Q 3: If we say that a specific country is an enemy territory or non-believers’ country; should Jumu`ah (Friday) Prayer be offered there? In other words, do we have to gather for Jumu`ah Prayer in an enemy territory or non-believers’ country? Please, advise us. May Allah reward you!

A: Allah has enjoined Jumu`ah upon the Muslims who are settled in cities or rural areas. He has forbidden them to become distracted from it by buying and selling, or otherwise. Allah (Exalted be He) says, O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salât (prayer) on Friday (Jumu‘ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allâh [Jumu‘ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salât (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if you did but know! It is narrated in the Hadith of `Abdullah ibn `Umar and Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with them) that they heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) saying from the Minbar (pulpit), “Let some people desist from neglecting Jumu‘ah Prayers, or else Allah will seal their hearts and they will be among the negligent.” The Muslim Ummah (nation) agreed on the fact that Jumu`ah is obligatory. There is no reliable evidence in Shari`ah indicating that the obligation of praying Jumu`ah is confined to Muslim countries to the exclusion of non-Muslim countries, so the Muslims who are settled in non-believers’ country are obliged to (Part No. 8; Page No. 187) perform Jumu’ah prayer if the conditions are met, following the general meaning of the texts of the Qur’an and Sunnah which indicate that it is an individual obligation on the Muslims, if the conditions stipulated by Shari`ah are met.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.