Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Assalamu aleikum

Me and my family are traveling abroad soon.The problem is, the flight is on a Friday, and therefore we may be traveling, either at an airport or flying, during jumuah time. My family has 4 members including myself. What should we do? Should we pray the normal dhuhr and asr salah shortened and combined (Traveler`s prayer) or should we somehow perform jumuah? If so, how can we perform jumuah? Are all travelers exempted from jumuah? Is there any authentic hadeeth for this?

Thank you.

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Answer:

Who are exempted from Friday jumuah

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.115

Topic: Traveling on a Friday

There is absolutely no harm in traveling on a Friday. Hadrat Umar ibn Khattab (r.a.) heard a man say: "If today was not Friday, I would have left." Hadrat Umar (r.a.) said: "Leave (if you so wish); Friday does not keep one from traveling."

Hadrat Abu Ubaidah ibn Jarrah (r.a.) traveled on Friday and he did not wait for the ‘salah’.

Az-Zuhri wanted to travel before noon on Friday and the people mentioned something to him, and he said: "The Prophet (saws) traveled on Fridays."

Firstly, there is absolutely no restrictions in Shariah if a believer chooses or happens to travel on Fridays.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 2.131a

Topic: Who are exempted from the obligatory Friday mid-day prayers.

‘Salatul Jumuah’ is an obligation upon every free, adult, sane, resident male believer who has the ability to attend the ‘salah’ and does not have a valid excuse to miss it. ‘Salatul Jumuah’ however, is not obligatory on the following:

1. Women.
2. Children.
3. The person who is ill and faces hardship if he goes to the mosque, or who fears that his illness will be increased by going to the mosque, or whose recovery will be delayed. This also includes the person who is nursing a very ill person, if especially, the ill person cannot manage in the absence of the nursing person.
4. For the traveler. This is based on the fact that the Prophet (saws) traveled and did not perform the ‘Salatul Jumuah’ but only prayed the ‘dhuhr’ and 'asr’ together during the time of the ‘dhuhr’ prayers.
5. Environmental restraints like extreme rain or cold, etc.

All of the above listed people are not obliged to attend the ‘Salatul Jumuah’, but they would be obliged to pray the ‘dhuhr’ prayers.

Your Question: What should we do? Should we pray the normal dhuhr and asr salah shortened and combined (Traveler`s prayer) or should we somehow perform jumuah? Are all travelers exempted from jumuah?

One who is on a journey is indeed exempted from offering the ‘Salaatul Jumuah’; but they would be required to offer their shortened ‘dhuhr’ prayers, and if they wish they may combine their ‘asr’ prayers with their ‘dhuhr’ prayers during their journey.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan