The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Endowments published a fatwa regarding the ruling on Friday prayer if it coincides with the day of Eid. The ministry explained in the fatwa published on Thursday that, in response to recurring questions regarding the ruling on Friday prayer when it falls on Eid, the Fatwa Office issued the Sharia ruling as follows.
The majority of jurists hold that Friday prayer is not waived under any circumstances and remains obligatory for every Muslim. This is the Maliki school of thought, as stated in Al-Mudawwana: “What is Malik’s opinion if Eid al-Adha and Friday, or Eid al-Fitr and Friday, coincide, and a city dweller prays Eid with the Imam then wishes not to attend Friday prayer? Does attending the Eid prayer waive the obligation of attending Friday prayer? He said: No, and he used to say: That does not waive the obligation of attending Friday prayer.”
Malik further stated: “I have not heard that anyone gave permission to the people of the outskirts except Uthman, and Malik did not agree with what Uthman did. He believed that whoever is obligated to perform Friday prayer is not relieved of it by the Imam’s permission, even if he attended the Eid prayer with the Imam earlier that day.” This is the well-known position in the school of thought. Sheikh Khalil stated in Al-Mukhtasar, referring to excuses that do not waive Friday prayer: “Or attending Eid, even if the Imam gives permission.”
The majority cited the words of Almighty Allah: “O you who have believed, when [the adhan] 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” (Surah Al-Jumu’ah: 09). The ministry added that this command is general with definitive evidence, and there is no evidence to restrict it.
They also cited the hadith of Al-Nu’man bin Bashir, who said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to recite ‘Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High’ and ‘Has there come to you the report of the Overwhelming Event’ in the two Eid prayers and in the Friday prayer.” He added that if Eid and Friday coincided on the same day, he would recite them in both prayers (Sahih Muslim 878).
The majority of Hanafi, Maliki, and Shafi’i jurists agreed that if Eid falls on a Friday, it is absolutely not permissible for those who attended the Eid prayer—which is a Sunnah—to miss the Friday prayer, which is an obligation (Fard).
The ministry concluded the fatwa by stating: “A Sunnah cannot waive an obligation. Thus, we confirm that Friday prayer is not waived if it falls on an Eid day because its performance is a definitive obligation in both its establishment and its meaning. It cannot be waived by reports or hadiths that are subject to interpretation, weakness, or lack of confirmation.”
