Summary of Fiqh #34: The Jumu’ah (Friday) Prayer

Saturday 12 Aug 2017

Chapter of Prayer: The Jumuah (Friday) Prayer

  • Why is the Friday Prayer called Jumuah prayer? What does Jumuah mean?
  • The day of Friday is the best day of the week
    • Hadith in Al-Bukhari and Muslim about superiority of Friday
    • “We (Muslims) are the last (to come) but (will be) the first on the Day of Resurrection though the former nations were the given the Scripture before us. This (Friday) was their day of celebration which was made compulsory for them but they differed about it. So Allah gave us the guidance for it (Friday) and all the other people follow us in this respect” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
  • The gathering of the Muslims has been prescribed on Fridays in order for us to see the great blessings of Allah bestowed upon us and to encourage us to thank Allah
  • The ayah (verse) ”O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the Prayer on the day of Jumu’ah (Friday), then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew” (Al-Jumu’ah: verse 9)
  • Ibnul-Qayyim said: “It is of the guidance of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) to honour this day (Friday), and to favour it with special acts of worship which he does not perform on other days” (see Zaadul-Ma’aad 1/11)
  • Which is better? Fridays or the day of Arafa? [difference of opinion]
  • On Friday Fajr Prayer Surah As-Sajdah (The Prostration) and Surah Al-Insan (Man)  are read

  • Ibnul-Qayyim said: I heard Shaykhul-Islam Ibn Taymiyah saying, “The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) used to recite these two Suras (As-Sajdah and Al-Insan) in the Fajr (dawn) Prayer on Friday as they deal with events that happened or will happen on Friday such as the creation of Adam, the Resurrection, and the gathering of servants (to the account in the hereafter). Thus, reciting these two Suras every Friday reminds the Muslim nation of the aforementioned events and consequently comes the prostration of recitation (in the Sura of As-Sajdah). So, the prostration of recitation is not intended particular here and the one performing prayer should not mistakenly recite a prostration-containing verse from whatever sura in the Quran (believing that it is an act of the Sunnah (Prophetic Tradition) for Fridays” (Zaadul-Ma’aad 1/120)
  • From the specific and recommended things of the day of Friday are:
    • It is recommended to frequently confer blessings upon the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم)
    • The Friday Prayer is one of the most distinguishing act on the day of Friday
      • Whoever abandons Friday prayers (three times) out of slackness Allah seals over his heart (Narrated by Al-Bukhari, At-Tirmidhi, An-Nasa’I, Ibn Majah and Muslim)
    • The making of ghusl on Fridays before coming to Jumuah Prayer (difference of opinion if the ghusl for Jumuah prayer is obligatory or not]
    • For the men to put on fragrance
    • To go early for the Jumuah prayer and to be silent during the Khutbah
    • The reading of Surah Al-Kahf (The Cave) during Friday
      • “If Anyone recites the Sura of Al-Kahf on Friday, a light will shine from under his feet up to the heaven and it will shine for him on the day of Resurrection, and the sins he committed between the two Fridays will be forgiven” (Related by Al-Haakim and Al-Bayhaqi)
    • There is a period of time within Friday wherein your Duas are accepted (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
    • The khutbah is special to Fridays
  • Ibnul Qayyim in his book Zaadul Ma’aad (Provisions for the Hereafter) Mentioned 133 benefits of Friday and the night preceding it
  • Many people are slack/lazy when it comes to Fridays:
    • They don’t give a special distinction to Friday over the rest of the day
    • Some people make Friday a day of laziness (“end of the week”)
    • Some waste their time with other things instead of dhikr
  • Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyah said a person who comes early for Fridays should pray two rak’ah nafl (optional prayer) until the Imam comes. However, this is not a Raatib (linked optional prayer) to Jumuah, it is just optional prayers and there is no fixed time or length (See Majmuu ul-Fataawa 22/189-90)
  • Common place issues:
    • It is not allowed to reserve your place for Jumuah (e.g. coming beforehand such as Fajr and placing an object at a place to keep your seat)
    • If you walk in on Friday Prayer and the Adhan is happening, what should you do?
    • If you walk in on Friday Prayer and the khutbah is being done, what should you do?
    • Reiterating the importance of keeping silent during the Khutbah
    • It is allowed for the Imam to talk during the Khutbah if there is a real need
    • What about if the Imam forgets an ayah, can you tell him during khutbah?
    • There are many narrations where the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) spoke and asked the companions during the Khutbah and they replied to him
    • If you hear the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) name, you can say صلى الله عليه وسلم to yourself quietly
    • What if the Imam makes dua during the Khutbah, can you say Ameen quietly?
    • Raising your voice in front of the Khateeb (the one giving the Khutbah) is Makrooh (disliked) or even Haraam (prohibited)
    • If you walk in during the Khutbah, should you say “Assalaamu alaikum”
    • What about fidgeting and looking around during Khutbah?
    • What about if you sneeze during the Khutbah, should you and the person who hears you say the supplications or should you say “Alhamdulillaah” quietly to yourself?
  • Q&A about Jumuah
  • The importance of parents controlling their children during the khutbah and Jumauh prayer and to keep them next to themselves

 

Next Week Insha Allah: The Jumuah (Prayer) Continued