مسائل المنتخبه (Articles Of Islamic Acts) - الخوئي، السيد أبوالقاسم - الصفحة ١٦٦ - FRIDAY PRAYERS

offering Friday prayers should be at least seven. Hence, unless at least seven Muslims come together, offering of Friday prayers does not become obligatory. However, performance of Friday prayers by five persons including the Imam is in order.
(iii) The Imam should fulfil the necessary conditions for leading the prayers. These conditions include righteousness (Adalat) and some other attributes which are required of an Imam and which will be mentioned inconnection with the congregational prayers. Friday prayers does not become obligatory unless an Imam possessing necessary qualifications is available.
The following conditions should be fulfilled for the Friday prayers becoming valid: (i) The prayers should be offered in congregation. Hence, it is not in order to offerFriday prayers individually. If a follower (Muqtadi) joins Friday prayers before the bowing (Ruku) of the second unit (Rakat) his prayers will be in order and he will haveto perform another unit. However, if he joins the Imam in the bowing of the second unit it is difficult to say that his prayers could be valid and precaution cannot beabandoned in such a case (i.e. he should offer midday prayers). (ii) Two sermons should be delivered before the prayers are offered. In the first sermon the preacher shouldpraise Allah and impress upon the people to observe piety, and should also recite a chapter (Surah) of the holy Quran. Thereafter he should sit down for a while and thenstand up again. This time also he should praise Allah and invoke peace and blessings upon the holy Prophet and the holy Imams and seek forgiveness for the believers. It isalso necessary that the two sermons should be delivered before offering prayers. It will not, therefore, be in order to offer the prayers before the two sermons aredelivered. Furthermore, it is not permissible to deliver the sermons before the sun declines. It is also necessary that the preacher should be standing when he delivers thesermons. Hence, if he delivers