On April 18, 2025, Muslims across Turkey will gather for the weekly Friday prayer, an essential ritual that fosters community and spiritual connection. This significant event, known as Cuma namazı, is not merely a religious obligation; it serves as a vital communal experience where believers come together to worship and reflect.
The Friday prayer consists of two rak'ahs (units) of obligatory prayer, preceded by a sermon (khutbah), which provides spiritual guidance and reminds attendees of their social responsibilities. The Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı (Presidency of Religious Affairs) has released the prayer times for various cities, ensuring that worshippers can plan their attendance accordingly.
Here are the Friday prayer times for several cities across Turkey:
- Adana: 12:43
- Adıyaman: 12:31
- Afyonkarahisar: 13:02
- Ağrı: 12:12
- Aksaray: 12:48
- Amasya: 12:41
- Ankara: 12:53
- Antalya: 13:02
- Ardahan: 12:14
- Artvin: 12:17
- Aydın: 13:13
- Balıkesir: 13:13
- Bartın: 12:55
- Batman: 12:20
- Bayburt: 12:24
- Bilecik: 13:04
- Bingöl: 12:22
- Bitlis: 12:16
- Bolu: 12:58
- Burdur: 13:03
- Bursa: 13:08
- Çanakkale: 13:19
- Çankırı: 12:50
- Çorum: 12:45
- Denizli: 13:08
- Diyarbakır: 12:24
- Düzce: 13:00
- Edirne: 13:18
- Elazığ: 12:28
- Erzincan: 12:28
- Erzurum: 12:19
- Eskişehir: 13:02
- Gaziantep: 12:35
- Giresun: 12:31
- Gümüşhane: 12:27
- Hakkâri: 12:09
- Hatay: 12:40
- Iğdır: 12:08
- Isparta: 13:02
- İstanbul: 13:09
- İzmir: 13:16
- Kahramanmaraş: 12:37
- Karabük: 12:54
- Karaman: 12:52
- Kars: 12:12
- Kastamonu: 12:49
- Kayseri: 12:42
- Kilis: 12:36
- Kırıkkale: 12:50
- Kırklareli: 13:16
- Kırşehir: 12:48
- Kocaeli: 13:05
- Konya: 12:54
- Kütahya: 13:05
- Malatya: 12:31
- Manisa: 13:15
- Mardin: 12:21
- Mersin: 12:46
- Muğla: 13:11
- Muş: 12:18
The significance of Cuma namazı extends beyond the prayer itself; it represents a time for Muslims to come together, reinforcing social bonds and community ties. The sermon delivered during the prayer serves as a reminder of the importance of faith and collective responsibility.
Typically, the Friday prayer lasts between 45 minutes to 1 hour, allowing ample time for reflection and connection among worshippers. As Muslims prepare for this important day, many will focus on their local prayer times to ensure they participate in this communal act of worship.
In major cities like Istanbul, Ankara, and Izmir, the anticipation of gathering in mosques is palpable. The Diyanet İşleri Başkanlığı's announcement of prayer times is a crucial part of the preparations, allowing congregants to plan their day around this important event. The sense of unity felt during the Friday prayer is a hallmark of the Islamic faith, reminding believers of their shared values and commitments.
As the time approaches, Muslims will gather in mosques, ready to engage in this sacred practice, and to listen to the khutbah, which not only provides spiritual nourishment but also addresses contemporary issues facing the community. This aspect of the Friday prayer underscores its role as a platform for social dialogue and reflection.
Overall, the Friday prayer on April 18, 2025, promises to be a significant occasion for Muslims across Turkey, uniting them in faith and community. With the announced prayer times, worshippers can look forward to fulfilling this important religious obligation together, reinforcing their bonds with one another and with their faith.
