Jumu‘a in several places in one settlement

Question

The population of our village is roughly five or six thousand, of whom 2/3 are Muslims and 1/3 Hindus. In it there is one congregational mosque (jami‘), to which all the Muslims go to perform the Jumu‘a prayer. The people of my neighbourhood developed a grievance against the imam of the congregational mosque, and someone against the imam (?); they stopped praying Jumu‘a in the congregational mosque and established Jumu‘a in the mosque of their own neighbourhood.

Answer

(1) One of the purposes of Jumu‘a is the display of strength (shawka), which is achieved more clearly when it is performed by a large gathering in one place. When Jumu‘a is held in place after place without need, this purpose is not achieved to a greater degree; therefore this practice is disliked. (2) It is better that all agree to perform Jumu‘a in a single (congregational)

Source: Fatawa Mahmudiyya

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