Assalamu Alikum. I live in north of the UK and we have a small mosque where we pray Jumaa. Because the number of people coming to pray jumaa is too large the mosque has decided to have two jumaa prayers. It is also most likely that the same imam will do the 2 prayers. 1. Is there anything wrong in having 2 jumaa prayers for this reason? 2. Is it permissible for the same imam to do 2 jumaa prayers on the same day?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

In principle, it is not permissible to hold more than one Jumu’ah (Friday prayer) in one town, but if there is a need to hold more than one Jumu’ah, like if the mosque is small for the praying people, then in this case, it is permissible to organize a second Jumu’ah.

Therefore, if that mosque is not large enough for the praying people – as you mentioned in the question – and there are no other mosques where the Friday prayer can be held which can accommodate this number of praying people, then it becomes permissible for you to hold Jumu’ah in that mosque for a second time and it is valid for the same Imaam to lead both Jumu’ahs, but it is better if the second Jumu’ah is led by a different Imaam as a way of avoiding the difference of opinion that forbids a person who is performing an obligatory prayer to be led by a person who is performing an optional prayer.