The Blessings of Jum'ah (Friday)

The Blessings of Jum'ah (Friday)

This is a Friday Khutbah delivered by Shaykh Muhammad Taher on 4th February 2005. This has been taken from leeds grand mosque and is worth sharing.

O Muslims! Today is Friday - Jum’ah; the most superior of days within the week. For Muslims, it is regarded as the weekly Eid.

The Prophet (SAW) was told about the important events which took place on this great day and of the preference Allah has given to it. It is mentioned in Sahih Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah who said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him said:

“The best day on which the sun rises is the day of Jumu’ah; on it Adam was created, on it he entered Paradise and on it he was taken out of Paradise”

And in another narration he said:

“The Final Hour will take place on the day of Friday” {Narrated in Muslim}

“Every moving thing listens from morning till sunset in apprehension of the Hour, except Jinn and Men” (Narrated in the Muwatta of Malik)

Know, that the obligation of the Friday prayer applies to Muslim males only.

On the day of Jumu’ah, the day in which Muslims gather to pray, listen to the sermon and remember Allah the Most High. It is recommended to bathe, to dress well, to use the tooth stick (Siwaak) and to wear perfume. This is recommended for everyone attending Jumu’ah prayer or attending any other Muslim gathering, as it is a Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW). He (SAW) said:

“Whoever makes ghusl on the day of jumu’ah, uses the tooth stick (siwaak), applies perfume if he has it, wears of his best clothes, and then goes out until he comes to the mosque, and does not harm anyone, then prays as much as occurs to him to pray, and then remains silent when the Imam speaks until he prays the obligatory prayer, it is an reparation of whatever minor sins are between this and the next jumu’ah”(Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawud&Others)

In another narration it is related:

“Whoever performs ghusl, goes to Jumu’ah, prays as much he is able to, remains silent until the Imam finishes his khutbah, then prays with him; he is forgiven (his minor sins) from that Friday until the next Friday in addition to three extra days and whosoever fails to do so has erred (Narrated by Muslim)

On Friday it is vital that we strive to make the most of our time by supplicating to Allah, as it is mentioned in both Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (SAW), mentioned the day of Friday and said:

“In it there is an (opportune) hour when Allah gives to the Muslim standing in prayer whatever he asks for.” And he pointed out the shortness of that time with his hands. (Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

It also recommended to send blessings and prayers upon the Prophet (SAW) on the day of jumu’ah and the night preceding it. The Prophet (SAW) said:

“Friday is from amongst the best of days, on it Adam was created, and on it the horn will be blown and all will fall unconscious, so send abundant blessings upon me on this day for indeed your salutations are presented to me. They, the companions said: O Messenger of Allah how can this be when you have been buried and your body has decayed? And the Prophet (SAW) said: Indeed Allah, Exalted and Magnified is He, has forbidden the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets”.

Another recommended act is the reciting of Surah Al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah and the night preceding it, as mentioned in the Hadith

“Whosoever recites Surah Al-Kahf on Friday will have a light illuminated for him between the two Fridays” (Narrated by Nasa’i Bayhaqi & others)

O Muslims! - Busy lifestyles have led to the abandoning of the Sunnah of arriving early at the Mosque on Friday. The Prophet (SAW) stressed earliness in attending the prayer, especially the Friday prayer and he likened it to charitable and sacrificial acts.

It is mentioned in Bukhari and Muslim:

"Any person who takes a bath on Friday like the bath of Janaba (to clean ritual impurity) 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"

And in another Hadith he (SAW) said:

“When it is a Friday, 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) the Angels fold their papers and listen to the Khutba. (Narrated in Bukhari and Muslim)

O Muslims: It is incumbent upon those aware of these two aHadith to bow their heads in humility before Allah, shame before the Angels and compassion for the servants of Allah. If so many of us are neglecting this act of goodness, let us consider then how big the difference is between one who presents a sacrificial offering with one who offers nothing because he arrives only after the Angels have folded-up their scrolls? So how many Fridays have passed by wherein the angels have recorded but a few first-comers?

There is no power or strength except with Allah; why such abstinence from reward? Do you not know the saying of the Prophet (SAW):

“If people knew the reward of hearing the adhan and being from amongst the first row and if they didn’t find a place therein they would even compete for it by drawing lots”(Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim)

This is for the one who is late; so consider then, the one who purposefully abandons the Friday prayer without excuse. Listen to this Hadith of the Prophet (SAW) and take it to those whom you know are neglectful of the Friday prayer:On the authority of Abu Hurayrah and Ibn Omar, may Allah be pleased with them both, who heard the Prophet (SAW) say on his Minbar:

“If people are neglectful of jumu’ah prayers, Allah will set a seal over their hearts and they shall be from the heedless.” (Narrated by Muslim)

In other words, Allah puts a barrier between them and guidance and goodness.

O Muslims! Compete in this great act of goodness which Allah has made on Friday for those who follow the example of the Prophet (SAW). So purify yourselves, wear your best clothes, use the tooth stick (Siwaak) and perfume and hasten to the Friday prayer with composure and dignity.

Compete for the first row and then the second and so on without offending or harming any one of your brothers, pray the voluntary (nawaful) prayers and increase in the remembrance of Allah and recitation of the Qur’an.

Ask Allah the Glorious for an increase in blessing and stick to the etiquettes of the Prophet and be from amongst the first to do good and attain the highest of ranks:

“That is the favour of Allah; which He gives to whom He will. And Allah’s favour is immense.” (Surah Jum’ah 62:4)

The second Khutbah
The ruling on speaking or being distracted during the Khutbah

There is a severe prohibition regarding this as the majority of scholars consider it obligatory to remain silent. It is essential to listen to the Khutbah without distraction. It is not permissible to entertain oneself with anything.

The ruling on arriving late and missing a unit (Rak’ah) of prayer with the Imam:

Many scholars have said ‘whosoever misses a rak’ah of the Friday congregational prayer, has missed the prayer’ and must make up the missed rak’ah, as the Prophet (SAW) said :

“Whoever missed a rak’ah with the Imam, has missed the entire prayer”

However, most scholars are of the opinion that missing one full rak’ah does not mean that one has missed the entire prayer, but it is necessary to pray the four rak’ahs of Dhur.

Preoccupation with buying and selling and business transactions at the time of the call to Jumu’ah prayer:

Allah the Exalted and Magnificent has prohibited this at the time of Jumu’ah prayer and has made it unlawful for everyone who is obliged to attend the prayer, as He the Exalted says:

“O you who believe! When the call is made for the prayer on Friday, come to the remembrance of Allah and leave off business. That is better for you if only you knew!” ( Surah Jum’ah 62:9)

Ibn Abbas said:

"Selling is prohibited at this time."

A’ta said :

"Trade is prohibited. And Allah knows best." .

DISCLAIMER: This reminder was originally delivered in Arabic. Any meanings lost in translation are not to be attributed to the speaker as reminders are translated by volunteers. The mosque has no official translater and volunteers often have no formal qualifications to translate on the day. Please forgive any errors as they are from our human weakness and any right guidance is from Allah.