Attending Friday Prayer and Khutbah on Time

5-11-2023 | IslamWeb

Question:

As salamu alaykum, I attend a college in a non Muslim country and I have a lesson between 12:00-13:00. 13:00 is when Salat al-Jumu'ah is prayed in the college musalla. However, this is before lunch and when it is 13:00 I usually feel hungry. Is it permissible for me to have lunch then attend Jumu'ah even if I miss some of the khutbah?
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

The Friday Prayer is obligatory for every mukallaf (the person who is competent for religious assignments), free, resident, and capable Muslim, as mentioned in the hadeeth:

“The Friday prayer in congregation is an obligatory duty upon every Muslim, with the exception of four: a slave, a woman, a child, and a sick person.” [Abu Dawood]

It is obligatory to come to it upon hearing the second adhaan (Call to Prayer), which occurs when the imam ascends the pulpit. Some scholars even say it is obligatory upon the first adhaan. It is not permissible to delay attending Khutbah (the sermon), as agreed upon by the majority of scholars, due to the saying of Allah the Almighty (which means): {O you who have believed, when [the adhaan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you if you only knew.} [Quran 62:9]

Al-Qurtubi may Allaah have mercy upon him commented: His saying, ‘to the remembrance of Allah,’ means the Prayer. It is also said to refer to the sermon and preachments, as mentioned by Sa'eed ibn Jubayr may Allaah have mercy upon him. Ibn al-Arabi may Allaah have mercy upon him stated: “The correct opinion is that it is obligatory in all, with the first being the sermon. Our scholars held the same opinion on this, except for 'Abd al-Malik ibn al-Majishoon may Allaah have mercy upon him as he considered it Sunnah (recommended). The evidence for its obligation is that it prohibits trade, and if it were not obligatory, it would not have prohibited the permissible because what is recommended does not prohibit the permissible.

Delaying attendance due to mere hunger is not acceptable because one can exercise patience until the Prayer concludes. Alternatively, one can consume some food before noon.

Allah knows best.

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