Virtues of Friday

The Jumu’ah Salat (Friday prayer) is one of the outstanding symbols of Islam. Allah Almighty has blessed the Muslims by granting us this day as a day of congregational prayers.
O You who have attained to faith! When the call to prayer is sounded on the day of congregation, hasten to the remembrance of Allah, and leave all worldly commerce: this is for your own good, if you but knew it. [Surah Al-Jumu’ah, 62:9]
The Friday prayers are distinguished by the deliverance of the Friday Sermon (Khutbah). The Khutbah pertains to speaking to an audience for the purpose of convincing them and winning their approval. The person who delivers the Khutbah is called Khatīb (speaker). The Khutbah is one of the great symbols of Islam and an act of worship legislated, ordained and practised by Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) and the Rightly Guided Caliphs after him. Ever since, the Muslim Ummah has kept this tradition seeking to raise Allah’s remembrance high, honouring His Symbols and Limits, calling people to His Path and warning them against defying His Commandments.
In the very beginning the Khutbah of the Holy Prophet flourished as they were the best school preparing the first generation Muslims. The Friday sermon played an important role in that. It usually helped defuse disturbances, avert division, restored ca1mness and diverted wars which peop1e were ready and willing to wage. The Companions from this school dispersed and delivered the message of Islam across the world. The Prophet’s tradition of the Khutbah was carried on by the Rightly Guided Caliphs.
The tradition of the Khutbah has continued to this day but there has been a decline, which is of immense concern. The decline is both in the quality of the Khutbah and also in the lack of attention from the audience. Both the Khatīb and the audience need to exercise greater responsibility towards the Khutbah. Ideally, any person attending the Friday sermon in the mosque should not depart without gaining benefits from the Khatīb that will enlighten his path with regards to matters of the Hereafter and this life. The Khatīb should recite some Ayah of the Holy Qur’ān with meaning and explanation as required. He has been entrusted with a big responsibility of directing and teaching Muslims the eternal revelation from Allah. The Khatib should be aware that Allah the Exalted and Most Honoured, has warned against heedlessness regarding remembering Him and has sternly threatened those who do so:
But as for anyone who chooses to remain blind to the remembrance of the Most Gracious, to him We assign an [enduring] evil impulse, to become his other self: whereupon, behold, these [evil impulses] bar all such from the path [of truth], making them think that they are guided aright! [Surah Al-Zukhruf, 43:36-37]
The five daily mandatory Salat (prayers) help us to remember Allah, thank Him and appreciate Him. Allah has ordained establishing the Jumu’ah (Friday prayer) so that we rush collectively to remember Allah and, consequently, earn His generous rewards and mercy through obeying Him. The audience gathers to listen to Khutbah which advises them to do the righteous acts and keep from evil. The Friday congregation enables the audience to get to know each other and help each other where required. It strengthens the community in more than one way. Islam takes special care of the importance of the day of Jumu’ah.
Yet [it does happen that] when people become aware of [an occasion for] worldly gain or a passing delight, they rush headlong towards it, and leave thee standing [and preaching]. Say: “That which is with Allah is far better than all passing delight and all gain! And Allah is the best of providers!” [Surah Al-Jumu’ah, 62:11]
It is essential that every Muslim should pay extra attention to the Jumu’ah and the various acts prescribed for this auspicious day. The acts that the Muslims are commanded on Friday include:
1. Reciting the Holy Qur’ān; Dhikr (remembering Allah); making Dua (supplications); and sending Durood on the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be to him).
2. Muslims should take a Ghusl (bath); use Miswak/Siwak (a tree branch used as toothbrush) to clean the teeth; wear the best and cleanest clothes they have; and apply perfume before departing for the Jumu’ah Salat.
3. It is recommended that one should clip his nails for Jumu’ah.
4. It is recommended to recite specific Surah (chapters) such as Surah-32 Al-Sajdah and Surah-76 Al-Insan during the Dawn prayer of Friday after reciting the Al-Fatihah.
5. It is also recommended to go as early as possible to the mosque for Jumu’ah.
6. Walking to the mosque for Jumu’ah is recommended, as well as being as close to the Khatīb as possible. One is required to listen to the Khutbah and refrain from being busied by anything else.
7. Sitting in Al-Ihtiba position during Jumu’ah is disliked. This is sitting on the hind end with the knees bent and held together at the stomach by one’s hands or whatever he is wearing. This position might lead to one falling asleep while the Khatīb is giving the Khutbah.
8. It is recommended for those who feel sleepy to change places in the mosque.
9. Those attending the Jumu’ah should not step over others (in attempts to draw near the front). This is forbidden according to some of the scholars and disliked according to others. This last view is due to the numerous Hadith reported that prohibit this act.
10. It is not proper for Muslims to attend the Jumu’ah wearing filthy clothes or having a bad odour coming from them.
11. It is not proper for the Muslims to attend the prayer after eating food that causes a bad odour, such as garlic, onions, radishes, and so forth.
12. One should not come between two people sitting next to each other, unless there is sufficient space between them that they did not fill.
13. It is recommended for those who attend the Jumu’ah to pray as much as they can before the Khutbah, until the Imam mounts the Minbar.
14. When the Jumu’ah is called for (i.e., the Adhan is called) the Muslim is not allowed to busy himself with anything other than heading towards the mosque to attend prayer. Therefore, selling and buying while heading towards the mosque for Jumu’ah (after the Adhan is called) is prohibited.
It is a very great injustice that the Khutbah is read rapidly without understanding as if one is trying to get rid of a burden. The Khutbah deserves to be read with a will, devotion and concentration pondering over its meaning and implications and trying to grasp its real sense and spirit. The Khutbah must be delivered with ease and concentration showing no haste or hurry. The audience must listen to the Khutbah in silence and rapt attention and with sincere devotion, eagerness and in a receptive mood. This should be followed up with making up of the mind with all sincerity to act upon the injunctions of Allah and His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be to him) that one has learned from the Khutbah.
It is very tragic that some Khatīb resort to tales of the dreams and jinns instead utilising the Islamic resources to convey the word of Allah Almighty (that is the Qur’ān, Sunnah and Hadith). They even resort to the poetry and even Naat. Dreams, poems and such tales of the individuals are not the word of Allah Almighty and we are to refrain from them. May Allah Almighty Guide us in understanding the significance of the Friday; knowledge and piety to deliver effective Khutbah and the concentration to benefit from these Khutbah, Amen.
[The writer teaches at Engineering Department, Salalah College of Technology (SCT), Salalah, Sultanate of Oman. [email protected]]