The day of the week
FRIDAY
Let’s all pack the blessings on
this day of great significance, Dr Fiaz Fazili writes on the importance
of Friday, the most auspicious day of the week.
"O believers, when you are called for Salaah on the day of Jumu'ahhasten to the Dhikr of Allah." (Quran – Jumu'ah)
Islam accords great importance to Friday. While all days of the week belong to Allah, Friday stands out for its significance. Friday Prayers are obligatory upon every male adult having normal health and sensibility and not in journey. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is reported to have said, " People should not neglect Friday Prayers under any circumstances, otherwise their hearts will be sealed, (the will be deprived of Divine Guidance); they will become one with those who are forgetful (of Religion)." (Muslim)
Friday is an important day of the Believers. Many important events, which became the turning points in the history of Islam, had taken place on this auspicious day. Prophet Adam (SAW) was created on Friday, the verse declaring perfection of Islam was revealed on this day; and the Day of Resurrection shall occur on Friday. Hence this auspicious day should be observed with sanctity and solemnity.
Muslims see the Quran as Allah's last and complete revelation, and every Friday sermon serves as a reminder of that belief. On Fridays, Muslim men must perform the weekly congregational Prayer called the Jumu`ah Prayer. Allah, the Almighty affirms, "O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly), hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): that is best for you if ye but knew!" (Quran –ch al-jumu'a)
One should hasten towards the mosque as soon as one hears the call for the Friday Prayer. On should close one's business and stop other worldly activities and other engagements then and there. He should bear in mind that the essence of life is the remembrance of Allah. One should take extra care to clean and purify oneself for saying Friday prayers. It is Sunnah to perform ghusl (cleansing of the whole body) on Friday and to put on clean good clothes before attending the Jumu`ah Prayer. It is preferred for men to apply perfume before attending the Prayer. Angels record arrival at mosque for Friday prayers, narrated Abu Huraira ((May Allah be pleased with him):
The Prophet (SAW) said, "One who has bathed on Friday and cleansed himself of all impurities by washing his whole body thoroughly with water, and reached the mosque at the earliest time. 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 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 Jumua prayer) they (i.e. angels) fold their papers and listen to the Khutba." (Bukhari).
The day of Friday in Islam carries many virtues and blessings, "There is an hour (opportune time) and if a Muslim gets it while praying and asks something from Allah, then Allah will definitely meet his demand, as long as it's not forbidden in the religion.” And the Prophet pointed out the shortness of that time with his hands. (Bukhari). The Prophet (SAW) used to invoke Mercy of Allah three times upon those who formed the first line and only once upon those who were in the second line. (Ibn Majah, Nasai). Salman (ABPWH) reports that the Prophet (SAW) said: "An individual who bathes on Fridays, performs ablution, oils, and scents himself, then goes to the mosque in the noon, without disturbing two persons already sitting in the line, offer the prescribed prayer, and listens to the 'Khutbah' (sermons of the Khatib) attentively, shall have all the sins pardoned, he my have committed during this Friday and the pervious me." (Bukhari).
It is undesirable to go to the mosque at the nick of time when the prayer is going to be performed. You have been prohibited from overstepping the necks of men and sitting with legs joined to the belly. You should go to the mosque for offering the Friday Prayer as soon as possible and try to get a seat in the front line and sit in a reverential posture without making separation between any two, In other words you should not make room for yourself forcibly. Abu Hurairah (ABPWH) observed: "The people do not know the high degree of reward and blessings reserved for the people who from the first line of prayer. If they know it, they would start drawing lost for the privilege of joining the first line." (Bukhari, Muslim) Abdullah bin Abbas (AlBPWH) reports that the Prophet (SAW) said :"The person who retreats from the first line of prayer and stands in the second line with the intention that his Muslim brother may suffer no inconvenience, Allah will grant such a man reward and blessing as much as to people in the first line." (Tabrani). And "There is an auspicious moment on Friday during which and supplication addressed to Allah is graced with Divine acceptance. "Prophet said (reported in Bukhari), “It is highly recommended to read SuratAl-Kahf and to invoke Allah's blessings on Prophet Muhammad (SAW) during the day and night of Friday. It is also highly recommended to supplicate on Friday. Abu Hurairah (MABPWH) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, "If anyone performs Wudu' properly, then comes to the Friday prayer, listens to the Khutbah (religious talk) attentively and keeps silent, his (minor) sins between that Friday and the following Friday will be forgiven, with the addition of three more days;… (Muslim) Another great virtue of this day is the that if a Muslim dies on the day or night of Friday, Allah will protect them from the trials of the grave.(Tirmidhi) All these hadiths are great incentives for Muslims to attend regularly congregational prayers on Friday.
