As-Salamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In The Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All Praise and Thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
In response to this question, the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) issued the following Fatwa:
In the past, Muslim jurists debated the issue of establishing Friday prayers in multiple mosques within the same city as urban areas expanded and the number of mosques grew. These jurists, drawing on their Ijtihad, expressed a wide range of opinions on the matter. Some believed that Friday prayers could only be established in one mosque, while others insisted that it could only be offered in the oldest mosque. This disagreement persisted until Imam Al-Subki issued his Fatwa, entitled “Holding Fast to the One Deity by Establishing Two Friday Prayers in One City.” Since there was no clear scriptural text in support of or against establishing multiple Friday prayers, some jurists were hesitant to allow it, fearing it could create divisions among Muslims.
Nowadays, the need for multiple mosques to hold Friday prayers in one city is more common, and the earlier concerns of Muslim jurists are less visible. This question still raises similar concerns in situations where mosques are too small to accommodate all Muslims, or when it is difficult for them to gather at the same time, such as for those who work in Europe. Additionally, some cities may have only a few mosques available. As such, the European Council for Fatwa and Research (ECFR) sees no harm in establishing multiple Friday prayers in one mosque if there is a valid reason, such as those mentioned above. Denying this opportunity for Muslims to observe the important Islamic ritual of Friday prayer would be a missed opportunity for Maslahah Hajjiyyah, which includes facilitating Muslim gatherings, promoting familiarity among Muslims, and providing an opportunity for Muslim-to-Muslim recognition. Furthermore, Friday prayers are preceded by a ceremony that provides an opportunity for education and admonition.
However, the ECFR recommends that repeating Friday prayers in one mosque should be supervised by the administration of the mosque or Islamic center. They should take necessary procedures, such as determining the time and choosing an Imam. It is also preferable that each Friday prayer is led by a different Imam, although this may not always be possible. Mu’adh Ibn Jabal, for example, used to pray Isha’ with the Prophet and then lead the Isha’ prayer at Qiba’ mosque.
Allah Almighty knows best.
