Can a Person Pray Dhuhr and Leave While the Friday Khutbah Is Ongoing?
Question
Assalamu Alaikum Sheikh.
If someone comes to the mosque on Friday during the second khutbah, having taken a short 10-minute break from work, is it permissible to pray the four rak‘as of dhuhr and leave while the khutbah is still going on?
Answer
Alhamdulillah, wassalatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi ajmain.
- The Shar‘i Context
The Friday prayer (Salat al Jumuah) is a major obligation upon every adult, resident, male Muslim who is not excused. Allah says:
“O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for the prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade.” (Surat al Jumuah 62:9)
The khutbah and the congregational prayer are one unified act of worship. Whoever is able to attend must not replace it with dhuhr, nor may he treat it as optional. Praying dhuhr during the khutbah disregards the sanctity of Jumuah and contradicts its purpose.
- Opinions of the Four Madhahib
All four madhahib — Hanafi, Maliki, Shafii, and Hanbali — agree that Jumuah cannot be replaced with dhuhr without a valid excuse.
If one arrives before the imam completes the prayer and joins at least one rak‘ah, he must pray Jumuah.
If he misses both rak‘ahs, he prays dhuhr after Jumuah has finished, not while the khutbah is ongoing.
- Application to the Question
If someone comes during the second khutbah and cannot stay for Jumuah because of work, he should not pray dhuhr in the masjid while the khutbah continues. Rather, he should return to his work and pray dhuhr later, at his workplace or elsewhere, when the Jumuah prayer in the city has concluded.
However, this allowance applies only in rare or exceptional circumstances — such as when an employer strictly limits breaks or when attending Jumuah would cause significant harm to one’s livelihood. It is not permissible to make this a routine or habitual practice. Leaving Jumuah regularly for work without necessity is a major sin.
- Relevant Usul Principle
ما ضاق أمر إلا واتسع
Whenever matters become restricted, allowances are widened.
This principle means that when a person faces genuine difficulty or unavoidable hardship, the Shariah provides limited concessions to ease the burden — but only to the extent of necessity. Once the hardship passes, the normal ruling resumes.
- Practical Guidance
Whoever hears the khutbah and can stay until the prayer begins must do so — this fulfills the obligation of Jumuah.
If he must leave due to an exceptional work constraint, he should quietly exit without praying in the masjid and perform dhuhr later.
If the situation repeats often, he must seek a more accommodating work schedule or location. Consistent neglect of Jumuah without necessity is sinful.
Final Ruling:
It is not permissible to pray dhuhr in the masjid during the khutbah. The khutbah and Jumuah prayer are a single act of worship that cannot be left except for genuine necessity.
If, on rare occasions, one is unable to attend due to unavoidable work circumstances, he may pray dhuhr later at work — but this must not become a habit.
And Allah knows best.