The Ethics of Friday
{O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salât (prayer) on Friday (Jumu’ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allâh [Jumu’ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salât (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if you did but know!}
- Categories: Fiqh of Prayer -
All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the ‘Alamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists). He is the One Who said in the Perfect Revelation, {O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salât (prayer) on Friday (Jumu’ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allâh [Jumu’ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salât (prayer)] and leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if you did but know!} [Surat Aj-Jumu’ah 62:9]
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّـهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ} الجمعة: 9
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo ithanoodiya lilssalati min yawmi aljumuAAati faisAAaw ila thikri Allahi watharoo albayAAa thalikum khayrun lakum in kuntum taAAlamoona
Prayers and peace of Allah be upon our Prophet, Muhammad, and upon all his family and companions. He is the one who said, “Among the best of your days is Friday.” [Reported by Abu Dawûd 1047, An-Nasâ’i 1373, and ibn Mâjah 153. It is classified as authentic by Al-Albâni]
«إنَّ من أفضل أيَّامكم يوم الجمعة» رواه أبو داود وابن ماجه والنسائي وصححه الألباني
He has also said, “The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday.” [Reported by Muslim 854]
«خير يوم طلعت عليه الشَّمس يوم الجمعة» رواه مسلم
Friday has certain ethics and etiquettes that every Muslim should follow to obtain the great reward and virtue from Allah. This article shows some of the Prophetic Tradition concerning Friday. That is to guide to the good, because to guide to the good is as exactly as doing it. We ask Allah for success.
What is to be read at the fajr prayer (dawn) on Friday?
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, was used to reading Surat As-Sajdah {Alif-Lâm-Mîm. [These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’ân, and none but Allâh (Alone) knows their meanings]. (1) The revelation of the Book (this Qur’ân)…} and Surat Al-Insân {Has there not been over man a period of time, when he was not a thing worth mentioning?}. [Reported by Al-Bukhâri] (Look at the book: Zâd Al-Mi’âd)
«كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقرأ في الجمعة، في صلاة الفجر: {الم ﴿1﴾ تَنزِيلُ} السجدة، و: {هَلْ أَتَىٰ عَلَى الْإِنسَانِ}» رواه البخاري
The virtue of praying the fajr on Friday
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Among the best of prayers on the Eyes of Allah is the fajr prayer in congregation on a Friday.” [Classified as authentic by Al-Albâni 1566 in As-Silsilah As-Sahîhah]
«أفضل الصَّلوات عند الله صلاة الصبح يوم الجمعة في جماعةٍ» صححه الألباني في السلسلة الصحيحة
The virtue of asking Allah to send His Salât (Graces, Honors, Blessings, and Mercy) on the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “(You should) Increase asking Allah to send His Salât on me on Friday and at the night before Friday.” [Classified as good by Al-Albâni in Sahîh Aj-Jami’]
«أكثروا الصَّلاة عليَّ يوم الجمعة و ليلة الجمعة» حسنه الألباني
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “One of the best of your days is Friday. On this day, Adam was created and on this day he died; on this day the Trumpet will be blown, and on this day all creatures will swoon. So, increase asking Allah to send His Salât on me on this day, for your salat will be presented to me.” [Reported by Abu Dawûd and classified as authentic by Al-Albâni]
«إنَّ من أفضل أيَّامكم يوم الجمعة فيه خلق آدم، وفيه قبض، وفيه النَّفخة، وفيه الصَّعقة، فأكثروا عليَّ من الصَّلاة فيه فإنَّ صلاتكم معروضةٌ عليَّ» رواه أبو داود وصححه الألباني
Total ablution on Friday
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “When anyone of you come to the Friday (congregational prayer), let him perform total ablution.” [Reported by Muslim 845]
«إذا جاء أحدكم إلى الجمعة فليغتسل» رواه مسلم
The virtue of putting on perfume, wearing nice garments, walking with serenity, praying optional prayers, and listening
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Whoever performed total ablution on Friday, put on some perfume if he had, wore from his best garments, then he went out heading to the mosque, performs prayer if he wishes, does not harm anyone, he listens when the Imam comes out until he prays, all this will be expiation for whatever sins committed between this Friday and the following one.” [Reported by ibn Khuzaymah 1775 and its chain of transmission is classified as good by Al-Albâni]
«من اغتسل يوم الجمعة، ومسَّ من طيبٍ إن كان عنده، ولبس من أحسن ثيابه ، ثم خرج إلى المسجد فيركع إن بدا له، ولم يؤذ أحدًا ثمَّ أنصت إذا خرج إمامه حتَّى يصلِّي، كان كفارةً لما بينها وبين الجمعة الأخرى» رواه ابن خزيمة وحسن إسناده الألباني
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has also said, “Total ablution on Friday, using of Miswak (Araak toothbrush), and applying some perfume, that is available, these are obligatory for every adult.” [Reported by Muslim 846]
«غسل يوم الجمعة على كلِّ محتلمٍ، وسواك، ويمسّ من الطِّيب ما قدر عليه» رواه مسلم
