Juma'h (Friday) Prayer

Friday also called JUMMA is the sixth day in Islamic week. The literal meaning of Friday is congregation. In islam, this day is given the most importance than any other days of the week. 

Every Friday, Prayer of  Jummah is offered and for this prayer special time is taken.

The Juma'h prayer reflects Islam is a great social order which fosters brotherhood, abhors disunity  and discourages evil

Besides the five obligatory prayers, "Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala" has obtained the juma'h (Friday Congregational Prayer) as necessary prayer on the Muslim Nation (Ummah) as is made clear in the following verse of the Holy Qur'an.

"O  ye who believe, when the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the day of assembly), hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah and leave off business (and traffic): that is best for you if ye but knew." (Qur'an 16: 29)

The Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam  also, in exhorting the Muslims to the importance of the Friday prayer said:

"They (people) will have to stop neglecting the Friday prayer or otherwise, 'Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala" will seal their hearts and they will be counted among the negligent. (Reported by Imam Muslim)

The Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam also says:

'He who deliberately neglects three consecutive Friday prayers, "Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala" will make a mark in his heart".(Reported by Abu Dawoud) 

By virtue of the above Qur'anic verse as well as the respected sayings of the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , the Friday Congregational Prayer is therefore, a duty (Wajib) required from every adult and free Muslim who is residence.

Friday is a glorious day in Islam and represent a great weekly meeting in which the Muslim gather in the houses of "Allah 

Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala" leaving aside all worldly affairs.

The  Juma'h prayer is therefore specific with a sermon in which the Masjid preachers (Imams) discuss and deal with the daily problems of the Muslim's society and give enlightment from the torch of Islam. 

The Juma'h is not a duty on women, who instead, may perform the obligatory Dhuhr (Noon) prayer at their homes although they may join the Juma'h prayers, if by doing so does not affect their household duties, or cause them any inconvenience.

Performance of the Juma'h prayer is only allowed in the Congregational Masjid where, Muslim congregate and from where the Imam gives them advice and spiritual insights.

The time for the Jum'ah prayer is the time of the Dhuhr prayer, although some Muslim jurists and scholars are of the opinion that it is permissible to perform it before the sun reaches its zenith.

Much importance and reward has been attached by islam to the timings of going to the Friday prayer as can be noted from the following saying of the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam :

"Any person takes total Ablution (Ghusl) on Friday and goes out for the friday prayer in the first hour (I.e. early,), it is as if he sacrifice a camel ( in Allah's cause) and whoever goes in the second hour, it is as it is sacrificed a cow; and whoever goes in the third hour, it is as he sacrificed a horned ram; and whoever goes in the fourth hour, it is as if he has sacrificed a hen; and whoever goes in the fifth hour, then it is as if he offered an egg. When the Imam comes out (to deliver the sermon), the angels present themselves to listen to the sermon." (Reported by Imam Bukhari)

However, it is a recommended Islamic tradition that the person comes up with the following pre-requisite before going out to the Friday prayer:

1.Undertaking Ghusl (total bath)

2.The Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam  in this regard says:

"Ghusl on Friday is necessary (Wajib) upon every adult person."( Reported by Imam Bukhari)

3.  Putting on the best and the cleanest of clothes.

4.  Perfuming of oneself.

Having undertaken the above pre-requisites, the person then proceeds to the Masjid in tranquility fully conscious of "Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala". 

Upon reaching the Masjid, the person enters by stepping in with the right foot first proclaiming the private supplication: 

"Bismillah wassalatu-wassalamu 'ala rasoolullah.. Allahumma ighfir lii dhanubii waftalii abwaaba rahmatik.' 

which means

"In the name of Allah... May peace and blessings be on the Messenger of Allah.. O Lord forgive me my sins and open to me the gates of your mercy."

Having entered the Masjid, the person comes up two rakaats as salutation to the Masjid in accordance with the following famous saying of the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam :

"If anyone of you enters the Masjid, do not sit until you have performed two rakaats." (Reported by Imam Bukhari)

The person then awaits for the sermon to start and may in the meantime read the holy Qur'an and /or come up with whatever supplications he can.

When the Imaan enters the Masjid, the Muadhin ( Prayer Caller), would make the Adhaan,(i.e. the call to the prayer) and the person would be answering the call already discussed earlier.

When the Muadhin completes the Adhaan, the Imam climbs the pulpit to deliver the sermon and the person is required to devote his whole attention and is forbidden to talk or keep oneself busy with even minor activities in the course of the sermon. 

The  Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam  says in this regard:

"He who performs Ablution properly and comes to the Juma'h prayer and listens to the sermon attentively, will have his sins from the previous friday plus three more days forgiven and he who occupies himself with pebbles during the sermon has performed badly".( Reported by Imam Bukhari)

Upon completion of the first part of the sermon, the Imam sits down on for a brief pause and then, stand up again for the second part of the sermon. 

After that, he comes down from the pulpit and the Muadhin makes the second call for the prayer Iqamah and a two rakaat congregational prayer is accordingly performed which is the same in all respects to the Fajr prayer.

Upon completing  the Juma'h prayer, a person may come up with the voluntary prayers, which if done at the Masjid, consists of four rakaats( each two rakaats performed separately) but  if, done at the home ( upon one's return from the masjid) consists only of two rakaats as the Prophet Salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to do.

