Prayer TimesFriday prayer is an individual obligation (farz-ı ayn) established by the Qur’an, Sunnah, and consensus, consisting of two units (rak‘ahs) performed in congregation and including the sermon (khutbah), with features that distinguish it from other prayers, and must be fulfilled by every accountable Muslim (Mevsılî, el-İhtiyâr, 1/81).
Regarding working and trading during the time of Friday prayer, Allah the Exalted says: “O you who believe! When the call is made for prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave off trade. That is better for you, if you only knew. And when the prayer is finished, disperse through the land and seek of Allah’s bounty, and remember Allah much so that you may be successful.” (el-Cum'a, 62/9-10)
According to this verse, there is no objection to working and trading before and after the Friday prayer. However, those who are obligated to perform the Friday prayer must leave off trading at the time of Friday prayer and go to the mosque. Therefore, those who are not obligated to perform the Friday prayer may engage in trade. For those who are obligated, being occupied with trade during the time of Friday prayer is prohibitively disliked (tahrîmen mekruh); however, the earnings obtained from such trade are still lawful (halal). In addition, there is no objection for a merchant who is obligated to perform the Friday prayer to employ someone who is not obligated to perform it during this time and to earn income in this way (İbn Âbidîn, Reddü’l-muhtâr, 2/161).
Source: T.C. Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı, Din İşleri Yüksek Kurulu
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