The importance of Friday and Jummah prayer

Friday is the sixth day of the Islamic week. The literal meaning of Friday is the congregation. In Islam, this day is given the most important than any other day of the week. Every Friday, Prayer of Jummah is offered and for this prayer special time is taken. Imams of all masjids deliver khutbah on a special topic every Friday.

From various ahadith, it is proven that Prophet Muhammadﷺused to celebrate this day and he declared jummah as weekly eid for muslims. He ﷺ used to wear clean and new (washed) clothes, used to take bath, wear fragrance, wear surmah for this day specially.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺdescribed the virtues of Jummah prayer in the following hadith with these words;

”When the Friday comes, at every door of the Masjid there stands Angels who write down (the names of) those who come First, then who comes next. When the Imam sits down, the records are closed and they come to listen to the reminder , i.e. the Khutba….”  Muslim 1984.

From authentic ahadith, it is taken that Prophet Muhammad ﷺadvised Muslims to recite surah al-Kahf on every Friday to keep safe from the fitnah of dajjal.

While the fast on Jummah is forbidden i.e. the single fast in a week cannot be observed on jummah but it can be observed in pair i.e. with Thursday or with Saturday.

From the history, it is proven that Jummah was most important day for the previous nations as well. It is still considered a blessed day in many religions for example Hinduism. Thus, Friday is considered a special and important day right from the very beginning of humanity.

Narrated Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that Allah’s Apostle ﷺsaid, “Any person who takes a bath on Friday like the bath of Janaba and then goes for the prayer (in the first hour i.e. early), it is as if he had sacrificed a camel (in Allah’s cause); and whoever goes in the second hour it is as if he had sacrificed a cow; and whoever goes in the third hour, then it is as if he had sacrificed a horned ram; and if one goes in the fourth hour, then it is as if he had sacrificed a hen; and whoever goes in the fifth hour then it is as if he had offered an egg. When the Imam comes out (i.e. starts delivering the Khutba), the angels present themselves to listen to the Khutba.” Bukhari,2:425, Muslim,2:582 ( Book of Friday Prayer)

Imam Bukhari and Muslim reported that Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺhad said, “We (Muslims) came last and yet we are the first on the day of judgment. They have received the books before us (meaning Torah 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.”

Also reported by Imam Muslim, Abu-Dawood, Al-Nasai, and Al-Tirmizi, that Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺhad said, “The best day during which the sun have risen is Friday. It is the Day Adam was created. It is the day when Adam entered paradise and also when he was taken out from it. It is also the day on which the Day of Judgment takes place.”

Rasulallah ﷺis reported to have said, “Recite Durood upon me in abundance on the day of Jummah since they are presented to me.” (Ibn Majah)

Don’t forget sa’at al istijabah (a time when du’a is answered) today.

Jâbir (may Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Friday is comprised of twelve portions. There is one in which a Muslim who asks Allah for something will have it granted to him. Seek it in the last portion after `Asr.” [Sunan Abî Dâwûd (1048), Sunan al-Nasâ’î (1389) and Mustadrak al-Hâkim(1032)]