCT →
Concluding the Prayer
After the two raka’ats of Jumu’a, the congregation remains seated to engage in two beloved acts of remembrance.
The Tasbih of Fatima
A dhikr consisting of:
- Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah) — 33 times
- Al-hamdu lillah (All praise is for Allah) — 33 times
- Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Greatest) — 34 times
This dhikr is named after Sayyida Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her), the daughter of the Prophet (ﷺ). She came to her father asking for a servant to ease the burden of her household work, and he taught her this remembrance instead, saying it would be better for her than what she had requested. (Sahih al-Bukhari 5361; Sahih Muslim 2727)
Salawat an-Nabi (ﷺ)
Sending blessings upon the Prophet (ﷺ) on Friday holds particular merit. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ سَوَّادٍ الْمِصْرِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ الْحَارِثِ، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي هِلَالٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَيْمَنَ، عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ نُسَيٍّ، عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ: “أَكْثِرُوا الصَّلَاةَ عَلَيَّ يَوْمَ الجُمُعَةِ فَإِنَّهُ مَشْهُودٌ تَشْهَدُهُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ، وَإِنَّ أَحَدًا لَنْ يُصَلِّيَ عَلَيَّ إِلَّا عُرِضَتْ عَلَيَّ صَلَاتُهُ حَتَّى يَفْرُغَ مِنْهَا.”
Narrated Abu’d-Darda: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Send abundant blessings upon me on Fridays, for it is a day that is witnessed — witnessed by the angels. And no one sends blessing upon me but his blessing is presented to me until he finishes.”
Sunan Ibn Majah 1637
The Jumu’a is concluded with the salawat upon the Prophet (ﷺ), recited three times in congregation:
Allāhumma ṣalli ʿalā sayyidinā Muḥammad, ʿabdika wa nabiyyika wa rasūlika, an-nabiyyi-l-ummiyy, wa ʿalā ālihi wa ṣaḥbihi wa sallim.
“O Allah, send blessings upon our master Muhammad — Your servant, Your Prophet, and Your Messenger, the Unlettered Prophet — and upon his family and companions, and grant them peace.”
— recited the 1st and 2nd time —
On the third recitation, the word taslima (“…abundant peace”) is added to the closing of the salawat, and the gathering concludes with three Qur’anic verses from Surah As-Saffat:
…wa ʿalā ālihi wa ṣaḥbihi wa sallim taslimā.
سُبْحَانَ رَبِّكَ رَبِّ الْعِزَّةِ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ وَسَلَامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Subḥāna Rabbika Rabbi-l-ʿizzati ʿammā yaṣifūn. Wa salāmun ʿala-l-mursalīn. Wa-l-ḥamdu lillāhi Rabbi-l-ʿālamīn.
“Glory be to your Lord — the Lord of Honour and Might — far above what they ascribe to Him. Peace be upon the Messengers. And all praise is due to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.”
Qur’an, Surah as-Saffat 37:180–182
The Friday Lunch
After the Jumu’a prayer, the Jama’at gathers in the annex of the mosque for the Friday lunch — a long-standing tradition at JMCT that brings the community together each week around a shared meal.
The lunch is open to all who attend the Jumu’a prayer: members of the Jama’at, visitors, travellers, students, and any worshipper present in the mosque. There is no expectation, only welcome.
“Eat together and do not eat apart, for the blessing is with the company.”
كُلُوا جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا فَإِنَّ الْبَرَكَةَ مَعَ الْجَمَاعَةِ
Sunan Ibn Majah 3287 (graded sahih)
This communal meal embodies something often lost in modern life: the simple, regular act of sitting together as believers, breaking bread, sharing news, and strengthening the bonds of the Jama’at. The blessing (barakah) that the Prophet (ﷺ) spoke of is something the community experiences anew every Friday.
Note: The Friday lunch is suspended during the month of Ramadan, when it is replaced by the daily community iftar.
Contribute to the Friday Lunch
The Prophet (ﷺ) was once asked: “Which aspect of Islam is best?” He replied:
حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ خَالِدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا اللَّيْثُ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ، عَنْ أَبِي الخَيْرِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَمْرٍو ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ أَنَّ رَجُلًا، سَأَلَ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: أَيُّ الإِسْلَامِ خَيْرٌ؟ قَالَ: “تُطْعِمُ الطَّعَامَ، وَتَقْرَأُ السَّلَامَ عَلَى مَنْ عَرَفْتَ وَمَنْ لَمْ تَعْرِفْ.”
Narrated ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr (may Allah be pleased with them both): A man asked the Prophet (ﷺ): “Which aspect of Islam is best?” He replied: “To feed others, and to greet with peace those you know and those you do not know.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 12 (also Sahih Muslim 39)
Feeding others is among the most highly recommended acts of charity in Islam, and the reward of feeding believers gathered for the Jumu’a is particularly weighty in the tradition. Anyone wishing to contribute to the Friday lunch — as a regular sponsor, a one-time donation, or in remembrance of a departed loved one — is warmly welcomed to do so.
Contributions may be made via the Donate page, or by reaching out to us on WhatsApp.
Ramadan schedule, daily Iftaar timings, and special events will be posted in the Mosque and shared via our WhatsApp Community. Questions? Email info@jumuamosquect.co.za.