20th January 2026
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُه
Question: In the Hanafi fiqh, we need total of 4 persons for Jumu’ah. For example, in army we try to find Muslims and we only have 3, can we take the opinion of Imam Abu Yusuf of 3 persons and do Jumu’ah?
الْجَوَابُ حَامِدًا وَمُصَلِّيًا
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer: The minimum number required for the validity of Jumuʿah according to Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah and Imam Muhammad rahimahullah is three people besides the Imam (i.e. four in total). According to Imam Abu Yusuf rahimahullah, two people besides the Imam is sufficient (i.e. three in total). The relied upon (muʿtamad) position in the Hanafi School is the position of Imam Abu Hanifah rahimahullah and Imam Muhammad rahimahullah. Therefore, if only three Muslims in total are present (including the Imam), then Jumuʿah should not be performed; instead, they must pray Zuhr Salah. [1] As a default, the relied upon position must be adopted. Adopting a position contrary to the relied upon one in the school is not permitted unless in cases of necessity. You must therefore, pray Zuhr in the case of not having minimum three congregants. [2]
Allāh Knows Best
Written by: Maulana Nabil Ahmed Reviewed by: Mufti Abdul Waheed
Attested by: Shaykh Mufti Saiful Islam
JKN Fatawa Department
[1] Bada’i as Sana’i kitabus Salah, babul Jumuah vol 1, page 268
وَأَمَّا الْكَلَامُ مَعَ أَصْحَابِنَا فَوَجْهُ قَوْلِ أَبِي يُوسُفَ إنْ شُرِطَ أَدَاءُ الْجُمُعَةِ بِجَمَاعَةٍ وَقَدْ وُجِدَ؛ لِأَنَّهُمَا مَعَ الْإِمَامِ ثَلَاثَةٌ وَهِيَ جَمْعٌ مُطْلَقٌ وَلِهَذَا يَتَقَدَّمُهُمَا الْإِمَامُ وَيَصْطَفَّانِ خَلْفَهُ وَلَهُمَا أَنَّ الْجَمْعَ الْمُطْلَقَ شَرْطُ انْعِقَادِ الْجُمُعَةِ فِي حَقِّ كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ، وَشَرْطُ جَوَازِ صَلَاةِ كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ يَنْبَغِي أَنْ يَكُونَ سِوَاهُ فَيَحْصُلَ هَذَا الشَّرْطُ ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي، وَلَا يَحْصُلُ هَذَا الشَّرْطُ إلَّا إذَا كَانَ سِوَى الْإِمَامِ ثَلَاثَةٌ إذْ لَوْ كَانَ مَعَ الْإِمَام ثَلَاثَةٌ لَا يُوجَدُ فِي حَقِّ كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمْ إلَّا اثْنَانِ وَالْمُثَنَّى لَيْسَ بِجَمْعٍ مُطْلَقٍ،
[2] Rasmul Mufti.
لا يُعمل بالقول المرجوح إلا لضرورة