Glorious Jumu'ah

The Messenger of Allah said: “Allah resurrects the days on the day of resurrection in its known form and resurrects Jumu’ah (Friday) glorious and shining to its people, they will honorably receive it in the way a bride is received and passed to its groom. It will have a luminous ray that will guide them through their walk, their color will be as white as snow, and they will smell musk, indulging in mounts camphor. The humans and Jinn will gaze at them in astonishment without blinking, they (the people of Jumu’ah) will enter Paradise where no one will share with them this joy except the Muezzins (one who calls for prayers) for the sake of Allah.” [Hadith number 1872 in Sahih Al Jami al Saghir] 

The Messenger of Allah also said: “There is a market in Paradise people will go to it every Jumu’ah (Friday), having dunes of Musk blown at by the north wind pouring the Musk at their faces and clothes beautifying them. When they return to their companions(wives in Paradise), looking beautiful and glorious than the state they left them at, their companions will say to them, “By Allah you have become more glorious and beautiful than the state you left us at!!!” so they reply to them saying” You also have become more glorious and beautiful than the state we left you at.” [Reported by Muslim]

Glory be to Allah whom have distinguished Jumu’ah from the rest of the days in the world and hereafter and favored it by giving it a high rank making Muslims attentive and interested in it to the extent some of the pious considered it as an Eid (Celebration day or a Holiday). Ibn Rajjab Al Hanbaly may Allah have mercy on him said in his Book Lata’if Al Ma’arif: In this world for the believers there are three Eids (holidays to be celebrated); Eid that recurs every week and two Eids that arrives once a year. The Eid that recurs is weekly is Jumu’ah, it concludes the prayers of the week. Allah Almighty imposed on the believers in every day five prayers and the days of this world are seven days, therefore whenever a week is complete in this world and Muslims consummate their prayers with Jumu’ah, they are granted this day to be cherished. It is the day creation of beings was complete, the day that Adam was created, entered Paradise and expelled from it. It is the day where the world will end vanishing and the hour will come. It is the time of listening to Thikr, summons, and Jumu’ah prayer, this all made A Eid for the believers that is why it is forbidden to single it out by fasts. There is also a resemblance between Hajj and Jumu’ah prayer, and there is a narration stating that it is the Hajj of the needy. Sa’eed Ibn Al-Musayeb said: Witnessing Jumu’ah is more beloved to me than supererogatory Hajj (It becomes supererogatory when he does Hajj once), and early answering of Jumu’ah serves as sacrificing with difference in the rank. The first to arrive to Jumu’ah prayer is resembled like whom sacrificed a camel, the next person have sacrificed a cow, then a sheep, a hen and lastly an egg.

Witnessing Jumu’ah expiates sins to the next Jumu’ah if the major sins avoided between the two Jumu’ahs, the way that an accepted Hajj expiates the sins of a year to the next Hajj.

It is the Eid of the week, related to the conclusion of written (obligatory) prayers the greatest pillar of Islam after testifying the deity of Allah alone and Mohamed is his messenger. His Words ended here.

Al-Hassan Al-Bassry – May Allah have mercy on him – said: In Every day not sinned in is an Eid (holiday day), every day a believer ends in obedience to his Lord thanking him for his blessings and remembering Him by his words is a Eid. (Lata’if Al Ma’arif)

Notice O honorable Muslim to the status of Jumu’ah, Allah almighty might have intended from wanting you to glorifying it, to benefit and be amongst its dwellers- with his grace and blessings- if you observe its rights.

Allah Almighty Said: “Thus it is [what has been mentioned in the above said Verses is an obligation that mankind owes to Allâh] and whosoever honours the Symbols of Allâh, then it is truly from the piety of the hearts” [Surat Al-Hajj: 32]

Transliteration: Thalika waman yuAAaththim shaAAaira Allahi fainnahaa alquloobi min taqw

By now, You’ve might be yearning to know the great status of Jumu’ah in this world and how to act upon its right hoping to be from its dwellers by the will of The Generous, The Bestower thus claiming great reward and deeds.

