The Rituals of Friday
Since 2012-11-11
The following is a group of the Sunnah, provisions and manners related to Friday which is inevitable for every Muslim to know.
In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of mankind, jinn and all that exists, and prayers and peace of Allah be upon the most honorable of all the Messengers, Muhammad.
Allah Glorified and Exalted has favored Friday to all other days.
The following is a group of the Sunnah, provisions and manners related to Friday which is inevitable for every Muslim to know.
1 – Its meaning
It is called jum’ah [the Arabic word for Friday] because people gather on this day; they meet and make groups. Friday before Islam was called al-’urûbah day [pan-Arabism in English]. It is pronounced jum’ah and jam’ah as was narrated by al-Farra’ and as-Sa’di.
2 – Its virtue
Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created. On it he was made to enter Paradise, on it he was expelled from it. And the last hour will take place on no day other than Friday.” [Reported by Muslim]
«خير يوم طلعت عليه الشمس، يوم الجمعة. فيه خلق آدم، وفيه أدخل الجنة، وفيه أخرج منها. ولا تقوم الساعة إلا في يوم الجمعة» رواه مسلم
3 – Total ablution on Friday is confirmed to every adult male
Abu Sa’id al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, that the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Total ablution on Friday is obligatory to every adult male Muslim.” [Agreed upon]
«الغسل يوم الجمعة واجب على كل محتلم» متفق عليه
Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “while ‘Umar was giving the Friday sermon when a man from the companions of the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, entered. He called him and said, “What hour is this?” [Because the man was late for prayer] he answered, “I have been busy that I did not return to my house. When I heard the call for prayer I did nothing more than performing ablution.” ‘Umar said, “Just ablution! And you have learnt that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has ordered [us] to have total ablution [on Fridays].” [Reported by Muslim]
«أن عمر بن الخطاب، بينا هو يخطب الناس يوم الجمعة، دخل رجل من أصحاب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم. فناداه عمر: أية ساعة هذه ؟ فقال: إني شغلت اليوم. فلم أنقلب إلى أهلي حتى سمعت النداء. فلم أزد على أن توضأت. قال عمر: والوضوء أيضا وقد علمت أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يأمر بالغسل» رواه مسلم
Sheikh Al-Islam said in (the Options) that total ablution on Fridays is legitimate; wherever, it is obligatory if the body smells badly.
4 – Wearing perfume and using the miswak [Arak toothbrush] on Fridays
Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “total ablution on Friday is obligatory on every adult male, using of miswak and applying some perfume, that is available.” [Reported by Muslim]
«غسل يوم الجمعة على كل محتلم، وسواك، ويمس من الطيب ما قدر عليه» رواه مسلم
5 – The virtue of going early to the mosque for the Friday prayer
Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “When it is Friday, the angels stand at every door of the mosque and record the people in the order of their arrival, and when the Imam sits (on the pulpit for delivering the sermon) they fold up their sheets (the manuscripts where they are recording) and listen to the mention (of Allah). And he who comes early is like the one who offers a she-camel as a sacrifice, the next is like the one who offers a cow, the next is like the one who offers a ram, the next is like the one who offers a hen, and the next is like the one who offers an egg.” [Reported by Muslim]
«إذا كان يوم الجمعة كان على كل باب من أبواب المسجد ملائكة يكتبون الأول فالأول؛ فإذا جلس الإمام طووا الصحف وجاؤوا يستمعون الذكر، ومثل المهجر الذي يهدي البدنة، ثم كالذي يهدي بقرة، ثم كالذي يهدي الكبش، ثم كالذي يهدي الدجاجة، ثم كالذي يهدي البيضة» رواه مسلم
The early time meant here starts after the sunrise; avoiding the forbidden times.
