JUMU'AH (FRIDAY PRAYER)

Bismillah ir-rahman ir-rahim

Assalam alaykum warhamatullah wabaraktu

Friday is the sixth day in the Islamic week, and it is the day that is given more importance than any other day of the week. 

Every Friday, Jumu’ah prayer is offered in the place of Dhuhr prayer and for this prayer special time is taken. Imams of all masjids deliver a khutbah on a special topic each Friday with Muslims having a great gathering. 

Gathering on Friday is important and more obligatory than any other gathering except Arafah. Yes Friday is a good day for all Muslims around the world. And whoever neglects it Allah will seal his heart. It was narrated by Abu’I-Jad al-Damari who was a companion of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon) the he the Prophet said: “Whoever neglects three Jumu’ahs, Allah will place a seal on his heart.” And in another narration, “Let people stop neglecting Jumu’ah or Allah will place a seal on their hearts, then they will be among those who are neglectful.” This how important Jumu’ah is brothers and sisters in Islam.

Have any idea what you should do on Fridays? Not partying and clubbing but First thing, wake up for Fajr. Praying in congregation on Fridays is the best prayer that the Muslim can pray during the week. It was narrated that Ibn Umar said: the Messenger of Allah said, “The best prayer before Allah is Fajr prayer on Friday in congregation.”  Abu Hurairah narrated: the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to recite the following in the Fajr prayer of Friday, “Alif, Lam, Mim, Tanzil” (Surat As-Sajda and “Hal-ata-ala-l-Insani” (Surah Ad-Dahr).” (Bukhari).

Secondly recite your morning adhkaar and make a lot of dua, on Friday there is a time when a person’s Lord will answer his dua. It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (RA), that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) mentioned Friday and said: “On this day there is a time when no Muslim stands and prays, asking Allah for something, but Allah will grant him it.” And he gestured with his hands how short the time is.

Thirdly, reading Surah Al-Kahf. It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon hi) said: “Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on Friday, he will be illuminated with light between the two Fridays.” Narrated by al-Haakim.

Fourth on the list is sending a lot of blessings upon the prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). It was narrated from Aws ibn Aws that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The best of your days is Friday. On that day Adam (AS) was created, on that day he died, on that day the trumpet will be blown, and on that day all of creation will swoon. So send a great deal of blessings upon me, for your blessings will be shown to me.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, how will our blessings upon you be shown to you when you have turned to dust?” He said, “Allah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the prophets peace and blessings be upon them.”

Fifth when Jumu’ah is approaching, we should get ready by first taking a bath, remember about cleanliness. Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) said, “The taking of a bath on Friday is compulsory for every male (Muslim) who has attained the age of puberty.” And in another narration it is compulsory for every Muslim who has attained the age of puberty. Another narration by Abdullah bin Umar: I heard Allah’s Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saying, “Anyone of you coming for the Jumu’ah prayer should take a bath.”  

Sixth, wear your best clothes for the Jumu’ah prayer and they should be clean too. Perfume yourselves men (and lightly in the case of women) and you the Miswak if possible. On Fridays the Messenger of Allah said: “O Muslims! Allah Ta’ala has made this day a day of Eid. So have a bath on this day, whoever has perfume should apply it and use the Miswak.” (Ibn Majah).

Seventh, when you hear the adhaan, leave what your doing, close your shop or businesses, leave your work and answer Allah's call. In Surah Al- Jumua (Q62:9), Allah says, "O believers! When the call is proclaimed for the Salah on Friday, come to the remembrance of Allah and cease your trading. That is better for you, if you but knew it."

Reaching to the masjid before the khutba starts brings a great reward. Abu Huraira (RA) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Any person who takes a bath on Friday like the bath of Janaba and then goes for the prayer (in the first hour i.e early), it is as if he has sacrificed a camel (in Allah’s cause); whoever comes in the second hour it is as if he had sacrificed a cow; and whoever goes in the third hour is as if he has sacrificed a horned ram; and whoever goes in the fourth hour is as if he has sacrificed a hen; and whoever goes in the fifth hour has as if he has offered an egg. When the Imam comes out and starts to deliver the khutbah, the angels present themselves to listen to the khutbah.” (Bukhari)

Eighth if a person walks to Jumu’ah prayer, for every step he will have the reward of fasting and praying qiyaam for one year. It was narrated by Aws ibn Aws that the Messenger of Allah said: “Whoever does ghusl on Friday and causes his wife to do ghusl, and sets out early, and comes close to the Imam and listens and keeps quiet, for every step he takes he will have the reward of fasting and praying qiyaam for one year.” (Tirmidhi). And do not hurry but rather walk calmly as the Prophet suggested. It was reported by Abu Hurairah, that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If the prayer has started do not run for it but just walk for it calmly and pray whatever you get, and complete whatever you missed.” (Bukhari).

Last but not least it was narrated from Abu Huraira that Allah’s Messenger said: “Whoever does ghusl then comes to Jumu’ah, and prays as much as Allah decrees for him, then listens attentively until the khutbah is over, then prays with him (Imam). Will be forgiven for his sins between that and the next Jumu’ah and three more days.” (Muslim) Al-Nawawi (RA) said, the scholars said that what is meant by his being forgiven between the two Jumu’ah and three more days is that a good deed is worth ten like it, so he will be rewarded with ten rewards for each of the deeds that he did on Friday. Some of the companions said: what is meant by it is that from one Jumu’ah to the next khutbah until the same time on the following Friday, so that it will be seven days, no more and no less, then three days are added making ten in all.

Jabir bin Abdullah reported that Allah’s Messenger said: A person entered the mosque while the Prophet was delivering khutbah on a Friday. The prophet said to him, “Have you prayed?” The man replied negative.  The prophet said, “Get up and pray two Rakat.” (Bukhari). Once at the masjid perform two rakats as our beloved Prophet said.

In cases of women, the scholars have agreed that Jumu'ah prayer is not obligatory for women, and that they may pray four rakats of Dhuhr in their homes. The evidence is from a hadeeth of Taariq ibn Shihaab according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said," Jumu'ah is a duty that is required of every Muslim in congregation, except four: a slave, a woman, a child or one who is sick." Its isnaad is saheeh according to the conditions of the two Sheikhs (Bukhari and Muslim). The reason behind it is that Shari'ah doesn't encourage women to attend place where men gather, but there is nothing wrong  if she wants to go provided she does not wear adornments and perfume or crowd with men in the streets; and therefore will not need to pray Dhuhr.

And in another Sunnah of the Prophet, it was narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar, Allah’s apostle used to pray two rakats before Dhuhr prayer and two after it. He also used to pray two rakats after Maghrib prayer in his house, and two rakats after the Isha prayer. He never prayed after Jumu’ah prayer till he departed (from the masjid), and then he would pray two rakat at home. In a similar narration, Allah’s Messenger said if anyone is to pray at the Masjid after Jumu’ah prayer then he should pray four rakats but if he departs and reaches his house, he should pray two rakats.

May Allah reward us and give us the ability to these virtuous deeds and Sunnah of Rasul-Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

And Allah knows best