Allah Almighty has given the name Jumu’ah to one of his Surahs in the Qur’an recited until the Day of Resurrection

Notice fellow muslim, in this Surah (Surat Al-Jumu’ah) that:-

1- Allah Almighty intiated His speech with his rights upon His slaves mentioning four of His great, Lofty and perfect names saying, “Whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth glorifies Allâh, the King (of everything), the Holy, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise” [Surat Al-Jumu’ah: 1]

Transliteration: Yusabbihu lillahi ma fee alssamawati wama fee alardi almaliki alquddoosi alAAazeezi alhakeemi

Implying that, every being in the heavens and earth Glorifies Allah, abides to his command worshiping and deify him because he is the King (of everything), the Holy, the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.

2- Manifest of the greatest favor granted to this nation, sending a messenger that would guide and purify them.

3- Another favor conferred to this nation, the late believers will catch up with the early righteous believers in ranks of Paradise. He Almighty said: “And [He has sent him (Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) also to] others among them (Muslims) who have not yet joined them (but they will come). And He (Allâh) is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise” [Al-Jumu’ah 62:3]

Transliteration: Waakhareena minhum lamma yalhaqoo bihim wahuwa alAAazeezu alhakeemu

Allah Almighty said: “And the foremost to embrace Islâm of the Muhâjirûn (those who migrated from Makkah to Al-Madinah) and the Ansâr (the citizens of Al-Madinah who helped and gave aid to the Muhâjirûn ) and also those who followed them exactly (in Faith). Allâh is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise), to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.” [Al-Taubah 9:100]

4- At the end of Surat Al-Jumu’ah Allah have clarified his call upon believers to care for its importance, strive to it and take heed to glorify it.

Sheikh Al-Sa’dy said(May Allah have mercy on him) in the Tafsir (inerpretation) of Surat Al-Jumu’ah: Jumu’ah is obligatory upon believers and the summons preached At the time of Jumu’ah prayer, Allah Almighty said: “Thus it is and whosoever honours the Symbols of Allâh, then it is truly from the piety of the hearts.” [Al-Hajj 22:32]

Transliteration: Thalika waman yuAAaththim shaAAaira Allahi fainnaha min taqwa alquloobi

The symbols of Allah: is the rite of the religion or rituals. Honoring the symbols of Allah originates from the piety of the hearts. The one honoring these symbols proves his piety and his true faith, because honoring these symbols entails glorifying Allah and exalting him.


What does Jumu’ah Entail

a) An accepted Supplication


The Messenger of Allah said: In Friday there is an hour If any muslim slave (to Allah) conforms with this hour while standing in prayer (prayer here is supplication) asking Allah to grant him of the good he grants he will be granted what he asked for. [Hadith number 2120 in Sahih Al Jami al Saghir]

How to make use of the hour of acceptance?

Scholars have different opinions on the kind of deeds done in this hour.

In a commentary by the interpreter in Fateh Al Bary on the Explanation of Sahih Al-Bukhari by Ibn Hajar May Allah have mercy on them both. The interpreter comments on the hadith by the Messenger of Allah saying: “….standing in prayer (prayer here is supplication) asking Allah…..” Prayer here is not actual praying rather it is supplication or waiting and standing here resembles attendance and persistence. Conformed with the words of Allah Almighty: “unless you constantly stand demanding” [Al-Imran 3:75]

Transliteration: illa ma dumta AAalayhi qaiman

(Fateh Al Bary with some modification)

The supplication at the hour of acceptance could be while prostrating and before conclusion of the Prayer consisting of two Rak’as(bowing) or any number after Al-Asr Prayer, because its permissible to pray after Asr Except for the time preceding sunset. Al-Albani may Allah have mercy on him elaborated on this matter in Al Selsilla al Sahiha by citing the Ahadith related to this Matter(on prohibition or permissibility) and in case of conjoining the two opinions. Some of the related opinions are stated:-

Book 1, page 199: Ibn Hazm May Allah almighty have mercy on him Reported that Bilal Muezzin of the messenger of Allah Narrated that He said : “It is not prohibited to pray except in the time of sunrise”.

