Jumuah - Friday and the Friday prayer
The Virtue of Jumuah
Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allaah salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam said: "The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. [On Friday] Adam was created and on that day he entered paradise and on that day he was expelled from paradise. And the Hour will come to pass on Friday." [Muslim, Abu Dawud, an-Nasa'i, and at-Tirmidhi who calls it sahih].
Performing Ghusl, using miswak, dressing well and using perfume
Abu Sa'id reported that the Prophet salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Every Muslim should have a ghusl on Friday and wear his best clothing, and if he has perfume, he should use it." [Ahmad, al-Bukhari, and Muslim].
Abu Hurairah reported that one Friday the Prophet said: "O gathering of Muslims, Allaah has made this day an 'id for you, so make ghusl and use the miswak." [at-Tabarani in al-Ausat and al-Kabir with a chain whose narrators are trustworthy].
(Note: The Muslim woman does not wear perfume outside her house)
Reciting surah al-Kahf (surah 18) anytime on Friday
"For whoever recites surah al-Kahf on Friday, it will be a light for him from that Friday to the next." [Al-Bayhaqi and Al-Hakim].
Ibn 'Umar reported that the Prophet said: "Whoever recites Surah al-Kahf on Jumuah will be blessed with a
light that will rise from underneath his feet to the peak of the sky. This will be a light for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will be forgiven for what is between the Jumuah [and the next] Jumuah." [This is related by Ibn Mardwwiyah with a faultless chain.]
Making many prayers and salutations upon the Prophet salallaahu alayhi wa sallam during the night and the day of Jumuah
Ibn al-Qayyim said: "It is preferred to pray for Allah's blessings on the Prophet during the day and night of Jumuah as the Prophet said: 'Make many prayers upon me during the day of Friday and the night of Friday.'
The Jumuah prayer is an obligation
The scholars are in agreement that salatul Jumuah is an individual obligation and it is two rak'at. Allaah says
in the Qur'an (what means): "O you who believe, when the call for the salah of Jumuah is proclaimed, hasten unto the remembrance of Allaah, and leave off business (and trading). That is best for you if you but knew." [Al-Jumuah, 62:9]
Ibn 'Umar report that they heard the Prophet salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Those who are not attending the Friday salah should change their ways; otherwise, Allaah, the Exalted, will seal their hearts and they will be reckoned the heedless." [This is related by Muslim, and by Ahmad and an-Nasa'i from ibn 'Umar and ibn
'Abbas.]
Abu al-Ja'd ad-Damari reports that the Prophet said: "Whoever misses three Friday prayers in a row out of
negligence will have a seal put over his heart by Allah." [This is related by the five, and Ahmad and Ibn Majah have something similar from Jabir, while Ibn as-Sakin has graded it to be sahih.]
The Muslim woman, a young child, the extremely ill, a traveler, those in fear of their life, are excused from attending Jumuah.
Going Early to Masjid
There is a great reward in going early to Salat al-Jumuah, beginning after sunrise.
Abu Umamah narrated that the Messenger of Allaah sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said, "The angels sit at the doors to the Masjids and with them are scrolls in which they record the people [who come]. When the Imam appears, the scrolls are rolled up." Abu Umamah was asked, "Does the one who comes after the Imam still have a Friday Prayer?" he said, "Certainly, but he is not one of those who is recorded [as coming
early]." [Ahmad and al-Tabarani]
Performing tahiyyat al-Masjid
If a person comes late to the Friday Prayer while the Imam is delivering the khutbah, the strongest opinion is he should perform the tahiyyat al-Masjid based on the Hadith of the Prophet salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam: "If one of you comes to the Masjid, he should pray two rak`ahs before he sits" [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
This requirement is limited only to prayers offered in a Masjid.
Jabir reports that a man came to the masjid on Jumuah while the Prophet was delivering the khutbah. The
Prophet inquired of him: "Did you offer the salah?" The man replied: "No!" He told him: "Pray two rak'at." This is related by the group.
In one narration it states: "If one of you comes to the masjid on the day of Jumuah and the imam is
delivering the khutbah, he should pray two rak'at and make them quick." [Ahmad, Muslim, and Abu
Dawud].
In another narration, it is stated: "If one of you comes to the masjid on the day of Jumuah and
the imam has already arrived, he should offer two rak'at." [Bukhari and Muslim].
Feeling drowsy in the masjid
Ibn 'Umar reports that the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wasallam said: "If one of you becomes sleepy while he
is in the masjid, he should move from his place to another place." [Ahmad, Abu Dawud, al-Baihaqi, and at-
Tirmidhi who calls it hasan sahih].
It is forbidden to speak during the khutbah
Ibn 'Abbas reports that the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wasallam said: "Whoever speaks in Jumuah while
the imam is delivering the khutbah is like a donkey who is carrying books, and for those who tell him to be
quiet, there is no [reward] for the Jumuah." [Ahmad, ibn abi-Shaibah, al-Bazzar, and at-Tabarani. Ibn Hajar said in Bulugh alMaram: "There is no fault in its chain."]