How anyone could put their personal and business desires above acts of remembrance of Allah and not attend the Friday Prayer, knowing that the angels company is there among us, and sit and prepare themselves to listen to the Imam's sermon on a day that is filled with the Mercy of Allah and rewards that will be heavy on our scales on the Day of Judgment. Inshallah all the brothers of our society will also realize the significance of attending the Jumuah (Friday) prayer and will strive to have a perfect attendance. May Allah keep us guided and on the straight path, and purify our intentions to make it solely for His sake, and give us the understanding in Islam that we may see its richness and its strong foundation so that we may never go astray. (Ameen)
"O believers, when you are called for Salaah on the day of Jumu'ahhasten to the Dhikr of Allah." (Quran – Jumu'ah)
Islam accords great importance to Friday. While all days of the week belong to Allah, Friday stands out for its significance. Friday Prayers are obligatory upon every male adult having normal health and sensibility and not in journey. The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is reported to have said, " People should not neglect Friday Prayers under any circumstances, otherwise their hearts will be sealed, (the will be deprived of Divine Guidance); they will become one with those who are forgetful (of Religion)." (Muslim)
Friday is an important day of the Believers. Many important events, which became the turning points in the history of Islam, had taken place on this auspicious day. Prophet Adam (SAW) was created on Friday, the verse declaring perfection of Islam was revealed on this day; and the Day of Resurrection shall occur on Friday. Hence this auspicious day should be observed with sanctity and solemnity.
Muslims see the Quran as Allah's last and complete revelation, and every Friday sermon serves as a reminder of that belief. On Fridays, Muslim men must perform the weekly congregational Prayer called the Jumu`ah Prayer. Allah, the Almighty affirms, "O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly), hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business (and traffic): that is best for you if ye but knew!" (Quran –ch al-jumu'a)
One should hasten towards the mosque as soon as one hears the call for the Friday Prayer. On should close one's business and stop other worldly activities and other engagements then and there. He should bear in mind that the essence of life is the remembrance of Allah. One should take extra care to clean and purify oneself for saying Friday prayers. It is Sunnah to perform ghusl (cleansing of the whole body) on Friday and to put on clean good clothes before attending the Jumu`ah Prayer. It is preferred for men to apply perfume before attending the Prayer. Angels record arrival at mosque for Friday prayers, narrated Abu Huraira ((May Allah be pleased with him):
The Prophet (SAW) said, "One who has bathed on Friday and cleansed himself of all impurities by washing his whole body thoroughly with water, and reached the mosque at the earliest time. 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 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 Jumua prayer) they (i.e. angels) fold their papers and listen to the Khutba." (Bukhari).
The day of Friday in Islam carries many virtues and blessings, "There is an hour (opportune time) and if a Muslim gets it while praying and asks something from Allah, then Allah will definitely meet his demand, as long as it's not forbidden in the religion.” And the Prophet pointed out the shortness of that time with his hands. (Bukhari). The Prophet (SAW) used to invoke Mercy of Allah three times upon those who formed the first line and only once upon those who were in the second line. (Ibn Majah, Nasai). Salman (ABPWH) reports that the Prophet (SAW) said: "An individual who bathes on Fridays, performs ablution, oils, and scents himself, then goes to the mosque in the noon, without disturbing two persons already sitting in the line, offer the prescribed prayer, and listens to the 'Khutbah' (sermons of the Khatib) attentively, shall have all the sins pardoned, he my have committed during this Friday and the pervious me." (Bukhari).
It is undesirable to go to the mosque at the nick of time when the prayer is going to be performed. You have been prohibited from overstepping the necks of men and sitting with legs joined to the belly. You should go to the mosque for offering the Friday Prayer as soon as possible and try to get a seat in the front line and sit in a reverential posture without making separation between any two, In other words you should not make room for yourself forcibly. Abu Hurairah (ABPWH) observed: "The people do not know the high degree of reward and blessings reserved for the people who from the first line of prayer. If they know it, they would start drawing lost for the privilege of joining the first line." (Bukhari, Muslim) Abdullah bin Abbas (AlBPWH) reports that the Prophet (SAW) said :"The person who retreats from the first line of prayer and stands in the second line with the intention that his Muslim brother may suffer no inconvenience, Allah will grant such a man reward and blessing as much as to people in the first line." (Tabrani). And "There is an auspicious moment on Friday during which and supplication addressed to Allah is graced with Divine acceptance. "Prophet said (reported in Bukhari), “It is highly recommended to read SuratAl-Kahf and to invoke Allah's blessings on Prophet Muhammad (SAW) during the day and night of Friday. It is also highly recommended to supplicate on Friday. Abu Hurairah (MABPWH) reported: The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, "If anyone performs Wudu' properly, then comes to the Friday prayer, listens to the Khutbah (religious talk) attentively and keeps silent, his (minor) sins between that Friday and the following Friday will be forgiven, with the addition of three more days;… (Muslim) Another great virtue of this day is the that if a Muslim dies on the day or night of Friday, Allah will protect them from the trials of the grave.(Tirmidhi) All these hadiths are great incentives for Muslims to attend regularly congregational prayers on Friday.
How anyone could put their personal and business desires above acts of remembrance of Allah and not attend the Friday Prayer, knowing that the angels company is there among us, and sit and prepare themselves to listen to the Imam's sermon on a day that is filled with the Mercy of Allah and rewards that will be heavy on our scales on the Day of Judgment. Inshallah all the brothers of our society will also realize the significance of attending the Jumuah (Friday) prayer and will strive to have a perfect attendance. May Allah keep us guided and on the straight path, and purify our intentions to make it solely for His sake, and give us the understanding in Islam that we may see its richness and its strong foundation so that we may never go astray. (Ameen)