Sheikh Al-Albani – May Allah have mercy on him- said: What the Hadith confirms of Permissibility of praying - even if it was non-obligatory prayer after Asr and before the sun turning yellow- is the most reliable opinion on this matter that carried more than an opinion. It is the opinion of Ibn Hazm following Abdullah Ibn Omar and narrated by Al-Hafidh Al-Iraqi. So don’t be among who follows the majority if its contradicting the Sunnah.

Book 1, page 303 he cited two Hadiths: “Don’t Pray during sunrise neither sunset, as it rises and sets on the horns of the Devil except for the time between them pray what pleases you of prayer”

“Don’t pray after Asr Prayer unless the sun is high” [Authenticated by Al-Albani]

Al-Albani - May Allah have mercy on him - commented saying : Its evident through these two Hadiths that the famous opinion in the Books of Fiqh stating impermissibility of praying after Asr is non exceptional even if the sun was high contradicts these two clear hadiths supported by the Ahadith prohibiting prayer after asr with no exception. But fellow muslim you have to take into consideration that the two aforementioned Ahadith restricts the total impermissibility, making it permissible to pray after Asr when the sun is high.

After he stated the opinions of the Companions - May Allah be pleased with them- on this matter including the mother of the believers ‘Aisha may Allah be pleased with her, Al-Albani – May Allah have mercy on him – said: On this occasion we have to remind Ahl Al-Sunnah(True followers of Sunnah) those eager to revive Sunnah and restrain innovation to pray these two Rak’as whenever they pray Asr in time, abiding to the words of the Messenger of Allah: “Who initiates a good practice that had been carried out after him he will be rewarded for it and rewarded with the reward every person carrying out this practice without being reduced a bit and who initiates a Bad practice(sin) and it had been carried out after him he will be punished with bad deeds and carry the bad deeds of who follows him in this practice without deduction from their bad deeds a bit”. [Hadith number 6306 in Sahih Al Jami al Saghir]

His Words have ended, with some modification from the publisher to suit the flyer whoever wants to expound on this subject, please refer to Al Selsilla al Sahiha, (Book 1/Page 199).

b) Forgiveness of Sins

The Messenger Of Allah said: {Whoever takes a bath on the Day of Jumu’ah and walked to Al Jumu’ah Prayer, prayed what is destined for him to pray(supererogatory Prayers) until the Sermon Of Jumu’ah begins, listens attentively until the Imam ends his sermon then he prays with him. He will be forgiven between this Jumu’ah and the next and three days in addition}. [Hadith number 6062 in Sahih Al Jami al Saghir]

c) The reward that results from deeds or practices done on the day of Jumu’ah, mentioned later on.

How to distinguish Jumu’ah from the rest of your days

Beginning the night of Jumu’ah (After Al Maghrib Prayer on Thursday) with praying on the Prophet :
The Messenger of Allah said: “Pray (Ask the blessings and peace of Allah for me) on me countless times in the day of Jumu’ah, anyone that prays on me in the day of Jumu’ah his prayers will be displayed to me.” [Hadith number 1208 in Sahih Al Jami al Saghir. He also said]

Pray(Ask the blessings and peace of Allah for me) on me countless times in the day of Jumu’ah and in in the night of Jumu’ah. For he Who prays on me one prayer Allah prays on him ten times. [Hadith number 1209 in Sahih Al Jami al Saghir]

Take heed praying Fajr in congregation, without missing it due to staying up at night and wasting time on the night of Jumu’ah.

The Messenger of Allah said: The most favored prayer to Allah is Al-Subuh prayer (Fajr) on the day of Jumu’ah in congregation. [Hadith number 1119 in Sahih Al Jami al Saghir]

Preparing for Jumu’ah Prayer by taking a bath, wear a perfume, use Siwak (wooden teeth cleanser), wearing clean clothes which indicates joy and happiness with Eid.
The Messenger of Allah said: “On the Day Of Jumu’ah,whoever bathes and performs it in the best way(according to sunnah), and performs purity in the best manner, wears the best of his clothes and wears whats destined for him to wear of oil perfume(musk, Anbar etc…) or any scent from his wive’s and came to the Masjid Listening to the Jumu’ah sermon not distracted by any object or separating two muslims while passing. Allah will forgive him from any sin between this Jumu’ah and the following Jumu’ah.” [Hadith number 6064 in Sahih Al Jami al Saghir]

