Here is the Spiritual Significance of the Friday in Islam:
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It is proven that Prophet Muhammadﷺ used to celebrate this day and he declared Jumu’ah as weekly Eid for muslims.
Today’s story will be interesting for those who have some queries and are curious to know about Friday and the prayer of Friday’s importance in Islam. Some people already know that Friday Jumu’ah lays the utmost importance in Islam.
That is what I’m discussing the importance of Friday and the prayer of Friday in this story. The Friday has many religious significances and virtues associated with it.
You can understand the importance of Friday by virtue fact that there is a complete chapter in the Holy Quran named “Al- Jumu’ah”. There are many references to the significance of Fridays and the prayer of Friday that are given in the Islamic scriptures (Quran and Hadith). The various Islamic scriptures explain the importance of Friday’s merits, rituals, and etiquette.
On Blessing Friday, besides the certain significance of Friday and its prayer invokes the Islamic scriptures and religious activities. Muslims also love the day for some other reasons as well.
And I will numerate some causes and their evidence given in the Islamic scriptures to explain the significance of Friday in Islam:
In Islam, Friday ( Jumu’ah) is considered more significant, worthwhile, and more beneficial sixth day of the Islamic week than any other day, and in Islamic tradition, and it is considered a celebration in itself religion-wise because of the status given to it by Allah Almighty and His Last Messenger Muhammad PBUH (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and Friday is loaded with great kindness and has a glorious reward for those who wait for this day with so much devotion just to welcome this blessed day.
The day Friday is named Jumu’ah because it is derived from the word Al-Jam in Arabic, which means gathering in English. As believers on this day of the week gather and worship Allah (SWT) as per His commands.
Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Qur’an:
“O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for Jumu’ah (Friday Prayer), come fast to the remembrance of Allah”
(Qur’an 62:9)
There is great importance of Jumu’ah prayer for Muslims. Muslims meet this day together in the Love of Allah to worship Him by standing shoulder to shoulder in queues. Every Muslim ordinarily pray five times each day across the globe according to the sun’s sky path regardless of time zones, but Muslims give special attention to the congregational Friday prayer (Salat Al Jumu’ah) when Muslims gather to pray in the congregation which is replaced by Duhr or zuhr prayer (salat). Duhr or Zuhr prayer ( noon prayer) is one of the five mandatory prayers. The five daily prayers collectively are one Pillar ( Foundation) of the Five pillars of Islam.
Friday Prayer is congregational prayers held in mosques, and The prayer of Friday is obligatory on all Muslim adults, men who are mature except the sick, child, slave, and woman, but it is recommended.
The Religious Significance:
The Qur’an and Hadith invoke the importance of Friday as a sacred day of worship. The word الجمعة (Arabic) mentioned in Quran, which literal meaning of Jummah (Friday) is “ the congregation.” There is a whole Surah (Chapter) of the Quran is named “Al- Jumu’ah”.
Friday is a blessed day that has been designated as such by Allah Almighty; no other day of the week shares its virtues.
A Muslim’s entire life is one of worship; even celebrations are conducted as worship. While there is no special place or special time to worship Allah Almighty, there are moments, days, or times that God has made more superior; Friday is one of those times. Allah has made what He wills special; places, times, people, and so on. Subsequently, Muslims honor this too much in obedience and in submission. So, that’s the first cause of significance; obedience and submission to Allah Almighty’s will, way, and decree.
The importance of Friday is stated in various places in Quran and Hadith.
In Quran:
Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran in these words:
“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. (62:9)”
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)
Hadith:
There are many hadiths reported on the significance of Jum’ah.
Prophet Mohammad (SAW) has been reported saying:
“The best day the sun rises over is Friday; on this day Allah created Adam. On Friday, he was made to enter paradise, on it they expelled him from it, and the Last Hour will take place on no other day than Friday.” (At-Tirmidhi)
“There is an hour on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while offering Salat and asks something from Allah Almighty, then Allah will definitely fulfill his demands and Prophet Muhammad (SAW) pointed out the shortness of that particular time with his hands.” (Bukhari)
“Any Muslim who dies during the day or night of Friday will be protected by Allah from the trial of the grave.” [At-Tirmithi and Ahmad].
The best day in the sight of Allah is Friday, the day of congregation. (Al-Bayhaqi)
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.
“The Jum’ah is the pilgrimage of the poor”
“Whoever misses three Jum’ah, being indifferent to them, Allah seals his heart”.
“A worshipper who washes fully on Friday then comes to Salatul Jum’ah in the early time, then listens to the Imam’s speeches and does not do anything wrong, Allah will grant this worshipper the reward of one year of fasting and prayer.
Also, hadith related by Al-Bukhari, quoted the Prophet saying that: “In the day of Friday, there exists an hour that if a worshipper asks from Allah, anything he wishes in this hour, Allah will grant it and does not reject it, as long as he or she did not wishing for bad”.
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.
Islamic history
According to the history of Islam and the report from Abdullah bn ‘Abbas narrated from the Prophet saying that:
The permission to perform the Friday prayer was given by Allah before hijrah, but the people were unable to congregate and perform it. The Prophet wrote a note to Mus’ab b. Umair, who represented the Prophet in Madinah to pray two raka’at in congregation on Friday (that is, Jum’ah). Then, after the migration of the Prophet to Medina, the Jum’ah was held by him.
