Friday - Understanding It's Importance

FRIDAY IS THE MOST SUPERIOR DAY OF THE WEEK

Friday is the best day of the week.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

"We (Muslims) came last and yet we are the first on the Day of judgment. They have received the books before us (meaning the Taurat and Injil). We have received the book after them (meaning the Qur'an). Friday was their day to be glorified. However, they disputed on that while Allah had told us Friday is the day to glorify. Thus they will follow us. The Jews glorify Saturday, and the Christians glorify Sunday." (Bukhari & Muslim)


The Prophet Muhammad SAW also said:

"The best day during which the sun have risen is Friday. It is the day Adam (AS) was created. It is the day when Adam (AS) entered Paradise and also when he was taken out from it. It is also the day on which the Day of Judgement takes place." (Muslim, Abu Dawud, Nasa'i & Tirmidhi)


PARTICIPATION IN FRIDAY PRAYERS IS AN ORDER FROM ALLAH SWT

The menfolk among Muslims are obligated to participate in Friday Prayer also known as Jumu'ah.

Allah SWT ordains in the Qur'an:

"O, you who Believe! When the call is proclaimed to Prayer on Friday hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business. That is best for you if you but knew." (Surah Al-Jumu'ah: Ayat 9)


WARNINGS FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT ATTEND FRIDAY PRAYERS

Severe warnings have been given to those who do not attend Friday Prayer.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW described about those people who do not attend Friday Prayers:

"I wanted to ask a man to lead people in the prayer so that I may go and burn houses of men who did not attend the Friday Prayer with us." (Muslim & Ahmad)

The Prophet Muhammad SAW also said:

"Either they (meaning people who do not attend the Friday prayer) stop neglecting Friday prayers or Allah will set a seal on their hearts so they cannot find the right path again." (Muslim, Ahmad and Nasa'i)

Further on, the Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

"Whoever does not attend three Friday prayers (without a valid excuse), Allah will set a seal on his heart." (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Nasa'i & Ibn Majah)


INCREASING SUPPLICATIONS ON FRIDAY

On Fridays, we are recommended to increase our supplications (Du'as) especially at the last hour of the day since it is the hour when requests are replied by Allah SWT.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

"Friday has 12 hours, one of which is the hour where cries are granted for Muslim Believers. This hour is sought at the last hour after Asar." (Nasa'i, Abu Dawud & Hakim)


INCREASING SALAWAT TO THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD SAW ON FRIDAY

We are encouraged to to wish peace and make Salawat to the Prophet Muhammad SAW during Fridays and Friday's night.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW advised to his Companions RA, for us too to take heed:

"The best day is Friday. On Friday Adam was created, and (also on Friday, Adam) died. On Friday is the first time the trumpet is blown (meaning when every creature dies) and the second time the trumpet is blown (referring to Resurrection). So increase the number of times you wish peace upon me since this prayer will be shown to me."

They (the Sahabah RA) asked him:

"How will our prayers be shown to you after you have vanished?"

He (the Prophet Muhammad SAW) replied:

"Allah has prohibited earth to cause the body of Prophets to decay."

(Abu Dawud, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah)


THE VIRTUES OF RECITING SURAH AL-KAHF ON FRIDAYS

Muslims are encouraged to recite Surah Al-Kahf every Friday.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

"Whoever recites Surah Al-Kahf on Friday, Allah will give him a light to the next Friday." (Baihaqi & Hakim)


TO CLEAN, WASH & SCENT OURSELVES FOR FRIDAY PRAYERS

It is recommended that Muslims clean and wash themselves and make sure they smell nice when they attend Friday Prayers.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

"Every Muslim is obligated to wash on Fridays and wear his best cloth. Also, he should use perfume if he has any." (Bukhari & Muslim)


THE VIRTUES OF COMING EARLY FOR FRIDAY PRAYERS

The Prophet Muhammad SAW has said:

