31: The prayer is performed behind the rulers and Hajj and Jihaad are carried out with them.

The Hajj and Jihaad are to be carried out under his leadership. Jumu’ah prayer behind them (i.e. the wicked rulers)[1] is allowed and, after it, six rak’ahs should be prayed, splitting it into sets of two rak’ahs. This is the saying of Ahmad ibn Hanbal[2].

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NOTES

1. ‘Ubaydullaah ibn ‘Adiyy ibn Khiyaar reports: I went to ‘Uthmaan (radiallaahu anhu), whilst he was being besieged and I said to him: You are the ruler of the Muslims in general and you see what has befallen you. We are being led in prayer by a leader of insurrection and we are afraid of being sinful. So ‘Uthmaan said, “The prayer is the best of actions which people do so, when the people do good deeds, do good along with them. When they do evil, avoid their evil.” Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 1/376/ch.56).

2. ‘Abdullaah ibn Ahmad ibn Hanbal reports in his Masaail (no.446): I asked my father how many (rak’ahs) should I pray after Jumu’ah. He said, “If you wish, pray four (rak’ahs) or, if you wish, pray six rak’ahs, in twos; that is what I prefer, but, if you pray four, there is no harm.” Abu Dawood reports in his Masaail (p.59): I heard Ahmad say, “(Regarding) prayer after Jumu’ah, if one prays four, good. If one prays two, good, and if one prays six, good.”

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