The virtue of Friday

Friday is a blessed day; indeed, it is the best day in the world, the best day of the week. Because Allah Almighty gave it such an important status, it should be honored. It is a day in which we should perform many good deeds, avoiding all evil ones. It is a day on which we should send many prayers upon the Prophet (saw). Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with, related that the Prophet (saw) said: “The best day that the sun has risen upon is Friday; in it, Adam was created, and during it, he was made to enter Paradise, and on it, he left Paradise. And the Hour will not arrive except on Friday.” (Muslim)

In a Hadith related by Abu Lubabah Al-Badri, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet (saw) said: “The master of all days is Friday, and it is the greatest day with Allah, greater than the day of Al-Fitr and the day of Al-Adha.” (Ahmad)

In Hadith related by Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: “Whoever performs ghusl of Friday, the ghusl for sexual impurity, and then does in the first hour (to the Friday prayer), it is as if he sacrificed a camel; whoever goes in the second hour, it is as if he sacrificed a cow; whoever goes in in the third hour, it is as if he sacrificed a horned male sheep; whoever goes in the fourth hour, it is as if he sacrificed a chicken; whoever goes in the fifth hour, it is as if he sacrificed an egg. And when the Imam comes out, the angels attend, listening to the remembrance.” (Malik and Bukhari)

In yet another Hadith, both Abu Sa’id and Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with them, related that the Prophet (saw) said: “Indeed there is an hour on Friday: no Muslim worshipper finds it, asking Allah good during it, except that He gives that thing to him. And that hour is after Al-Asr.” (Ahmad)

Its Ruling

The Jumu’ah (Friday) prayer is obligatory based on this verse: “O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the salat (prayer) on the day of Friday (Jumu’ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allah (khutbah) and salat (prayer) and leave off business (and every other thing)” (Al-Jumu’ah: 9)

Based on this saying of the Messenger (saw) people should desist from abandoning Friday prayers, or indeed Allah will seal their hearts, and they will become the heedless ones. The Prophet (saw) said: “The Jumu’ah (prayer) is an obligatory right upon every Muslim in a community, except for four: an owned slaved, a woman, a child, and a sick person.” (Abu Dawud)

The manners and necessary actions of Friday prayer

1. Everyone who attends the prayer must first perform ghusl. The Prophet (saw) said: “The shower of Jumu’ah is obligatory upon every adult.” (Agreed upon)

2. One (male) should wear a clean garment and apply perfume, for the Prophet (saw) said: “Upon every Muslim is a shower on Friday; he wears from his best garments, and if he has perfume, he should apply it on himself.” (Ahmad)

3. One should make an effort to arrive early for the prayer, even earlier than its time begins, for the Prophet (saw) has said earlier.

4. When one enters the Masjid for the Friday prayer, one should pray as much as voluntary prayers as are easy for him. The Prophet (saw) said: “When a man performs ghusl on Friday, purifies himself as much as he is able, applies some of his oils or applies the perfume of his house, then goes to the Masjid, not separating two (worshippers), then prays what is written for him, then listens to the Imam when he speaks – he will be forgiven from one Jumu’ah to the next, so long as he does not perpetrate the major sins.” (Bukhari)

5. When the Imam comes out to deliver the khutbah (Friday sermon). One must avoid talking, making frivolous movements, or playing with pebbles and the like. So important it is to remain quiet that the Prophet (saw): “When you say to your companion, ‘pay attention’ as the Imam is delivering the khutbah, then you have indeed spoken nonsense.” (Muslim). Again, regarding the khutbah on Friday, the Prophet (saw) also said: “Whoever touches pebbles, then he has perpetrated nonsense; whoever perpetrates nonsense, then there is no Jumu’ah for him.” (Abu Dawud)

6. If one enters the Masjid as the Imam is delivering the khutbah, then he should perform two brief units upon entering the Masjid. The Prophet (saw) said: “If one of you enters on Friday as the Imam is delivering his khutbah, then let him perform two units (of prayer), and let him perform them quickly.” (Muslim)

7. On Friday, one should send many blessings upon the Prophet (saw), for he said: “Increase sending blessings upon me on Friday and the night (before) Friday; whoever does that, I will be his witness and intercessor on the Day of Judgement.” (Baihaqi)

by Muhammad bin Ali Al-Arfaj