"If one washes himself and then proceed to Friday Prayer, it is considered as if he donated a camel for the sake of Allah. However, if he went in the second hour then it is considered as if he donated a cow; and if in the third hour then it is as if he donated a big sheep; and if in the fourth hour then it is as if he donated a chicken; and if in the fifth hour then it is as if he donated an egg. Then when the Imam starts delivering the speech the angels come and listen to it." (Narrated by all of the Major Hadith Collectors except for Imam Ibn Majah)


THE ANGELS RECORDING THE CHRONOLOGY OF THOSE WHO COME FOR FRIDAY PRAYERS

The Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

"On Friday the angels come to stand on the doors of the masjid. The Angels record who comes first. When the Imam starts delivering the speech, the Angels close their files and come to listen to the speech." (Abu Dawud)


IT IS FORBIDDEN TO INDULGE IN WORK / BUSINESS AFTER THE CALL OF THE ADHAAN FOR FRIDAY PRAYERS

This command is the order of Allah SWT, as exhorted in the Qur'an:

"When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business." (Surah Al-Jumu'ah: Ayat 9)


IT IS HARAAM TO TALK DURING THE KHUTBAH

This ruling has been covered by many sayings of the Prophet Muhammad SAW.

The Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

"If you told your friend to pay attention on Friday while the Imam is delivering the speech then you committed a sin of vain talk." (Narrated by all of the Major Hadith Collectors except for Imam Ibn Majah)


The Prophet Muhammad SAW severely reprimanded:

"Even who touches the gravel on the floor - then he committed vain talk, and he who does commit that there will be no (Jumuah) Friday for him." (Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah)


THE OFFENSE OF WALKING ANG SITTING BETWEEN PEOPLE DURING FRIDAY PRAYERS

It is disliked and abhored for people to walk between those sitting during Friday gathering. Such actions are disliked by the Sunnah. Concession is given only when the purpose is to fill an empty spot.

Several narrations have described an episode during the time of Rasulullah SAW where a man once came to the Friday congregation and started walking between people while the Prophet Muhammad SAW was delivering his speech.

So the Prophet Muhammad SAW told him:

"Sit because you caused harm (inconvenience) to other people and came in late!" (Abu Dawud, Nasa'i & Ahmad)


FRIDAY HAS NOT BEEN LEGISLATED AS A DAY OFF WORK

Islam has not ordained that Friday be a day off and so that there is no work in it.

Relating to this, Allah SWT mentions in the Qur'an:

"And when the prayer is finished, then you may disperse through the land and seek of the bounty of Allah." (Surah Al-Jumu'ah: Ayat 10)

Thus, it may be added here that it was also not the habit of any of the Companions RA of the Prophet Muhammad SAW to consider Friday as a day to take off work.

The grand Mujtahideen - Imam Malik RA further explained on this point:

"It is disliked to take Friday off since we will be resembling the Jews and Christians for taking, respectively - Saturday or Sunday off."

Nevertheless, such situations in this day and age make it difficult for people to leave early and become well-prepared for Friday Prayers. Thus many Muslim states who confine Friday to a day of rest is also doing good - enabling Muslims to prepare for Friday prayers from the beginning of the day. The crux of the issue here is to understand that:

(a) A Muslim may work on Friday, but must stop accordingly to prepare for Friday Prayers.

(b) When possibilities arise to come to Friday Prayers early, then we should take the opportunity to practice the commendations of Rasulullah SAW as described above.


A FINAL NOTE

All Muslims must not neglect Friday Prayers because of work, study, or other matters. Every Muslims should make attending Friday Prayer as his top priority. The womenfolk should also exhort their husbands, brothers, sons to place their priorities right on Friday. It is important to do so since ignoring it three times with no valid reason will cause the heart to be sealed from the right path.

The second matter to watch for is the Ummah's lost of interest in the importance of Friday. This is especially important for our generation today who are used to the concept of weekends being Saturday and Sunday; and know almost nothing about the importance of Friday in the eyes of Muslims. So it is our duty to remind others, whatmore ourselves about this great day - the greatest day of the week.