Allah (SWT) has blessed Muslims with so many special days and nights. The days when Muslims can pray more than usual and pray for their needs and desires. Among such days Friday is the most important one. The day of Friday is of utmost importance in Islamic tradition.

In Arabic, Friday is named “Yawm al-Jummah.” It means the day of Assembly or the day of the gathering. In old times Arabs used to call the day “Al-Arubah,” meaning “the nice day.”

Friday is the blessed day of the week. It is the day when Hazrat Adam (AS) was born. The Day of Judgment will occur on Friday. Moreover, many important Islamic events took place on Friday.

SIGNIFICANCE OF FRIDAY

Islam has given so much importance to Friday due to many reasons. The day is considered a blessed day of the week. Some of the significant reasons for the importance of this day are as follows:

1.    A WEEKLY GET TOGETHER

Fridays are the day when the Muslims gather at the mosque for the special Friday prayers. They take time out from the daily hustle and bustle of life. The Muslim men gather at the mosque for communal prayers and indulge themselves in the worship of ALLAH. They also attend the Friday sermon which takes place before the Friday prayer. This sermon serves as a source of learning for Muslim men. They get to know about different teachings of Islam which refreshes their soul and boosts their spirituality.

2.    CELEBRATION LIKE EID

Friday is like the weekly Eid day for the Muslims. The Muslims wait for this day. They get ready on Friday. Muslims perform Ghusl, wear new or fresh clothes, and apply fragrance on them before performing the Friday prayer. These are also the Sunnahs of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

Narrated Salman-Al-Farsi:

The Prophet (p.b.u.h) 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 Jumua 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.

Sahih Bikhari Volume 2, Book 13, Number 8

3.    ACCEPTANCE OF PRAYERS

There are many times in the day when the ALLAH (SWT) opens the door of repentance and acceptance. Fridays are also one of those days. It is that day of the week when ALLAH (SWT) gives Muslims what they pray. Muslim scholars assert that prayers are accepted twice on Fridays. One is when the Imam of the mosque is giving Friday prayer while the other is the time between Asar and Maghrib prayers on Friday.

It says in the hadeeth narrated by al-Bukhari (5295) and Muslim (852) from Abu Hurayrah who said:

Abu’l-Qasim (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “On Friday there is an hour when, if a Muslim happens to pray at that time and ask Allah for something good, He will give it to him.”

HADITHS ON THE IMPORTANCE OF FRIDAY

The Holy Prophet (PBUH) has mentioned the significance of this blessed day in many of his hadiths. He (PBUH) said,

“The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it, Adam (AS) was created. On it he was made to enter Paradise and on it, he was expelled from it.” (Muslim)

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

“When Friday comes, the angels sit at the doors of the mosque and record who comes to the Jumu`ah prayer. Then, when the imam comes out, the angels roll up their scrolls.”

Many other Hadiths are present, which tell the Muslims the benefits of praying on this day. It is the day when the Muslim men gather in a larger number at the mosques for Friday prayers and the angels sit at the entrance of the mosques. They note down the names of those who enter in mosques for Friday and write rewards for them by the will of ALLAH (SWT).

SURAH JUMMAH IN THE QURAN

There is a whole chapter in the Holy Quran by the name of Surah Al-Jumah. This Surah explains the worth of Friday and how it should be celebrated. The Chapter’s main objective is to motivate Muslims to attend the weekly Friday prayer. The chapter starts by praising Allah and talking about the Prophetic Call. It says that Muslims shouldn’t be like the Jews who had the Torah but didn’t follow it. When the call to prayer is heard, Muslims are told to leave everything and quickly go to remember Allah. if they do not, they will be held accountable.

Muslims should also recite this Surah on Fridays as a remembrance of the teachings of ALLAH regarding this day.

WHAT TO RECITE ON FRIDAY

Muslims can do different acts of worship on Fridays to seek the pleasure of ALLAH (SWT). They can perform supplicatory prayers, do Zikr, do charity, etc. Other than that reciting Surah Al-Kahaf is sunnah on every Friday Friday.

Hadith of the Holy Prophet (PBUH) narrates:

“Whoever reads Surat al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah, will have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.”

(Narrated by al-Hakim, 2/399; al-Bayhaqi, 3/249)

CONCLUSION

To conclude, Friday is the most special day for the Muslim Ummah. It gives them the golden chance to stand in front of ALLAH and ask for his blessings and repentance. Is the day when the Muslims get the chance to remove their sins. Moreover, the day is a source of attaining unlimited blessings and rewards from the ALLAH (SWT).

Muslims must celebrate this day and engage in different ways of worship. Also, the day of Friday should be spent according to the Sunnahs and teachings of the Holy Quran