He replied, “He would recite ‘Has the Overwhelming Event reached you?’” (1)

Abu Uthman al-Dabbi informed us; Abu Muhammad al-Jarrahi informed us; Abu al-Abbas al-Mahbubi narrated to us; Abu Isa narrated to us; Qutaybah narrated to us; Abu Awanah narrated to us, from Ibrahim ibn Muhammad ibn al-Muntashir, from his father, from Habib ibn Salim, from al-Nu'man ibn Bashir, who said: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would recite in the two Eid prayers and in the Friday prayer, “Glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most High” and “Has the Overwhelming Event reached you?” Sometimes the two occasions fell on the same day, and he would recite both of them. (2)

For the Friday prayer to be valid, five conditions must be met: the time, which is the time of the noon prayer, from the sun’s decline until the beginning of the afternoon prayer; the required number of worshippers; the imam; the sermon; and a settled place of residence. If any one of these five conditions is absent, they must pray it as the noon prayer.

The imam may not begin the sermon before the required number has assembled. According to al-Shafi'i, this number is forty. Thus, if they assemble and he delivers the sermon to them, but they disperse before the prayer begins, or even one person from the required number is lost, he may not lead them in the Friday prayer; rather, he must pray the noon prayer. If he begins the prayer with them and they then disperse, the soundest of al-Shafi'i’s opinions is that the presence of forty remains a condition until the end of the prayer, just as the continuation of the prescribed time is a condition until the end of the prayer. (3) Therefore, if even one of them is lost before the imam gives the final salutation, those who remain must perform it as a four-unit prayer.

Another opinion holds that, if two remain with him, he may complete it as a Friday prayer. It is also said that, if one remains with him, he may complete it as a Friday prayer. According to al-Muzani, if their number falls short after the imam has led them through one unit of prayer, he may complete it as a Friday prayer, even if he remains alone. But if this occurs during the first unit, he completes it as a four-unit prayer, even if only one person from the required number is lost. Abu Hanifah held the same view concerning the number he stipulated. This is like the latecomer who catches one unit of the Friday prayer with the imam: when the imam gives the final salutation, he completes it as a Friday prayer; but if he catches less than one unit, he completes it as a four-unit prayer.

Allah, exalted is He, says: “Say, ‘What is with Allah is better than diversion and trade.’” That is, the reward with Allah for prayer and for remaining steadfast with the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is better than diversion and trade. “And Allah is the best of providers,” for He brings provisions into existence; so ask Him and seek from Him.