The Messenger of Allah said: On the Day Of Jumu’ah,whoever bathes, cleanse his teeth with siwak, wears a scent(musk, Anbar etc…) If he has some, wears the best of his clothes and came to the Masjid and walked without surpassing over the necks of people then prays what Allah wills for him to pray then listens attentively from the moment the Imam steps on the Minbar (pulpit) until he concludes the prayer with him. Allah will forgive him from any sin between this Jumu’ah and the following Jumu’ah. [Sunan Al Beheqi]

The Messenger of Allah said: On the Day Of Jumu’ah,whoever bathes, wears from his wife’s scent(musk, Anbar etc…) if she had any and wears the best of his clothes and walked to the masjid without surpassing people’s necks it expiates his sins till the next Jumu’ah but if he does fiddle and surpass people’s neck then it will be a barrier for him(The Jumu’ah will not be counted and not rewarded for, but will be rewarded for Duhr Prayer only.). [Hadith number 6067 in Sahih Al Jami al Saghir.]

Reminding the young and the elder with virtues of going to Jumu’ah early
The Messenger of Allah said: Whoever bathes on day of Jumu’ah the bathing of major ritual impurity then left in the first hour(beginning from sunrise) will be like who sacrificied a camel, who leaves in the second hour is like who sacrificed a cow, who leaves in the third hour is like who sacrificed a horned sheep(full grown), who leaves in the fourth hour is like who sacrificed a chicken, and who leaves in the fifth hour is like who sacrificed an egg. If the Imam is out (beginning the sermon) the angels attend to hear the reminders given by the Imam. [Hadith number 6063 in Sahih Al Jami al Saghir.]

The Messenger of Allah said: On the day of Jumu’ah, whoever washes and wash up, then left early in the first hour, and walked and didn’t ride. Then sat close to the Imam and listened not fiddling with something he will be rewarded with every step he steps from his home to the Masjid full year of good deeds including its reward of fast and night prayer. [Hadith number 6405 in Sahih Al Jami al Saghir]

Allahu Akbar (Allah is the greatest)!! Who leaves for Jumu’ah in an early hour has conjoined two great rewards, sacrificing a camel and a full year of Fasting and standing for night prayer with every step he steps from his home to the Masjid. If he walks 100 steps he will acquire a reward of 100 years fasting and standing in night prayer with every step he walks to the Masjid. It is the same case with five hundred steps, he will acquire 500 years of reward.

Allahu Akbar!!

Where are the competitors, where are the strivers, and where are the contenders of this blessed hour.

Allah almighty said: “And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for Al-Muttaqûn (the pious)” [Surat Al-Imran 3:133]

Transliteration: WasariAAoo ila maghfiratin min rabbikum wajannatin AAarduha alssamawatu waalardu oAAiddat lilmuttaqeena

He Almighty Also said: “Race with one another in hastening towards forgiveness from your Lord (Allâh), and Paradise the width whereof is as the width of the heaven and the earth, prepared for those who believe in Allâh and His Messengers. That is the Grace of Allâh which He bestows on whom He is pleased with. And Allâh is the Owner of Great Bounty” [Al-Hadid 57:21]

Transliteration: Sabiqoo ila maghfiratin min rabbikum wajannatin AAarduha kaAAardi alssamai waalardi oAAiddat lillatheena amanoo biAllahi warusulihi thalika fadlu Allahi yuteehi man yashao waAllahu thoo alfadli alAAatheemi

Allah almighty said: “and for this let (all) those strive who want to strive (i.e. hasten earnestly to the obedience of Allah)” [Al-Mutafifin: 26]

Transliteration: wafee thalika falyatanafasi almutanafisoona

We need to clear some of the beautiful meanings this Hadith stated on encouragement to leave early to Jumu’ah prayer.

“washes and wash up” the meaning sought, (1) Assurance, (2) “washes” means specifically washing the whole head, because the Arabs had long and dense hair which needed special care, that’s why it was singled out. “Wash-up” washing the rest of the body. “then left early in the first hour” Assuring and strive to go early. “not fiddling with something” speaking during the sermon nullifies the reward for Jumu’ah, whoever says to his brother ‘hush’ he had spoken, and who ever speaks loses Jumu’ah!!

