Topic

Mosque & Jumu'ah

Visiting a mosque, Friday prayer, mosque etiquette and finding a place to pray. Short, honest answers for new Muslims.

Can I pray in congregation at home with my family?

Yes, you can pray in congregation at home with your family and get the group reward. A man leads mixed prayers; a woman may lead women.

To pray on a chair at the mosque, stand for what you can, then sit and bow forward for ruku and lower for sujood. Sit at the end of the row.

Yes, you can pray at any mosque. Mosques belong to Allah, so no membership is needed, and differences between Sunni schools don't matter.

Yes, you can give the adhan as a new Muslim. There's no waiting period; learn the words, say them clearly and ask the imam before calling it.

Masjid Quba near Medina is the first mosque built in Islam. Praying there after wudu at home brings a reward like an Umrah, the Prophet said.

The Prophet's Mosque (Masjid an-Nabawi) in Medina was built by the Prophet Muhammad, who is buried there. It is Islam's second holiest mosque.

Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem is the third holiest site in Islam, the first qibla and the destination of the Prophet's Night Journey.

Masjid al-Haram is the Great Mosque of Mecca around the Kaaba, the holiest place in Islam and the qibla Muslims face in every prayer.

The three holy mosques in Islam are Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, the Prophet's Mosque in Medina and Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. Here's why.

How many people are needed for Jumu'ah depends on the school: 3 plus the imam (Hanafi), 12 (Maliki) or 40 (Shafi'i and Hanbali).

Jumu'ah prayer is at Dhuhr time on Friday, after midday. Most UK, EU and US mosques start the khutbah between about 12:15 and 1:45 pm.

A khutbah is the sermon an imam gives before the Friday prayer, and at Eid and weddings. Learn its structure, language and etiquette.