The sheikh has called on his faithful to join him at Lakemba Mosque where he is due to speak in one of his first public appearances since being rushed to hospital with chest pains on Monday.
Police have already closed the road outside the mosque in anticipation for thousands of supporters who are expected to gather for prayers which begin at 1 o'clock (AEDT) this afternoon.
Officers with bomb-sniffer dogs have checked the mosque which is covered in floral tributes from the sheikh's supporters.
Rally called off
A rally planned for Saturday to show support for the Sheikh was called off after a plea from the Mufti himself.
He urged the faithful to join him for Friday prayers at Lakemba mosque instead.
The Sheikh spoke on Voice of Islam Radio in Sydney today urging them not to attend the demonstration.
The Muslim cleric has been under fire from sections of his own community as well as mainstream Australia over a sermon he gave last month in which he suggested that immodestly dressed women invited sexual assault.
Clerics had tried to stop the unofficial demonstration, which they feared could degenerate into chaos.
Some have expressed fears of a repeat of the violence of last year's Cronulla riots.
The groundswell of support for the sheikh gained more momentum when senior clerics and imams joined dozens of Muslim community groups in backing him.
A statement signed by 34 Muslim community groups accused the media and politicians of exaggerating the scandal and using it to vilify Australian Muslims.