What’s holding you?!! 

Yes, what’s keeping Muslims from competing on this hour?! Is it because its early(say At eight in the morning), and Jumu’ah is a holiday dedicated to sleeping, oh yes, how could they interrupt their beauty sleep to catch this early hour.

What holds a Muslim knowing the great reward behind such an hour - once a week – from striving, him and his children, to collect this handsome reward. It is the same Muslim keen to accompany his children early in the morning for five or six days in the week to their schools. These homes are like a Beehive at six in the morning or maybe earlier than that, to catch the morning assembly at school!!

Where are these Muslims and their families from this great reward? Moreover, where are the pious people and their families from all this? How will the Masajid be revived without its dwellers? Or is it sleeping in the morning of Jumu’ah is adored to Muslims after a long soiree.

Where are the determination for good deeds and initiation to win these hereafter opportunities and bounties? This same determination for worldly affairs, jobs and businesses. Doesn’t neglecting trivial worldly affairs for the sake of the hereafter a sign of sincerity and the desire for the hereafter.

Or is it like Ibn Qayim’s – may Allah have mercy on him – said in a poem:

Allah excuses no believer by this (not taking heed)
Nor he(the believer) strives for it and be ahead with it
But this success granted by Allah
To whom he wills, with his grace and favor

A Muslim must contemplate on the life of his righteous forefathers to know how was their strive, patience, sacrifice and resistance to their trivial worldly affairs like lunch and midday nap to catch this early hour.

In a commentary by the interpreter in Fateh Al Bary on the Explanation of Sahih Al-Bukhari by Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalany May Allah have mercy on them both on the words of Allah saying: “Then when the (Jumu‘ah) Salât (prayer) is ended” [Surat Al-Jumu’ah 62:10]
 

Transliteration: Faitha qudiyati alssalatu

The commentary, “Their (the companions) leaving after prayer for lunch then their nap, is to compensate what they were used to as a habit on normal days, for the sake of leaving for Jumu’ah earlier.”

In another comment by Ibn Hajjar May Allah have mercy on him he said, “They were busy not having lunch or their nap with al-Jumu’ah preparations and praying after that, they leave returning to their homes to fulfill these habits.”

Their habit (May Allah be pleased with them) on a normal day where it begins from dawn is to have a nap before noon. Narrated by Humaid that he heard Anas Ibn Malik saying, “We used to go to Jumu’ah early then after that we have our nap.”

Reported By Ibn Hazm that Sahl - may Allah be pleased with him - said: We used to pray with the Prophet Al-Jumu’ah then we have our nap.

What did they eat After Jumu’ah?

Narrated Abu Hazim:

Sahl said, "We used to feel happy on Fridays." I asked Sahl, "Why?" He said, "There was an old woman of our acquaintance who used to send somebody to Buda'a (Ibn Maslama said, "Buda'a was a garden of date-palms at Medina). She used to pull out the silq (a kind of vegetable) from its roots and put it in a cooking pot, adding some powdered barley over it (and cook it). After finishing the Jumua (Friday) prayer we used to (pass by her and) greet her, whereupon she would present us with that meal, so we used to feel happy because of that. We used to have neither a midday nap, nor meals, except after the Friday prayer." [Reported by Al-Bukhari]

O slave of Allah can’t you strive and hope for a reward of fifty of the companions May Allah be pleased with him??

What stalls the Muslims in our time while having the easy life, to strive the way the companions strived, return (after al Jumu’ah) eating what they desire, and nap on their comfortable beds., take Joy in their vast air-conditioned comfy homes and ask for the reward of fifty of the companions!!

The Messenger of Allah said:There are days to come, days of patience, the one grasping in it, the way you (companions) do, a reward of fifty of you. They asked, “O Messenger of Allah of them or us?” He said, “ Of you (the companions).” [Al Selsilla al Sahiha by Al-Albani (Book 1: Page 812)] may Allah have mercy on him

The believe in him means believing in his message, adhere to his Sunnah and strive to append him.

O Allah Make our faith dearest to our hearts and adorn it in our hearts, and make us hate infidelity, lewdness and sining, and let us be among the wise. Ameen



Translated by Wathakker.info website