Jumuah on Campus

Question:-

Prior to COVID, Jumuah Salaah used to take place weekly during the academic term at our Musallah on campus. The Musallah is situated on UKZN Westville campus in Durban. However, post-COVID, Jumuah has never resumed on campus. However, some lectures and most practicals are now conducted on campus, and students are now allowed back on campus with a permit, subject to screening. Non-students are generally subjected to tighter restrictions.

The local Aalim, who is the Imam of the Musallah, feels that since the number of students are not yet back to normal on campus, and since there is a restriction on the general public entering campus without a permit, Jumuah Salaah will not be valid on the campus currently. We, as the Musallah committee, have made arrangements to resume Jumuah on campus, but have held back with the plans due to this concern.

It is important to note as well that, since lectures and practicals occur before and after Jumuah for some courses, many students end up missing or are late for their lectures after Jumuah, as they have to leave campus to go to the nearest Jamaat Khana or the Masjid outside campus. Maulana also feels that, since the nearest Masjid is about 2km from campus, students have no excuse to avoid going to the nearest Masjid. We also take into account that many students do not have access to vehicles. Also, there is no restriction once on the campus premises for any student or member of the public to access the Jamaat Khana. We, as the committee, have been inundated with queries from students as to when Jumuah will resume at campus, and why it hasn’t yet.

To sum it all up, will it be permissible for us to conduct Jummah on campus? An estimated number of Musallees for Jumuah is between 20-30 males at the moment.

Answer:-

We understand from your query that students and non-students are permitted on the campus premises, subject to screening and attaining a valid permit. This is carried out as a security measure, or protocol, to enter the premises. Once access has been granted to the student or non-student, there is no restriction on the premises in terms of entering the Musallah and performing Salaah. There is general permission for one and all on the campus grounds to attend the Jumuah Salaah, or any other Salaah for that matter. We are therefore of the opinion that the Jumuah Salaah should continue as normal.

ALLAH TA’ALA KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:-

Mufti Mohammed Desai

Date: 23 Muharram 1444 / 22 August 2022