Issue 119: The Friday prayer consists of two rakʿahs similar to the Fajr prayer, but with the addition of two sermons (khuṭbahs). This prayer is performed in place of the Ẓuhr prayer on Fridays. During the occultation of Imam al-Mahdī (may Allah hasten his reappearance), if all the conditions for holding Friday prayer is fulfilled, the duty-bound person has the choice to attend the Friday prayer or to perform the Ẓuhr prayer, even if it is at the beginning time of the prayer.
Some conditions for the validity of the Friday prayer and its sufficiency in place of the Ẓuhr prayer are:
1. The prayer must be performed in congregation with a minimum of five people including the Imam.
2. The prayer leader must meet the conditions required for leading a congregational prayer, such as being just (ʿādil) and meeting other criteria as mentioned in the conditions for congregational prayer (refer to Issues 99 and 100).
3. The prayer leader must deliver two sermons before the prayer.
4. No other Friday prayer should be held within a radius of five and a half kilometers.