Praise be to Allaah.
Friday has many distinguishing features and
virtues that Allaah has bestowed upon this day
and not others.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah and Hudhayfah
(may Allaah be pleased with them) said: The
Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah led those who
came before us away from Friday. The Jews had
Saturday, and the Christians had Sunday. Then
Allaah brought us and Allaah guided us to Friday.
So there is Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and thus
they will follow us on the Day of Resurrection. We
are the last of the people of this world but we will
be the first on the Day of Resurrection, and we
will be dealt with before all others.”
Narrated by Muslim, 856.
Al-Nawawi said:
Al-Qaadi said: The apparent meaning is that it
was obligatory for them to venerate Friday but
this was not stated clearly; the matter was left to
their own reasoning… But they did not manage to
work it out and Allaah did not guide them to it. It
was enjoined clearly upon this ummah, and was
not left to their own reasoning, thus they were
blessed with it … It was narrated that Moosa
enjoined Friday upon them and told them of its
virtues, but they disputed with him and argued
that Saturday was better, and it was said to him,
‘Let them be.’ Al-Qaadi said: if there had been a
clear command, their arguing with him would not
have been valid, rather it would have been said to
him that they were going against the command. I
say: it may be that that was clearly enjoined upon
them but they disputed as to whether it was
something they had to adhere to or they could
change it to another day; they decided to change
it to another day and they erred greatly thereby.
It comes as no surprise that Friday was
specifically enjoined upon them and they went
against that.
Al-Haafiz said: How can it be otherwise when they
are the ones who said “We hear and we disobey”?
It was narrated from Aws ibn Aws that the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: “The best of your days is Friday. On
that day Adam (peace be upon him) 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 Allaah, how will our
blessings upon you be shown to you when you
have turned to dust?” He said, “Allaah has
forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the
Prophets, peace be upon them.”
Narrated by Abu Dawood, 1047; classed as
saheeh by Ibn al-Qayyim in his comments on
Sunan Abi Dawood, 4/273; classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood, 925.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be
pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. On
it Adam was created, on it he was admitted to
Paradise and on it he was expelled therefrom.”
Narrated by Muslim, 1410.
This hadeeth includes some of the reasons why
Friday is regarded as special.
Al-Nawawi said:
Al-Qaadi ‘Iyaad said: The apparent meaning is
that these virtues do not mean that Friday is
regarded as special because Adam was expelled
on a Friday and the Hour will begin on a Friday.
Rather it is meant to explain what momentous
events took place and will take place on this day,
so that people will make the most of this day to
do righteous deeds, so as to attain the mercy of
Allaah and ward off His punishment. This is the
view of al-Qaadi. Abu Bakr ibn al-‘Arabi said in his
book al-Ahwadhi fi Sharh al-Tirmidhi: All of these
events are good and add to the virtue of Friday.
The expulsion of Adam from Paradise is the
reason why his offspring and the Messengers, the
Prophets, the righteous and the awliya’ exist. He
was not expelled from it as such, but rather it was
for a purpose, then he will return to it. With regard
to the Hour beginning on a Friday, the reason is
so that the reward may be hastened for the
Prophets, believers in truth, awliya’ and others,
and their honour and high status may be made
manifest. This hadeeth points to the virtues of
Friday and its high status in relation to the other
days.
It was narrated that Abu Lubaabah ibn ‘Abd al-
Mundhir said: The Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: “Friday is the master
of days, and the greatest of them before Allaah. It
is greater before Allaah than the day of al-Adha
and the day of al-Fitr. It has five characteristics:
on this day Allaah created Adam, on it He sent
Adam down to the earth, on it Allaah caused
Adam to die, on it there is a time when a person
does not ask Allaah 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 Allaah, no heaven, no earth,
no wind, no mountain and no sea that does not
fear Friday.”
Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 1084; classed as hasan
by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 2279
Al-Sanadi said:
“They fear Friday” means they fear the onset of
the Hour. This indicates that all created beings
are aware of the days and they know that the Day
of Resurrection will come on a Friday.
The virtues of this day include the following:
1 – On it is Salaat al-Jumu’ah (Friday prayer),
which is the best of prayer.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is
proclaimed for the Salaah (prayer) on Friday
(Jumu‘ah prayer), come to the remembrance of
Allaah [Jumu‘ah religious talk (Khutbah) and
Salaah (prayer)] and leave off business (and every
other thing). That is better for you if you did but
know!”
[al-Jumu’ah 62:9]
Muslim (233) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may
Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: “The five daily prayers and from one
Jumu’ah to the next is an expiation for whatever
sins come in between them, so long as one does
not commit a major sin.”
2 – Praying Fajr 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 (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: “The best prayer before Allaah is
Fajr prayer on Friday in congregation.”
Narrated by al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Eemaan;
classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-
Jaami’, 1119
One of the special features of Fajr prayer on
Friday is that it is Sunnah to recite Soorat al-
Sajdah in the first rak’ah and Soorat al-Insaan in
the second.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be
pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to recite in
Fajr prayer in Fridays Alif-Laam-Meem Tanzeel
(Soorat al-Sajdah) in the first rak’ah and Hal ata
‘ala’l-insaan heenun min al-dahr lam yakun
shay’an madhkooran (Soorat al-Insaan) in the
second.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 851; Muslim, 880.
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar said:
It was said that the reason why these two
soorahs are recited is because they mention the
creation of Adam and what will happen on the
Day of Resurrection, because that will come to
pass on a Friday.
3 – Whoever dies during the day or night of
Friday, Allaah will protect him from the trial of the
grave.
It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Amr said:
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no Muslim
who dies during the day of Friday or the night of
Friday but Allaah will protect him from the trial of
the grave.”
Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 1074; classed as saheeh
by al-Albaani in Ahkaam al-Janaa’iz, p. 49, 50
These are some of the virtues of Friday. We ask
Allaah to help us to please Him.
And Allaah knows best.