Prophet Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to wear clean and washed clothes, used to take bath, wear fragrance, wear surmah for this day specially.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam described 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….”  

The Prophet  Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said,

"Send prayer upon me abundantly on the day of Jumu’ah (Friday) & on the night of Jumu’ah (Thursday night) for he who sends prayer upon me one time, Allāh sends prayer upon him 10 times."

The Prophet  Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:  

There is such an hour on Friday, that if any Muslim makes Du’ā during it, his Du’ā will be accepted.

The Prophet  Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said,

"Whoever performs Ghusl on Friday, and bathes completely, and goes early, arriving early, gets close and listens and is silent, there will be for him in every step he takes, the reward of a year of fasting and standing (in prayer)."

The Prophet  Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said,

"Jummah to Jummah expiates the minor sins in between them except for the major sins".

Imām Ibn al-Qayyim said,

" A time when Du’ās will be accepted is during the last hour of ‘Asr on Jumu’ah."

The Prophet  Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: 

Any Muslim dies on the day of Friday or the night of Friday, Allah protects him from the trials of the grave.

The Prophet  Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said,

"Friday is the chief of days, the greatest day before Allah. It is greater before Allah then the Day of Adha and the Day of Fitr. It has five characteristics: On it Allah created Adam; on it Allah sent down Adam to this earth; on it there is a time during which a person does not ask Allah for anything but He will give it to him, so long as he does not ask for anything that is forbidden; on it the Hour will begin. The  angel who is close to Allah, heaven, earth, wind, mountain, and sea fear on Friday."

The Prophet  Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam is reported to have said, 

“Recite Durood upon me in abundance on the day of Jummah since they are presented to me.” (Ibn Majah)

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.

The Prophet  Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had 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."

The Prophet Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, 

"Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on the night of Friday, will have a light that will stretch between him and the Ancient House (the Ka'bah)".

The Prophet Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, 

"Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on Fridays will be adorned with light from that Friday to the next".

Its been a weekly routine for us to recite Surah Kahf every Friday, right? and we do it in most of the Fridays.

Now, have you ever wondered why Prophet  Muhammad salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam 

asked us to recite Surah Kahf every Friday?

Or is there any prefence for this surah over the rest 113 surahs? What's the benefit of reciting this weekly?

Lets check it out-

First of all, in this Surah Allah gives to us 4 different, but INTERESTING stories!

Lets explore each along with the lessons we get from each of them....

1."The people of the cave"

It’s the story of young men who lived in a disbelieving town, so they decide to migrate for the sake of Allah and run away. Allah rewards them with mercy in the cave and protection from the elements of nature.

The lesson of this story is the 'Trial of Faith'

2. "The owner of two gardens."

A story of a man whom Allah blessed with two beautiful gardens, but the man forgot to thank the One who blessed him with everything and he even dared to doubt Allah regarding the afterlife. So his garden was destroyed – he regretted it, but was too late and his regret did not benefit him.

Lesson of this story: 

'Trial of wealth'

3. "Musavalayhi wa sallam and Khidr alayhi wa sallam"

When Musa alayhi wa sallam was asked “Who is the most knowledgeable of the people of Earth?” Musa alayhi wa sallam said that it was him as he assumed he was the only prophet on Earth at the time. But Allah revealed to him that there’s someone who knows more than him about certain things. Musa alayhi wa sallam traveled looking for him and learned how divine wisdom can sometimes be hidden in matters which we perceive as bad.

And Lesson of this story: 

'Trial of knowledge'

And now to the FINAL one, its somewhat GLOBAL,

4. "Dhul-Qarnayne"

Allah mentions the story of a great king who was given knowledge and power travelling the world helping people and spreading all that’s good. He was able to overcome the problem of Yajooj-Majooj by building a massive dam with the help of people whom he could not even understand.

Lesson of this story: 

'Trial of power'

ALLAH says to us 4 kind of stories relating 4 kind of trials that WE ALL pass by in our day to day lives!

Now have a look through HADITHS to learn more about this surah....

In many hadiths, the messenger of Allah salallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam mentions that the one who reads and memorises verses of Surah Al Kahf will be protected from the trials of the Dajjal!

NOW, why this Surah?

What is the relation between SURAH KAHF and DAJJAL??

The Answer is simple...

Dajjal will appear before the day of judgement with 4 trials:

A) He will ask people to worship him and not Allah: Trial of faith!

B) He will be given powers to start/stop rain and tempt people with his wealth: 

Trial of with wealth!

C) He will tempt people with "knowledge” and news he gives them: Trial of knowledge!

D) He will control huge parts of the Earth: 

Trial of power!

NOW JUST TAKE A  MOMENT AND SAY 'SUBHANALLAH'!!!!!

Now, we see Almighty Allah speaking to us about trials, don't you want a SOLUTION for those trials? We need, and ALLAH knows our need!!! So He tells us the solution as well in this Surah...let me just point out them with their AYAH NUMBERS so that you can look for those meanings ...

1.Good companionship

(In 28th ayah)

2. Knowing the truth of this world 

(In 45th ayah)

3. Humility

(In 69th ayah)

4. Sincerity

(In 110th ayah)

5. Calling to Allah

(In 27th ayah)

6. Remembering the Hereafter

(In 47-49th ayahs)

In Shaa'Allah now when you recite Surah Kahf, you understand and appreciate its benefits!!!