'Abdullah ibn 'Amr reports that the Messenger of AllAah said: "There are three types of people who attend the Jumuah: one, a man who is present but speaks [during the speech], and that is his portion of the prayer; two, a man who is present and makes supplications - in his case, AllaAh may give him what he asks, if He wishes, or He may not give him what he asks, three, a person who is present and observes silence and
does not step over the necks of the Muslims nor harm anyone - for him, there is expiation from that Jumuah until the next Jumuah plus an additional three days as AllaAh has said: 'He that does good shall have ten times as much to his credit.'" [Ahmad and Abu Dawud with a good chain].
Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet said: "If, during the Jumuah while the imam is delivering khutbah, you tell your companion to be quiet, then you have spoken needlessly." [related by the group, save Ibn Majah].
Abu ad-Darda' says: "The Prophet was upon the pulpit and was addressing the people and he recited a verse, and next to me was Ubayy ibn-Ka'b and I asked him: When was that verse revealed?' He refused to talk to me until the Messenger of Allaah came down from the pulpit and then he said to me: 'You have nothing from your Jumuah, except your useless talk.' When the Prophet had finished, I went to him and informed him of what had happened, and he said: 'Ubayy has told the truth. If you hear your imam
speaking, be quiet until he is finished.''' [Ahmad and at-Tabarani.]
Catching One Rak'ah or Less of the Jumuah
Ibn 'Umar reports that the Prophet salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Whoever catches only one rak'ah of the
salah and then adds to it the other one, his prayer will be complete." [an-Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, and ad-Daraqutni. In Bulugh al-Maram, Ibn Hajar says that its chain is sahih although Abu Hatim says that the strongest opinion is that it is mursal.].
Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Whoever catches one rak'ah of the prayer has indeed caught the whole prayer." This is related by the group. Ibn Mas'ud said: "Whoever catches one rak'ah from al-Jumuah is only to add another one to it. Whoever misses both rak'at is to pray four rak'at." [This is related by at-Tabarani with a good chain.]
Ibn 'Umar said: "If one catches from the Friday salah one rak'ah, then he is to add another one to it. If he catches only the sitting [at the end of the prayer, following the bowing], then he is to pray four [rak'at]." [al-Baihaqi]. Such is the opinion of the Shaf'i, Maliki, and Hanbali schools, and Muhammad ibn al-Hassan. Abu Hanifah and Abu Yusuf say that if one catches the tashahud with the imam, then he has caught al-Jumuah. He should pray two rak'at after the imam makes the taslim, and his Friday salah would be complete.
Nawaf'l before and after al-Jumuah
Abu Hurairah reports that the Prophet salAllaahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Whoever is to pray after the Jumuah should pray four rak'at." [Muslim, Abu Dawud, and at-Tirmidhi]. Abu Dawud records from ibn 'Umar that when he prayed in the mosque, he would pray four rak'at, and when he prayed in his house, he would
pray two rak'at.
Also, in the two Sahihs it is reported from ibn 'Umar that the Prophet would pray two rak'at in his house after the Friday salah."
If one prays them in the mosque, he should change his place of prayer after the Friday salah.
Other Etiquette of Salat al-Jumuah
Make supplications during the last moments (or hours) of Jumuah
Abu Sa'id and Abu Hurairah report that the Messenger of Allaah said: "On Jumuah there is a time that if a
believing slave asks Allaah during it for some good, [Allaah will definitely] give it to him, and that time is after the 'asr salah." [Ahmad. Al-'Iraqi calls it sahih].
Jabir reports that the Messenger of Allaah said: "The day of Jumuah has twelve hours, and during one of the hours, you will not find a Muslim slave [of Allaah] asking Allaah for something, but that He will give it to
him. Seek it in the last hour after the 'Asr salah." [anNasa'i, Abu Dawud, and by al-Hakim in al-Mustadrak, and he calls it sahih according to Muslim's criteria. Ibn Hajar says that its chain is hasan].
Abu Salamah ibn 'Abdurrahman reports that some companions of the Prophet gathered and mentioned the
"hour on Jumu'ah." They left and did not differ on the fact that it is the last hour of Jumuah. [This is related by Sa'id ibn Mansur in his Sunan and al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar calls it sahih.]
Salman al-Farsi reports that the Prophet sal Allaahu alayhi wa sallam said: "A man who performs ghusl on
Friday, purifies [himself] what he can and uses dye [for his hair] or perfumes himself in his house, goes
to the mosque, and does not cause separation between two people [who are already seated], prays what Allaah has prescribed for him, and then listens quietly while the imam speaks, all his sins between that
Friday and the next Friday will be forgiven." [Ahmad and al-Bukhari], while Abu Hurairah used to say:
"And for three more days as for every good deed Allah grants tenfold reward." The sins mentioned in this
hadith are the minor sins [ibn Majah], on the authority of Abu Hurairah in the words: "For one who has not
committed major sins."
References
Saabiq, Sayyid, Fiqh-us-Sunnah, Vol. 2
Zarabozo, Jamaal al-Din, The Etiquette of Jumuah
