Short answer
Yes, for men who must attend Jumu'ah. Once the adhan for Friday prayer is called, the Quran says to leave trade and go to the prayer. In the Hanafi school this begins with the first adhan, and trading after it is makruh tahrimi (sinful), though the sale itself is still valid. After the prayer, trade is allowed again.
From the first adhan of Jumu'ah, it is wajib for those obliged to attend to set out for the prayer, and buying or selling is makruh tahrimi until the prayer ends. A sale made in that time is valid but sinful. Those not obliged to attend Jumu'ah, such as women and travellers, may trade with one another.
Other madhhabs
- Shafi'i
- The prohibition starts at the adhan given when the imam sits on the minbar; a sale made then is haram but valid.
- Maliki
- A sale made after that adhan is void and is undone.
- Hanbali
- A sale made after the adhan by someone obliged to attend is invalid.
Explanation
Allah says, "when the adhan is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah, then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade" (62:9), and in the next ayah, "when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah" (62:10). Trade is not disliked in itself; it simply has to wait for an hour.
Which adhan? In the Prophet's ﷺ time there was one adhan, given when the imam sat on the minbar. Uthman added an earlier adhan as Madinah grew. The relied-upon Hanafi view is that the duty to go, and the ban on trade, start with this first adhan, since it is now the call that tells people to come.
Practical cases:
- Shop owners: close the till or hand over to staff who are not obliged to attend, and go to the masjid.
- Online stores: automatic sales on a website are not you trading, as long as you are at the prayer. Do not take calls or close deals in that time.
- Employees: working in a shop is also covered if you are obliged to attend. Arrange your lunch break or ask for time off for Jumu'ah; many employers agree.
- Women, travellers and the sick: Jumu'ah is not fard on them, so they may trade with each other. Trading with a man who is obliged to attend helps him in a sin, so avoid it.
Ordinary work that is not buying and selling, such as a shift job, is also to be left once the adhan is given, since the command is to hurry to the prayer. See How to pray Jumu'ah and Can you miss a prayer because of work?
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Jumu'a 62:9
يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓا۟ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوٰةِ مِن يَوْمِ ٱلْجُمُعَةِ فَٱسْعَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَذَرُوا۟ ٱلْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٩﴾
O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu'ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.
Trade is to stop once the Friday adhan is called.
Quran, Surah Al-Jumu'a 62:10
فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةُ فَٱنتَشِرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱذْكُرُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ كَثِيرًۭا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ ﴿١٠﴾
And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often that you may succeed.
Trade is allowed again after the prayer.
Quran, Surah An-Noor 24:37
رِجَالٌۭ لَّا تُلْهِيهِمْ تِجَٰرَةٌۭ وَلَا بَيْعٌ عَن ذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ وَإِقَامِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةِ وَإِيتَآءِ ٱلزَّكَوٰةِ ۙ يَخَافُونَ يَوْمًۭا تَتَقَلَّبُ فِيهِ ٱلْقُلُوبُ وَٱلْأَبْصَٰرُ ﴿٣٧﴾
[Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of zakah. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about -
Believers do not let business keep them from prayer.
Where the ruling is recorded
- al-Hidaya, Kitab al-Salah, Bab al-Jumu'a. Leaving trade at the first adhan.
- Radd al-Muhtar (Ibn Abidin), Kitab al-Salah, Bab al-Jumu'a; and Kitab al-Buyu', on disliked sales. Sale after the adhan is makruh tahrimi but valid.
- al-Mughni (Ibn Qudama), Kitab al-Jumu'a. The other schools' views on the validity of such a sale.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.