Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and an Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada: “Insha’Allah, I would like to thank the viewer or the listener for taking the time for asking questions. Allah Almighty says, “The true believers are those who hear the advice and act upon the best of it.” So may Allah grant us the tawfeeq to benefit from knowledge and act upon it, amen!
Allah says in the Qur’an: “O believers! When the call for the Prayer is heard on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and cease your trading. That is better for you if you but knew.”(Al-Jum`ah: 9)
It is clear from this verse that all Muslims, who are eligible to attend the Jum’ah, must cease all their activities and respond to the call of the Mu’adhin (prayer caller). Thus no one is allowed to go on with his business for this contravenes his duty of attending the Jum’ah.
In the above verse, we read Allah’s statement, “Hasten to the remembrance of Allah”. According to authentic scholars, “remembrance of Allah” includes not only Prayer but also Khutbah, and thus it is not enough for a person to simply find time for the Prayer, but he must also listen to the Friday Khutbah. It is worth mentioning that the two Rak`ahs deducted from the Friday Prayer have been compensated for by the Khutbah. Accordingly, all business must stop immediately after the first Adhan (call to Prayer) so that one may attend the full Jum’ah service.
As far as resuming one’s business after the Jum’ah is concerned, there is no taboo associated with that; for we read in the succeeding verse, “And when the Prayer is ended, then disperse in the land and seek of Allah’s favor, and remember Allah much, that you may succeed.” (Al-Jum`ah: 10).