Shaykh Uthman Al-Khamees stated in a video while explaining Daleel At-Talib (the chapter on Jumu’ah):
“Yes. He (Ash-Shaykh Mar’i bin Yusuf Al-Karmi Al-Hanbali, may Allah have mercy on him) said: “It is forbidden to establish the Friday prayer (Jumu‘ah) and the Eid prayer in more than one location within a town, except out of necessity, such as overcrowding, distance, or fear of fitnah (discord). If they multiply (i.e increase the places where the Jumu’ah is conducted) for reasons other than these, then the one that precedes in assuming iḥrām (starting the Jumu’ah prayer with Takbeeratul-Ihram) is the correct one.”
This is a real problem we are currently facing in our countries: the establishment of multiple Friday prayers in multiple mosques. The fundamental principle is that Jumu‘ah should gather people (bring people together). For example, in a neighborhood, an area, or a block, if there are four mosques, only one should hold Jumu‘ah. Now, almost all mosques hold Jumu‘ah. And no mosque is full. Each mosque has half its capacity or less, and this is wrong. It is not permissible. It is not permissible to hold a second Jumu‘ah until the first Jumu‘ah is completely full, such that there is no space for people—meaning, there is a reason. There must be a reason for establishing a second Jumu‘ah, such as lack of space, distance, or fear of fitnah (discord). If there are no such reasons, the default is that (the locations of conducting) Jumu‘ah prayers should not be multiplied. What is happening now in our countries, unfortunately, is a very grave error, which is the multiplication of Jumu‘ah prayers.
Look, between one mosque and another, just two streets away, there is a Jumu‘ah. And behind this mosque, there is a Jumu‘ah; in front of it, a Jumu‘ah; to its left, a Jumu‘ah. Everywhere, there is a Jumu‘ah. Almost all mosques now hold Jumu‘ah, except for a few, and this is wrong. The principle is that all the people of an area should gather for one Jumu‘ah.
If the mosque is not enough for them, another mosque should be opened. If that’s still not enough, they should… (unclear), and so on. But for everyone to say, “By Allah, we want Jumu‘ah at our mosque. We have a good preacher, and so we want Jumu‘ah here,” and another says, “We want Jumu‘ah here,” and another says, “We want Jumu‘ah here”—this is wrong. This is truly a bad leniency. Establishing multiple Jumu‘ah prayers without necessity. The principle is that the Jumu‘ah prayer gathers people. The people in multiple mosques should all gather in one mosque.
And the Eid prayer is likewise, even more so. Because Eid gathers more people than Jumu‘ah, as it is prayed outside mosques. So, more people gather there.
The point is that it is not valid to hold more than one Jumu‘ah at the same time, and the madhhab (school of thought, here he is referring to the Hanbali Madhhab) is strict on this issue.
If more than one Jumu‘ah is held without necessity, the second Jumu‘ah is invalid. If more than one Jumu‘ah is held without necessity, the second Jumu‘ah is invalid.
Shaykh asks a question to the audience: Is there a mosque where Jumu‘ah is held? (Another voice): Shaykh, we have mosques where Jumu‘ah is held, except for one mosque. (The Shaykh): Allah’s help is sought. I mean, look now, what is the distance between this mosque and the mosque in front of it? (Another voice): 100 meters. (The Shaykh): Huh? (Another voice): 100 meters. (The Shaykh): No, no, say approximately 400 meters. Okay. Jumu‘ah there and Jumu‘ah here. Is this one full? (Another voice): No. (The Shaykh): It’s not full. I think there’s a mosque behind it too. (Another voice): All (hold) Jumu‘ah. This one says here, and that one says there. (The Shaykh): And some mosques are small. And all of them hold Jumu‘ah.
According to Aḥmad’s madhhab, the one that starts first is the correct one, and all the rest of the Jumu‘ah prayers are invalid. To that extent (there is strictness in this issue). Therefore, it is truly necessary to send this message to the ministry that it is not permissible to open all mosques for Jumu‘ah. The principle of Jumu‘ah is to gather people. The principle is that the people of the mosques should gather in one mosque. This is the principle. But if every mosque holds Jumu‘ah, we gain nothing. Yes.
He said: “And it is forbidden to establish Jumu‘ah and Eid prayers in more than one location within a town, except out of necessity, such as overcrowding, distance, or fear of fitnah. If they multiply”—meaning the Jumu‘ah prayers—”for reasons other than that, then the one that precedes in assuming (Takbeeratul-) iḥrām is the correct one.” This means that the ones that come after it are incorrect. Yes.” (End of the Shaykh’s words.)
(Translated by Mohammed bin Thajammul Hussain Manna.)
Saheehus-Seerah 