In Islam, Friday prayer, or Congregational prayer, is a special community prayer service held once a week instead of the afternoon Zuhr prayer in Salah the daily prayer ritual and one of the Five Pillars of Islam. All Muslim men are expected to participate at a mosque with certain exceptions due to distance and situation. Women and children can also participate but do not fall under the same obligation that men do. The service consists of several parts including ritual washing, chants, recitation of scripture and prayer, and sermons.
Jumu'ah at a university in Malaysia
Men performing Wudu or ritual washing.
Friday Sermon in Masjid Raudhwa, Lamu, Kenya.
The different postures of Rak'a or ritual prayer.
Salah, is the principal form of worship in Islam. Facing Mecca, it consists of units called rak'a, during which the Quran is recited, and prayers from the Sunnah are typically said. The number of rak'a varies from prayer to prayer. Minor details of performing salah may differ according to the madhhab of the person performing it.
The prayer room in Khonakhan Mosque, Uzbekistan
Various prescribed movements in salah, which collectively constitute a rak'ah. From left to right: rukū', qiyām/i'tidal, sujūd, takbīr and qu'ūd/julūs.
Women performing the Friday prayer at a mosque, Ohio, US
A Sunni Muslim (left) and Shia Muslim (right) performing the Friday prayer in Tehran. Some Sunnis perform salah with the hands clasped ("qabd"), while Shia offer salah with their hands at their sides ("sadl").