6 – Listening to Friday sermon
Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “If you (even) ask your companion to be quiet on Friday while the Imam is delivering the sermon, you have in fact talked irrelevance.” [Agreed upon]
«إذا قلت لصاحبك يوم الجمعة أنصت، والإمام يخطب، فقد لغوت» متفق عليه
This Hadith forbids all kinds of talk during the sermon. If it has called taking to enjoin righteousness ‘irrelevance’ then any other talk is ‘irrelevance’ as well.
7 – Praying the greeting of the mosque prayer
Jabir ibn ‘Abdullah, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, reported, “Sulaik Al-Ghatafani came on Friday when the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, was delivering the sermon. He (Sulaik) sat down. He (the Holy Prophet) said to him: “O Sulaik, stand and observe two rak’ahs and make them short.” [Reported by Muslim]
«جاء سليك الغطفاني يوم الجمعة، ورسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يخطب، فجلس. فقال له: يا سليك، قم فاركع ركعتين، وتجوز فيهما» رواه مسلم
The Friday prayer has no Sunnah prayer before it, rather one should pray what is prescribed for him; two, four or more rak’ahs, as the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Then he prays what has been prescribed for him.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
«ثم يصلي ماكتب له» رواه البخاري
8 – The hour of response on Friday
Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has mentioned Friday and said, “There is a time on Friday at which no Muslim would pray and ask Allah for a thing (that is good) but He would give it to him”. [Reported by Muslim]
«فيه ساعة، لا يوافقها عبد مسلم وهو يصلي، يسأل الله شيئا، إلا أعطاه إياه» رواه مسلم
It is a short time which exact time is not determined. It is, most probably, the time between when the imam sits until the prayer is finished; as in the Hadith of Abu Mûsa in the authentic book of Muslim. It was said, “It is the last hour of Friday, which is preferred by his eminence sheikh Ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him. He added, “But one should be diligent in both times.”
9 – The prayer after the Friday prayer
Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “if you would pray after the Friday prayer, then pray four [rak’ahs].” [Reported by Muslim]
«إذا صليتم بعد الجمعة فصلوا أربعا» رواه مسلم
10 – Being harsh on those who leave the Friday prayer
Abdullah ibn ‘Umar and Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with all of them, said that they heard the Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, say on the planks of his pulpit, “People must cease to neglect the Friday prayer or Allah will seal their hearts and then they will be among the negligent.” [Reported by Muslim]
«لينتهين أقوام عن ودعهم الجمعات، أو ليختمن الله على قلوبهم، ثم ليكونن من الغافلين» رواه مسلم
‘Neglect’ means quitting. The Hadith includes the meaning that performing the Friday prayer is an individual duty for men. ‘Seal’ means stamp or completely cover, we seek refuge with Allah.
11 – Some Sunnah and morals that should be adopted:
1 – It is preferable to increase sending the peace and prayers of Allah upon the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, on Friday. Abu Sa’îd narrated that the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Increase sending the peace and prayers of Allah upon me on Friday.” [Al-Albani said: good due to multiple narrations]
«أكثروا من الصلاة علي يوم الجمعة» قال الألباني حسن لغيره
2 – It is preferable to recite Surat Al-Kahf [the cave] this day because the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Whoever recites Surat Al-Kahf on Friday, will have a light that will illuminate from under his feet soaring sky high to light for him on the Day of Resurrection, and will be forgiven what is committed between the two Fridays.” [Authenticated by Al-Albani]
«من قرأ سورة الكهف يوم الجمعة أضاء له النور ما بينه وبين البيت العتيق» صححه الألباني
3 – The Muslim should not reserve a place with a stick or the like. He should go early for prayers and sit where the row ends. He should not overstep on the heads or separate two sitting.
4 – During the sermon, he should not play with his hands or legs or other. The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “He who touches the pebbles has done irrelevance.” [Reported by Muslim]
«ومن مس الحصى فقد لغا» رواه مسلم
5 – It is preferable that man clean and adorns himself on Friday. Perfume is to be applied on the body and the garments of the Muslim.
Allah knows best, prayers and peace of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.
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