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Level 5 :: Lesson 6

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Friday Prayer (part 2 of 2)

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Description: What a Muslim needs to know about the Friday Prayer - the most important weekly prayer for Muslims.

Published on 08 Oct 2012 - Last modified on 25 Jun 2019

Printed: 516 - Emailed: 0 - Viewed: 23,493 (daily average: 5)

Objective:

·To learn ten etiquettes and duties on Friday.

Arabic Terms:

·Salat ul-Jumuah - Friday Prayer.

·Dhuhr - the afternoon prayer.

·Khutbah - sermon.

·Rakah - unit of prayer.

·Imam - someone who leads the prayer.

·Adhan - an Islamic way of calling Muslims to the five obligatory prayers.

Etiquette and Duties on Friday

1. Wear Clean Clothes & Smell Good

Prophet Muhammad said, “Every Muslim should have a ritual bath on Friday and wear his best clothing, and if he has perfume, he should use it”[1]

2. Send Blessings on the Prophet

It is highly recommended to send peace and blessings on Prophet Muhammad on Fridays as the Prophet said, “Invoke blessings on me, many times over, on Friday and the night (preceding it); for whoever does so, I will be a witness and intercessor for him on the Day of Judgment.”[2]

This is done by simply saying and repeating the words, “Allahumma sal-ly wa sal-lim ‘Ala Muhammad.” Repeating these simple words anytime during Friday brings great blessings as mentioned in the above report form Prophet Muhammad.

3. Increase Supplication

A Muslim should increase his supplication to Allah on Friday because there is a time on Friday when Allah responds and gives whatever good He is asked for. The Prophet said, “There is an hour on Friday in which no Muslim asks during it except that Allah grants him whatever he asks for.”[3]

One can supplicate in any language he wants. The etiquettes of supplication have been covered in previous lessons.

4. Arrive Early at the Mosque

Prophet Muhammad said, “Whoever takes a bath on Friday like the one taken to purify oneself from sexual impurity, then he leaves at the earliest time, then he is like the one who offers a camel; the one who comes after that is like one who offers a cow; the one who comes after that is like one who offers a horned ram; the one who comes after that is like one who offers a chicken; the one who comes after that is like one who offers an egg. When the Imam arrives, the angels are present to listen to the remembrance (meaning the khutbah).”[4]

If a person comes late, he should not step over people already sitting in rows, nor separate two people sitting together. He should also not move another person and take their place. A Muslim should not walk directly in front of a person praying.

5. Sit Close to the Imam

A person must try to arrive early and sit close to the Imam delivering the sermon. Sitting closer to the Imam is better than sitting behind in the back rows or reclining next to a wall. If a new Muslim finds it hard to sit on the floor for half an hour or so, he may sit where ever he feels comfortable, but he should try to get accustomed to sitting closer to the Imam.

6. Don’t Talk During the Khutbah

Also, a Muslim should pay attention to the sermon and not talk during it, even if it is delivered in Arabic. Talking during the Friday prayer is a serious matter. Prophet Muhammad said, “If you say to your friend, ‘Be quiet,’ on Friday when the Imam is delivering the sermon, then you have uttered non-sense.”[5]

In another narration, the Prophet said, “…whoever utters nonsense is considered as if he has not attended the Friday prayer!”[6]

7. Pray Two Rakahs For Entering the Mosque Before Sitting Down

If you arrive to the mosque early, you should pray two rakahs before sitting down. If you arrive while the Imam is delivering the sermon, you should still pray them, but make it short. The Prophet said, “If anyone of you enters the mosque on Friday while the Imam is delivering the khutbah, let him perform two rakahs and be brief in doing so.”[7]

8. Don’t Buy or Sell Once the Adhan Has Been Called

This prohibition is based on the Quran itself,

“... when the Adhan is proclaimed for the prayer on Friday, hasten to the remembrance of Allah and leave trading aside...” (Quran 62:9)

9. The Friday prayer which consists of two rakahs is performed after the sermon behind an Imam. Someone who misses it should pray four rakahs of regular Dhuhr prayer.

10. You can pray two or four rakahs of Sunnah (recommended) prayer after the Friday prayer.

Making Arrangements with the Employer for Time Off for Salat ul-Jumuah

Countless Muslims take time off from their businesses, schools, and employers to attend the Friday prayer. Friday prayer is a religious obligation and a new Muslim should make arrangements with their school or employer to take time off for attending it. You can make up the lost hours by working extra during the week or staying late on Friday.[8]

Footnotes:

[1] Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim

[2] Baihaqi

[3] Saheeh Muslim

[4] Muwatta

[5] Saheeh Muslim

[6] Abu Dawood

[7] Saheeh Muslim

[8] Contact the following organizations for more information or help:

(www.cair.com)

(www.caircan.ca)

(www.amcran.org)