IMPORTANCE OF FRIDAY PRAYER

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ. الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَالْعَاقِبَةُ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ وَصَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَعَلَى جَمِيعِ الأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْسَلِينَ.

All Praise is due to Allah, we praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him; and we seek refuge in Him from our own evils and our own bad deeds. Anyone who is guided by Allah, he is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the Only One without any partner; and I bear witness that Muhammad, peace and blessings on him, is His servant, and His messenger.

Dear Brothers and Sisters …

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

Al Imran 102: O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared and die not except in a state of Islam.

Friday is a great day. Allah Almighty has singled it out for his ummah (nation) and guided them to it. And it contains characteristics and virtues that are not found in other days.

It is the best day as was indicated in the hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺsaid:

خَيْرُ يَوْمٍ طَلَعَتْ عليه الشَّمْسُ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) 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. [Muslim 854a]

https://sunnah.com/muslim:854a

This great Friday prayer is the greatest ritual that differentiates this favourite day of Allah Almighty. And Allah Almighty has commanded to proceed to it in His Book saying:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَى ذِكْرِ الله وَذَرُوا البَيْعَ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَكُمْ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ-الجمعة: 9

Al Juma’ (62) 9: O you who have believed, when [the athan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumuʿah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.

And it is an obligation upon men who are sane, free, adult (postpubescent), capable and residents (not travellers). And whoever does not observe three Friday prayers without an excuse, his heart will be sealed as was indicated in a hadith. And the Prophet ﷺ considered burning the homes of the men who stayed away from the Friday prayer which indicates the extreme importance of Friday Prayer and its great status in the shariah.

And due to its importance, the Prophet ﷺ called for a number of deeds to be performed before Friday Prayer in preparation for it and to have focus during it. Therefore, he commanded the ghusl (ritual bathing) for the Friday Prayer, applying perfume and oils and using the miswak. Because that calls for the presence, focus and humility of the heart during the khutbah and prayer. For good scents bring happiness to the hearts and prepares the souls for listening. It was related in the hadith narrated by Abu Saeed Al Khudree (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

غُسْلُ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ على كلِ مُحْتَلِمٍ, وَسِوَاكٌ, وَيَمَسُّ من الطِّيبِ ما قَدَرَ عليه

Ghusl (ritual bathing) should be performed on Friday by everyone who has reached the age of puberty, and using the siwak, and he should put on whatever he is able of perfume. [Muslim 846b]

And walking to Friday Prayer is superior to riding for what was related by Aws Athaqafee (may Allah be pleased with him) who heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺsay:

Narrated Aws ibn Aws ath-Thaqafi:

I heard the apostle of Allah (ﷺ) say: If anyone makes (his wife) wash and he washes himself on Friday, goes out early (for Friday prayer), attends the sermon from the beginning, walking, not riding, takes his seat near the imam, listens attentively, and does not indulge in idle talk, he will get the reward of a year’s fasting and praying at night for every step he takes. Sunan Abi Dawud 345

https://sunnah.com/abudawud:345

And the sunnah is to go as early as one can to the masjed and compete for the first row and being close to the Imam for what it contains of great reward.  It was related in the hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) said, “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.” Sahih al-Bukhari 881.

https://sunnah.com/bukhari:881

It is a great honour for the worshipers that the angels of the Most Merciful stand with their record books at the doors of mosques on Friday. They have nothing to do but record the attendance of those present at the Friday prayer. And those arriving early to the mosques. What is the value and position of a person for him to have this great honour? Had it not been for the grace of Allah Almighty upon him with guidance, elevation, faith and honour?

And if a Muslim performs the Friday prayer, he should feel the grace of Allah Almighty through obligating it, guiding him to it, helping him upon it and benefiting him from it. For how many deprived are there who are denied its benefits and reward? And no one knows the extent of Allah’s grace except those who miss it after having tasted it.

And after offering the Friday prayer obligated by their Lord, the Muslims disperse throughout the land to pursue their interests. Allah says:

فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَاةُ فَانْتَشِرُوا فِي الأَرْضِ وَابْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِ الله وَاذْكُرُوا اللهَ كَثِيرًا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ-الجمعة: 10

Al Juma’ah (62) 10: And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah often that you may succeed.

All of these etiquettes and rulings that Allah, Glory be to Him, legislated for Friday prayer are evidence of its importance and place in the religion of Allah Almighty. And it is obligatory for a Muslim to honour what the Shariah has magnified. And to give it the attention befitting it. Especially since these rulings and etiquettes carry great rewards for those observing them with sincerity to Allah Almighty and in accordance to the sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ.

We ask Allah Almighty to teach us what benefits us, and to help us to act according to what He taught us. And to grant us sincerity. Indeed, Allah is All Hearing, Answering.

I conclude with this and send prayers of blessings and peace upon Prophet as your Lord commanded:

Al Ahzaab (33) 56: Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace.

I conclude with this and send prayers of blessings and peace upon your Prophet as your Lord commanded:

Al Ahzaab (33) 56: Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [ Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [ Allah to grant him] peace.

Allahumma Sallai Al’a Muahmmad’n wa’aila Muhammad

اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعْطَيْتَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ إِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَإِنَّهُ لَا يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ

Sunan Abi Dawud 1425

https://sunnah.com/abudawud:1425

Remember Allah, the Great – He will remember you. Thank Him for His favours – He will increase you therein.  And seek forgiveness from Him – He will forgive you. And be conscious of Him – He will provide you a way out of difficult matters. And, establish the prayer.

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BY IMAM : MAHBOOB RASOOL