“O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.” (Surah Al-Jumu’ah, 62:9)

The importance of Friday Prayer is well known to the Muslim ummah. There are explicit verses in the Qur’an and Sunah that highlight this and also gives us guidelines on how to make the best out of this Salaah. In my humble attempt, I have tried to list out the benefits of the Jumu’ah Salaah and the ways we could resort to in order to reap them, in shaa’ Allah.

Friday is called Al-Jumu`ah because it is derived from Al-Jam`, literally meaning “gathering”. 1

The Prophet said: “Friday is the master of days, and the greatest of them before Allah. It is greater before Allah than the day of al-Adha and the day of al-Fitr. It has five characteristics: on this day Allah created Adam, on it He sent Adam down to the earth, on it Allah caused Adam to die, on it there is a time when a person does not ask Allah for anything but He gives it to him, so long as he does not ask for anything haraam, and on it the Hour will begin. There is no angel who is close to Allah, no heaven, no earth, no wind, no mountain and no sea that does not fear Friday.” 2

Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimullah) said: 

“Jumu‘ah prayer is singled out from among all the other obligatory prayers for having particular characteristics that are not found in other prayers including the fact that it is offered in congregation, has a minimum number of worshipers required in order for it to be valid, the iqaamah is a condition of it being valid, one must not be traveling in order for it to be obligatory, and the recitation is done out loud.” [3.  Zaad al-Ma‘aad, 1/384-385]

Jumu‘ah prayer is singled out from among all the other obligatory prayers for having particular characteristics that are not found in other prayers“

VIRTUES OF THE FRIDAY PRAYER

Abu Hurayrah  narrated that the Messenger of Allah  said: “The five daily prayers, and from one Jumu’ah to the next are an expiation for whatever sins come in between, so long as one does not commit any major sin.” 3

It was narrated by Al-Ja’d ad-Damri  that the Prophet  said, “He who leaves the Friday prayer (continuously) for three Friday on account of slackness, Allah will print a stamp on his heart.” 4

It was narrated by Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As  that the Prophet said, “Three types of people attend Friday prayer; One is present in a frivolous way and that is all he gets from it; another comes with a supplication, Allah may grant or refuse his request as He wishes; another is present silently and quietly with-out stepping over a Muslim or annoying anyone, and that is an atonement for his sins till the next Friday and three days more, the reason being that Allah, the Exalted, says: “He who does a good deed will have ten times as much.” 5

SUNNAH OF FRIDAY PRAYER

Before the Friday prayer:

Close your business before Salaah:

“[Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and performance of prayer and giving of zakah. …That Allah may reward them [according to] the best of what they did and increase them from His bounty. ….” (Surah An-Nur, 24:37-38)

Allah  praises those individuals who close their business fearing Allah  and rush towards Salaah. They seek and hope for His bounties and fear His punishment!

Performing Ghusl:

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah  that the Prophet 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 (the imam), will be forgiven for (his sins) between that and the next Jumu’ah and three more days.” 6

Al-Nawawi said: “The scholars said that what is meant by his being forgiven between the two Jumu’ahs and three more days is that a good deed is worth ten like it, so he will be rewarded with ten hasanahs for each of the good deeds that he did on Friday.” 7

Reaching Early for Jum’ah Prayer:  

The Messenger of Allahsaid, “Whoever does ghusl on Friday like ghusl for janaabah, then goes to the prayer (in the first hour, i.e., early), 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 the third hour, it is as if he sacrificed a horned ram; whoever goes in the fourth hour, it is as if he sacrificed a hen; and whoever goes in the fifth hour it is as if he offered an egg. When the imam comes out, the angels come to listen to the khutbah.” 8

Walking to Jumu’ah Prayer:

The Messenger of Allah said, “Whoever does ghusl on Friday ….., and sets out early, ….for every step he takes, he will have the reward of fasting and praying qiyaam for one year.” 9

Wearing fresh/new clothes for Jumu’ah:

It was narrated from ‘Abdullah bin Salam  that he heard the Messenger of Allah saying on the pulpit one Friday, “There is nothing wrong with anyone of you buying two garments for Friday (prayer), other than his daily work clothes.” 10

Friday is the Eid day for Muslims. Therefore, they should dress themselves with the finest clothes when going for the Friday Prayer.

6.  Applying hair oil and Perfume and the use of Siwaak:

The Messenger of Allahstressed on the application of hair oil, use of siwaak 11 and perfume (for men only) on Friday. The main idea behind this recommendation is that the person feels fresh and others can also benefit from the good smell.

