In the Name of Allāh, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
The day of Yawm Al-Jumu’ah (Friday) holds a paramount position in the Islamic week, a sacred time designated for congregation, devotion, and spiritual renewal. Prophetic teachings affirm its preeminence, describing it as the "best day during which the sun has risen". The obligations and recommended acts associated with Friday elevate its importance far beyond that of a typical calendar day.
I. The Foundational Theology and Preeminence of Jumu'ah
The elevated status of Friday is deeply tied to the foundational and eschatological events of creation, serving as a constant reminder of humanity's origin and ultimate destiny.
Divine Connection to Creation and Judgment
The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) highlighted Friday’s unique cosmic significance: "It is the Day Adam was created. It is the day when Adam entered Paradise and also when he was taken out from it. It is also the day on which the Day of Judgment takes place."
The selection of Friday also underscores the distinction granted to the Muslim Ummah. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) explained that although Muslims are the chronologically "last" community to receive the divine message, they will be "the first on the day of judgment," specifically because Allah guided them to glorify Friday, a day which previous nations had been prescribed but failed to uphold.
II. The Obligation of Friday Prayer (Salat Al-Jumu’ah)
The centerpiece of Yawm Al-Jumu’ah is the congregational prayer, which is an explicit obligation (Fard 'Ayn) upon Muslim men.
The Qur’anic Command to Hasten
The necessity of the prayer is enshrined in the Qur'an itself, establishing a temporary but absolute priority over worldly affairs. Allah (SWT) states in Surah Al-Jumu'ah (translation of meaning):
"O’ you who believe! When the call is proclaimed to Prayer on Friday hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business. That is best for you if you but knew." (62:9)
This command mandates the immediate suspension of trade and commercial activity upon hearing the call to prayer, underscoring the spiritual urgency of attending the gathering.
Warnings Against Neglect
Given its status, neglecting the Friday prayer without a valid excuse carries severe spiritual warnings. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) warned that negligence leads to spiritual erosion:
- He said concerning those who do not attend the prayer, "Either they (meaning people who do not attend the Friday prayer) stop neglecting Friday prayers or Allah will set a seal on their hearts so they can not find the right path again." Scholars explain that this "sealing" refers to the heart becoming negligent and hardened, losing the capacity for positive reaction to reminders of the hereafter .
- Furthermore, the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) warned that whoever "does not attend three Friday prayers, (without a valid excuse) Allah will set a seal on his heart".
- The profound importance of the prayer was also shown in the intense expression of the Prophet’s desire to punish non-attendees, as he once stated, "I wanted to ask a man to lead people in the prayer so that I may go and burn houses of men who did not attend the Friday Prayer with us." Scholars clarify that this was not a binding legal order, but rather a profound rhetorical threat (Waeed) meant to emphasize the gravity of abandoning this communal duty.
III. Canonical Observances and Recommended Sunan
The observance of Friday is incomplete without adhering to several specific recommended practices (Sunan) that maximize the spiritual reward and respect for the congregation.
A. Purity, Adornment, and Scent
Physical preparation is highly emphasized, as Friday is considered a weekly festival ('Eid). The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) stated: "Every Muslim is obligated to bath on Fridays and wear his best cloth. Also, he should use perfume if he has any." Furthermore, using the toothstick (Siwak) is also recommended . These acts ensure that the believer is physically and spiritually ready for the communal gathering.
B. The Virtue of Punctual Arrival
Attending the prayer early is linked to immense, graduated spiritual rewards. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) explained this hierarchy of reward:
- "If one washes himself and then went to Friday Prayer, it is considered as if he donated a camel for the sake of Allah. However, If he went in the second hour then it is considered as if he donated a cow and if the third hour then as if he donated a big sheep and if the fourth hour then as if he donated a chicken and if the fifth hour then as if he donated an egg."
The pursuit of this reward ceases once the Imam begins the sermon (Khutbah), as the attending angels then close their records and devote their attention to listening.
C. Increasing Blessings (Salawat) Upon the Prophet
It is strongly encouraged to increase the number of wishes of peace and blessings (Salawat) upon the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) on Friday and the night preceding it. This is because the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) affirmed that these blessings will be "shown" to him. When asked how this was possible after his death, he replied that "Allah has prohibited earth to cause the body of prophets to decay".
D. Recitation of Surah Al-Kahf
Recitation of Surah Al-Kahf (The Cave) is a recommended practice, offering spiritual protection and guidance. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: "Who ever recites surat Al-Kahf on Friday, Allah will give him a light to the next Friday." This recitation may be performed from the dawn (Fajr) of Friday until its sunset .
E. The Hour of Acceptance (Sa’at Al-Ijābah)
Friday contains a special, brief period during which supplication (Du'a) is guaranteed to be accepted. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said that Friday has 12 hours, one of which is the hour where "cries are granted for Muslim believers". The exact timing of this hour has two principal views supported by authentic tradition:
- The time between the Imam sitting on the pulpit (Minbar) and the completion of the prayer.
- The last hour of the day, specifically the period after the Asr prayer until the sunset. Many scholars, including Ibn al-Qayyim, favored this second opinion, stating it is the most correct view. Believers are therefore recommended to seek devotion during both periods to ensure the Hour is not missed.
IV. Etiquette and The Boundaries of Livelihood
A. Absolute Silence During the Sermon
Once the sermon begins, total silence is mandatory. The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) warned that engaging in even minimal distraction or "vain talk" (Laghw) causes the worshiper to lose the full reward of Jumu'ah. The prohibition is so strict that the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said: "If you told your friend to pay attention on Friday while the Imam is delivering the speech then you committed a sin of vain talk." He also warned that even minor physical actions, such as touching the floor's gravel, constitute Laghw.
Furthermore, disruptive conduct within the mosque is forbidden. When a man was seen walking between seated people during the sermon, the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) immediately instructed him: "Sit because you caused harm to other people and came in late." This establishes the need for consideration and respect for the assembly’s concentration.
B. The Integration of Work and Worship
Islamic law explicitly rejects the notion of designating Friday as a day of mandatory rest, distinguishing it from the Sabbath traditions of other faiths. The temporary prohibition on work lasts only until the completion of Salat Al-Jumu’ah. Immediately thereafter, Allah grants permission for the resumption of economic activity:
"And when the prayer is finished, then you may disperse through the land and seek of the bounty of Allah." (62:10)
The companions of the Prophet did not customarily take Friday off. Indeed, Imam Al-Malek advised that it is disliked (Makruh) to habitually take Friday off from work, as this resembles the practice of the Jews and Christians. The Muslim work week is thus characterized by the integration of devotion and productive labor, with the Jumu'ah prayer acting as a spiritual anchor for the entire week.
As-Salamu `alaykum.
ReplyDeleteFriday prayer is very essential and compulsory, Muslims should don’t ignore Friday prayer Allah (SWT) said in Quran:"O you who believe, when the Salat is announced on Friday, you shall hasten to the commemoration of God, and drop all business. This is better for you, if you only knew. Once the prayer is completed, you may spread through the land to seek God's bounties, and continue to remember God frequently, that you may succeed." Quran [62:9-10]
As a Muslim it’s our “Farz” or compulsory to perform five times Namaz in a day on time, but the importance of Friday prayer is additional. Special instruction are given to us for Friday prayer,for Male it is advisable to pray in a Masjid and female should perform in houses. Hadith says: Salah is the Meraj of a Momin (Namaz is called as Meraj-ul-Momineen).