The virtue of going early to the Friday prayer
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has also said, “When it is a Friday, the angels stand at the gate of the mosque and keep on writing the names of the persons coming to the mosque in succession according to their arrivals. The example of the one who enters the mosque in the earliest hour is that of one offering a she-camel (in sacrifice). The one coming next is like one offering a cow and then a ram and then a chicken and then an egg respectively. When the Imam comes out (for the prayer) they (i.e. angels) fold their sheets (the manuscripts where they are recording) and listen to the mention (of Allah).” [Reported by Al-Bukhâri 929]
«إذا كان يوم الجمعة، وقفت الملائكة على باب المسجد، يكتبون الأوَّل فالأوَّل، ومثل المهجر كمثل الَّذي يهدي بدنةً، ثمَّ كالَّذي يهدي بقرةً، ثمَّ كبشًا، ثمَّ دجاجةً، ثمَّ بيضةً، فإذا خرج الإمام طووا صحفهم، ويستمعون الذِّكر» رواه البخاري
The prohibitions of Friday
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.” [Reported by Al-Bukhâri and Muslim]
«إذا قلت لصاحبك يوم الجمعة أنصت، والإمام يخطب، فقد لغوت» رواه البخاري ومسلم
Being late: it is narrated that a man came, stepping over people’s necks, on Friday while the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, was delivering the sermon. The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, said to him, “Sit down, you are disturbing people.” [Reported by Abu Dawûd 1117 and An-Nasâ’i 1398. It is classified as authentic by Al-Albâni]
«اجلس فقد آذيت» رواه أبو داود والنسائي وصححه الألباني
In another narration, “… and you are slow and late.” [Reported by ibn Mâjah 923 and classified as authentic by Al-Albâni]
«وآنيت» رواه ابن ماجه وصححه الألباني
Beware! The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “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.’” [Reported by Muslim 2178]
«لا يقيمن أحدكم أخاه يوم الجمعة ثمَّ ليخالف إلى مقعده فيقعد فيه. ولكن يقول: افسحوا» رواه مسلم
The virtue of reading Surat Al-Kahf
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 for him between the two Fridays.” [It is classified as authentic by Al-Albâni 6470 in Sahîh Aj-Jami’]
«من قرأ سورة الكهف في يوم الجمعة، أضاء له من النُّور ما بين الجمعتين» صححه الألباني
The virtue of observing optional prayers on Friday
It is narrated that the Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, “used to pray two rak’ahs after observing the Friday prayer.” [Reported by Muslim 882]
«كان يصلِّي بعد الجمعة ركعتين» رواه مسلم
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “If anyone of you comes while the Imam is delivering the sermon, he should offer a two rak`ahs of prayer, and let them be short.” [Reported by Abu Dawûd 1117 and classified as authentic by Al-Albâni]
«إذا جاء أحدكم والإمام يخطب فليصلِّ ركعتين يتجوز فيهما» رواه أبو داود وصححه الألباني
The danger of neglecting Friday prayer
The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “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 865]
«لينتهين أقوام عن ودعهم الجمعات أو ليختمن الله على قلوبهم ثمَّ ليكونن من الغافلين» رواه مسلم
The virtues of Friday: the expiation of sins
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “Whoever washes and performs total ablution, comes early (to the mosque) and sits near the Imam, and does not engage in idle talk, he will have for every step he takes (the reward of) a year’s worth of good deeds, fasting it and praying Qiyam (night prayers) during it.” [Reported by An-Nasâ’i 1397 and ibn Khuzaymah 1758. It is classified as authentic by Al-Albâni]
«من غسل واغتسل، وابتكر وغدا، ودنا من الإمام وأنصت، ثمَّ لم يلغ، كان له بكلِّ خطوةٍ كأجر سنة صيامها وقيامها» رواه النسائي وابن جزيمة وصححه الألباني
The good ending (of life) on Friday
The Prophet, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has said, “No Muslim dies on the day of Friday, nor the night of Friday, but that Allah will protect him from the trials of the grave.” [Reported by At-Tirmidhi 1074 and classified as good by Al-Albâni]
«ما من مسلمٍ يموت يوم الجمعة أو ليلة الجمعة إلا وقاه الله فتنة القبر» رواه الترمذي وحسنه الألباني
The Messenger of Allah, prayers and peace of Allah be upon him, has mentioned Friday and said, “There is a time on it at which no Muslim would pray and ask Allah for a thing (that is good) but He would give it to him.” [Agreed upon]
«فيه ساعةٌ لا يوافقها عبدٌ مسلمٌ، وهو يصلِّي يسأل الله شيئًا إلا أعطاه إيَّاه» متفق عليه
The scholars have differed in defining this response time. Imam Muslim reported from the Hadith of ibn Mûsa, “It occurs between the time when the Imam sits down (on the pulpit after the first sermon) and the time the prayer is over.” [Reported by Muslim 853]
«هي ما بين أن يجلس الإمام إلى أن تقضى الصَّلاة» رواه مسلم
Abu Dawûd and An-Nasâ’i narrated, “It is the last hour of Friday.” [Reported by Abu Dawûd 1046 and An-Nasâ’i 1429. It is classified as authentic by Al-Albâni]
«هي آخر ساعة من يوم الجمعة» رواه أبو داود والنسائي وصححه الألباني
In another narration, “So seek it in the last hour after ‘Asr (afternoon).” [Reported by Abu Dawûd 1048 and An-Nasâ’i 1388. It is classified as authentic by Al-Albâni]
«فالتمسوها آخر ساعة بعد العصر» رواه أبو داود والنسائي وصححه الألباني
We ask Allah to grant us the success of reaching it, and that He responds to our supplications.
Al-Ansâr Islamic Recordings
Slightly modified