https://islamhouse.com Friday – The Best Day of the Week أفضل أيام الأسبوع الجمعة www.islamreligion.com website

https://islamhouse.com

Friday – The Best Day of the Week
 أفضل أيام الأسبوع الجمعة 
www.islamreligion.com website

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Friday is a very important day for Muslims. It is more
significant and more beneficial than any other day of the week. It
is the day that Muslims gather together to pray in congregation.
Directly before the prayer they listen to a lecture designed to
empower them with valuable knowledge about God, and the
religion of Islam. It is a blessed day that has been designated as
such by God, Almighty; no other day of the week shares its
virtues.
A believer’s entire life is one of worship; even celebrations are
conducted as worship. While there is no special place or special
time to worship God, there are moments, days, or times that God
has made more superior; Friday is one of those times.
From the traditions of Prophet Muhammad, may God praise
him, we learn that “The best day in the sight of God is Friday, the
day of congregation”. 1 Congregational prayers (obligatory for
men) are one of the most strongly emphasized duties in Islam. It is
a time when Muslims come together to worship One God, and
find strength and comfort by standing shoulder to shoulder and
reaffirming their faith and devotion to Him.
1 Bayhaqi, authenticated by Sheikh Al Albani
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“O you who believe! When the call to prayer is proclaimed on
Friday hasten earnestly to the remembrance of God, and leave
aside business. That is best for you if you but knew.” (Quran 62:9)
In many predominantly Muslim countries Friday is a weekly
holiday, sometimes combined with either Thursday or Saturday.
However there is no mandatory closing of businesses except
during the time of the congregational prayer. In western countries
many Muslims try to take their lunch break during the time for
prayer, usually in the very early afternoon.
Prophet Muhammad told his followers that “The five daily
prayers, and from one Friday prayer till the next, serves as an
expiation for whatever sins have been committed between them,
provided one does not commit any major sin.” 2
It is important that a Muslim not neglect Friday Prayer due to
work, study, or other worldly matters. Believers should make
attending this prayer a priority since ignoring it three times in a
row, with no valid reason, will cause a believer to stray from the
straight path.
While it is only men who are obliged to attend the Friday
congregational prayer there are also many recommended acts that
can be performed by men, women or children during this day.
These acts include, taking a bath and wearing clean clothes, saying
numerous supplications to God, sending blessings upon Prophet
Muhammad, and reading Chapter 18 of the Quran, which is
entitled ‘The Cave’.
Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, said, “There is no
day more virtuous than Friday. In it there is an hour in which no
one will pray to God except that God will hear his prayer”. 3
2 Saheeh Muslim
3 At Tirmidhi
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"Friday consists of twelve hours, one of which is the hour
where supplications are granted for believers. This hour is sought
during the last hour after Asr (the third prayer in the day). 4"
"Whoever recites ‘The Cave’ on Friday, God will give him a
light to the next Friday." 5
"The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. It is the day
Adam was created. It is the day when Adam entered the Heavenly
Gardens, the day when he was expelled from it and also the day he
died. Friday is the day on which the Day of Resurrection will take
place.” 6
Friday is also the day on which one of the greatest verses in the
Quran was revealed.
“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed
My Favor upon you, and have chosen Islam as your religion.”
(Quran 5:3)
A story from the life of the second Caliph Omar, illustrates the
significance of Friday. A learned person from among the Jews
said to Omar Ibn Al Khattab “In the Quran you people read a
certain verse; if that verse had been revealed to us, we would have
celebrated that day annually.” Omar asked, “Which verse is that?”
The man replied, “This day, I have perfected your religion for
you’. Omar then said, “Verily I remember the day and the place
where this verse was revealed. It was already a double celebration
for us. Firstly it was Friday-a day of Eid (celebration) for all
Muslims and secondly, it was the day of Arafat – the most
important day of the Hajj.” Omar further stated that this verse was
revealed after Asr (afternoon prayer) while Prophet Muhammad
was sitting on his camel.
4 Abu Dawood,. An Nasei
5 Bayhaqi
6 Saheeh Muslim, Abu Dawood, An Nasei & At Tirmidhi.
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Friday is a special day; the congregational prayer performed on this day holds special significance in the life of a Muslim. This is well noted and discussed by Islamic scholars both past and present. Thirteenth century Islamic scholar Ibn Taymiyyah said: “The most excellent day of the week is Friday according to the consensus of scholars” 7 and his student Ibnul -Qayyim mentions 32 special characteristics of Friday in his book Zad Al- Ma’ad. Prophet Muhammad said “Verily, this is the Eid day (day of celebration) that God has prescribed for the Muslims” 8. Believers would be wise to take advantage of the blessings God sends down to His slaves on Friday. This is a day of congregation, a day of celebration and a day of contemplation and supplication.
7 Majmu’ah Fatawa 8 Ibn Majah, authenticated by Sh Al Albani.