Muslims across the world regard Fridays a lot. They consider it as the best day of the week. Not because it’s the day that signals the entry of weekends but a day of Jummah, a large congregational worship which is compulsory on all Muslims and observed once in a week in a highly spacious mosque called the Central Mosque. The word Jummah mentioned once in the Quran; Quran 62vs9 where Allah (SWT) says; “O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew”. The Friday congregational Prayer is therefore obligatory on every Muslim except the women, children, slaves, the sick and the travellers.
Aside from it being a day of Jummah, Friday is ascribed with lots of significant occurrences in Islam. Abu Huraira who was one of the companions of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) reported the Messenger of Allah as saying: “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.” This hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him) clearly says that the Doomsday will be on a Friday. Which Friday? We can’t know but Allah knows Best. Like death, we can never know exactly when the End Time will take place, it’s all in the unseen knowledge.
On this day, Muslims are to appear in their best outfits, keeping up their personal hygiene by taking their spiritual bath (Ghusl), brushing their teeth or using miswak to cleanse them, cutting their nails, clearing their pubic hair and the ones under their armpit, wearing the finest of your clothes and Musk. The Prophet (SAW) said, “Bathing on Friday is compulsory for those who have attained the age of puberty.”
Proceeding early to the Mosque for Jummah is highly rewarding. There are angels by each door of the Masjid writing down the names of the people in the order of their arrival. Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: When it is Friday, the angels stand at every door of the masjid and record the people in the order of their arrival, and when the Imam mounts (on the pulpit for delivering the sermon) they fold up their scrolls and listen to the sermon.
The person who entered first will receive the reward of sacrificing a camel in the path of Allah; the one who followed him will get the reward of sacrificing a cow, thereafter a chicken, thereafter the reward of giving an egg as charity in the path of Allah.
Before the sermon, it is good to observe as many voluntary Rakas as possible until the Imam gets on the Minbar. During the Sermon, you shouldn’t separate or walk between people sitting, waiting or listening to the Khutbah as the utmost concentration of the entire congregation is needed so as to earn the full rewards of attending the Friday service. You are not expected to even respond to greetings from anybody nor make or receive phone calls. You are in the presence of your Lord and need to be fully attentive. The Prophet said; “Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Jummah prayer) and does not separate two persons sitting together (in the mosque), then prays as much as (Allah has) written for him and then remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutba, his sins in-between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven.”
It is important to observe two Rakas as a masjid greeting when arriving for Jummah even if the Imam has already begun the khutbah. Sulaik, May Allah be Pleased with him, came on Friday when the Messenger of Allah was delivering the sermon. He (Sulaik) sat down. The Prophet said to him: O Sulaik, stand and observe two rak’ahs and make them short.
Sending blessings upon the Prophet is also an action encouraged on Fridays. This attracts lots of rewards and blessings from Allah. The Messenger of Allah said: “Among the most excellent of your days is Friday; so invoke more blessings on me that day, for your blessings will be submitted to me.”
Muslims should also increase their supplications on Friday for there is a period in which Allah answers prayers on this day. Allah’s Messenger said: “There is a time on Friday at which no Muslim would ask Allah for what is good but He would give it to him.” And further said: “This is a very short time.”
Reading Surat Al-Kahf on Fridays is a rewarding act which every Muslim can tap into. The Prophet said: “Whoever reads Surat Al-Kahf on Friday, he will be illuminated with light between the two Fridays.”
Giving your charity on Jummah carries more virtue than other days. Ka’b, narrated that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Charity given during the day of Jumu’ah is greater (in reward) than any other day.”
When walking to attend the Friday sermon, a Muslim gets the reward of both praying Qiyam (the night prayer) and fasting a full year. Aws ibn Aws narrated Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever performs ghusl on Friday after having sexual intercourse with his wife, then goes early to the mosque and attends from the beginning of the khutbah and draws near to the Imam and listens to him attentively, Allah will give him the full reward of fasting all the days of a year and observing night-vigil on each of its nights for every step that he took towards the mosque.”
Dying on Friday, during the day or night, is a sign of a good end. Allah The Almighty will enable the person to be steadfast during it. Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Any Muslim who dies during the day or night of Friday will be protected by Allah from the trial of the grave.” [At Tirmidhi and Ahmad]
May Allah grant us the Idayyah to understand and practise the aforementioned rewardable etiquette of Fridays. We pray that he accepts it as an act of worship.
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