It was narrated by Salman-Al-Farsi  that the Prophetsaid, “Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Jumua prayer) …… his sins in between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven.” 12

Whilst Attending The Prayer:

Splitting 2 people sitting together:

It was narrated by Salman-Al-Farsi  that the Prophet said, “……. then proceeds (for the Jumua prayer) and does not separate two persons sitting together (in the mosque) …… his sins in-between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven.” 13

Making place for others:

Jabir  reported Allah’s Apostle as saying, “None amongst you should make his brother stand on Friday (during the congregational prayer) and then occupy his-place. but he should only say to him (Accommodate me).” 14

Stepping over others Shoulder:

It was narrated from Abu Az-Zahiriyah about ‘Abdullah bin Busr, he said: “I was sitting beside him on Friday and he said: ‘A man came, stepping over people’s necks, and the Messenger of Allah  said: ‘Sit down, you are disturbing people.” 15

Speaking during the Khutbah:

It was narrated from Abu Hurairahthat the Messenger of Allahsaid: “If you say to your companion: ‘Be quiet and listen’ when the imam is delivering the Khutbah, you have engaged in idle speech.” 16

Sitting close to the Imaam:

It was narrated by Samurah ibn Jundub  that the Prophetsaid, “Attend the sermon (on Friday) and sit near the imam, for a man keeps himself away until he will be left behind at the time of entering Paradise though he enters it.” 17

Ihtiba’:

Mu’adh bin Anas Al-Juhani said that, “The Prophet  forbade (us) from sitting with our legs drawn up to our belly (Ihtiba’) during the Friday Khutbah (religious talk before the prayer).” 18

The original Arabic word is hubtaah or ihtibaa. The Prophethas prohibited sitting in this manner since a man may easily become drowsy and his ablution may also break in this position. There are various opinions regarding this issue. 19

Feeling drowsy during the Khutbah:

Ibn Umarnarrated that the Prophetsaid, “When one of you becomes sleepy during the Friday prayer, then let him move from where he is sitting.” 20

After the Friday prayer:

Praying 4 Rak’ah Sunnah:

Abu Hurairahreported that the Messenger of Allahsaid, “If anyone of you performs the Friday prayer, he should perform four Rak’ah (Sunnah) after it.” 21]

Changing Place after Jumu’ah Prayers:

Al- Sa’ib informed ‘Umar bin Ata about what he had seen in the prayer of Mu’awiya that, “Yes, I observed the Jumu’a prayer along with him in Maqsura and when the Imam pronounced salutation, I stood up at my place and observed (Sunan rak’ahs). As he entered (the apartment), he sent for me and said: Do not repeat what you have done. Whenever you have observed the Jumu’a prayer, do not observe (Sunan prayer) till you have talked or got out, for the Messenger of Allah had ordered us to do this and not to combine two (types of) prayers without talking or going out.” 22

3. Buying and Selling After The Friday Prayer:

“And when the Prayer is finished, then you may disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah. And remember Allah much that you may prosper or be successful.” (Surah Al-Jumu’ah, 62:10) 

Jumu’ah is a gift from Allah  to us just like the 2 Eids. Allahhas given us the opportunity every week to bask under the shade of His blessings. We would truly succeed in this if we follow it with pure and sincere intentions. The punishment for skipping prayers is severe as Allahdescribes in the verse:

 ‘But there came after them successors who neglected prayer and pursued desires; so they are going to meet Destruction and Hell..” (Surah Maryam, 19: 59)

May Allah protect us from falling into this category and guide us onto the straight path!

  Ibn Katheer, Tafseer Ibn Katheer, p.145 

  Ibn Maajah, 1084; Hasan : Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 2279 

  Sahih Muslim: 233 

Sunan Abi Dawud, Book 2, Hadith 663, Hasan: Sahih : Al-Albani 

  Sunan Abi Dawud 1113: Book 3, Hadith 1108: Hasan (Al-Albani) 

  Sahih Muslim: 857 

  http://islamqa.info/en/13692 

  Sahih Al-Bukhaari (814) and Sahih Muslim (850) 

  At-Tirmidhi, 496; saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 410 

  Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 5: Hadith 1148, Hasan : Darussalam 

  Sunan Ibn-Maajah: Vol 2; p. 157; no. 1098: Ibn ‘Abbaas reported that Allah’s Messenger  said, “Verily this is the Fid day. Allaah has prescribed it for the Muslims. So, he who comes to (observe) Friday prayer… (bear in mind that the) tooth-brush (miswaak)is essential for you.” 

  Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 2, Book 13, Hadith 8 

  Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 2, Book 13, Hadith 8 

  Sahih Muslim, Book 39, Hadith 42 

  Sunan An Nasa’i, Book 14, Hadith 36 

  Sunan an-Nasa’i , Vol. 2, Book 19, Hadith 1578, Sahih: Darussalam 

  Sunan Abi Dawud 1108, Book 3, Hadith 1103, Hasan: Al-Albani 

  Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi 

  Abu Ibrahim Majid Ali Hasan, The Etiquette Of a Muslim On Friday, p. 64 ↩

  Jami` at-Tirmidhi, Vol. 1, Book 4, Hadith 526, Hasan: Darussalam ↩

  Riyad as-Salihin: Book 9, Hadith 1126; [Muslim ↩

  Sahih Muslim: Book 4, Hadith 1921



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