For Shiites, historically, their clergy discouraged Shiites from attending Friday prayers. According to them, communal Friday prayers with a sermon were wrong and had lapsed (along with several other religious practices) until the return of their 12th Imam, Muhammad al-Mahdi.[18] However, among others, Shiite modernist Muhammad ibn Muhammad Mahdi al-Khalisi (1890–1963) demanded that Shiites should more carefully observe Friday prayers in a step to bridge the gap with Sunnis.Later, the practice of communal Friday prayers was developed, and became standard there-afterwards, by Ruhollah Khomeini in Iran and later by Mohammad Mohammad Sadeq al-Sadr in Iraq. They justified the practice under the newly promoted Guardianship of the Islamic Jurists doctrine. When al-Sadr installed Friday prayer imams in Shia-majority areas — a practice not traditional in Iraqi Shiism and considered “revolutionary, if not heretical” — it put him at odds with the Shia religious establishment in Najaf. Under both Khomeini and al-Sadr, political sermons would be heard.
How To Attend a Muslim Friday Prayer Service
The Friday Prayer is shorter than the usual midday prayers. It orders the believers to hasten towards the mosque in the remembrance of Allah when they are called on the day of Jumu’ah. Muazzein (muʾadhdhin) makes the call to prayer, called the by giving Adhan usually 15–20 minutes prior to the start of Jum’ah.
It also includes two sermons. The first sermon is longer and contains most of the content. The second sermon is very brief and concludes with a Dua, after which the muezzin calls the Iqamah. Iqamah is another call to address the Muslims who are already present inside the Mosque. This refers to start the two main Rak’ats of Jumu’ah Prayer.
“Mustafa Jaane Rehmat Pe Lakhon Salaam”
This a Darood-o-salaam was written by Imam Ahmad Raza Khan, who was the greatest scholar of the subcontinent at that time. This a Darood-o-salaam actually about the praising of our Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H).
This Darood-o-salaam guided us on how to pass life to get into Jannah. each of its lines is based on the teachings of the Qur’an and Hadith and along with fulfilling the compulsion of presenting Salaat and Salaam upon Allah’s Beloved.
We’ve always prayed this Darood-o-salaam after every program (mehfil: in which people together and recite poetry in the praise of Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH) in the mosque, jummah (Friday’s Prayer), and other occasions in the end.
For more read
The Sunnahs of Friday:
Abu Huraira reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying:
“The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created. on it he was made to enter Paradise, on it he was expelled from it. And the last hour will take place on no day other than Friday.”
Taking a bath, wearing the finest of your clothes and Musk. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Bath on Friday is compulsory for those who have attained the age of puberty.”
Proceeding early to the Masjid for there are angels by each door of the Masjid writing down the names of the people in the order of their arrival.
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:
When it is Friday, the angels stand at every door of the masjid and record the people in the order of their arrival, and when the Imam sits (on the pulpit for delivering the sermon) they fold up their scrolls and listen to the mention (of Allah).
The etiquette of Fridays: is to not separate between people sitting waiting or listening to the Khutbah and to pray as many voluntary Rakas as possible until the Imam gets on the Minbar.
The Prophet (ﷺ) 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.”
Pray two Rakas as a masjid greetings when arriving for Jummah even if the Imam has already begun the khutbah. Sulaik, May Allah be Pleased with him, came on Friday when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was delivering the sermon. He (Sulaik) sat down. The Prophet said to him: O Sulaik, stand and observe two rak’ahs and make them short.
Send as many prayers and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) for he (ﷺ) said:
“Among the most excellent of your days is Friday; so invoke more blessings on me that day, for your blessings will be submitted to me.”
Increase your Doaa’ supplicatonson Friday for there is an answered time every Friday. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:
“There is a time on Friday at which no Muslim would ask Allah for what is good but He would give it to him.” And further said: “This is a very short time.”
Reading Surat Al-Kahf on Fridays; The Prophet (ﷺ) said:
“Whoever reads Surat Al-Kahf on Friday, he will be illuminated with light between the two Fridays.” (Narrated by al-Haakim; Grade Saheeh by al-Albaani)
Islamic Culture:
Muslims are encouraged to stop their work and do special preparations for Jummah prayer like they wear clean clothes, perfume, and bathe and offices and academic institutions give half-day of the work. Almost all the shops put their shutters down and move to the mosques for offering Jummah prayer. It’s customary to eat special meals with family on this day in some Muslim families.
The Importance of Reading Surah Al-Kahf on Friday:
With that being said, today is Friday, and if you did not know there is a great reward in reading Surah Al -Kahf on Fridays.
In a narration from the Prophet Muhammad pbuh it is stated that the one who reads Surah Al-Kahf on Fridays will find his entire week enlightened until the next Friday (al-Jaami).
Read more :
What does Jumma Mubarak mean and why do people say it?
Jumma Mubarak means “happy Friday” or “have a blessed Friday”.
The phrase is generally believed to be a friendly greeting on the holy day, rather than something suggested or said by Prophet Muhammad himself or that’s written into Islamic law.
“Jumma” or “جمعہ” means Friday in Urdu, a language spoken across Pakistan and in Muslim pockets of India.
And “mubarak” roughly translates as “blessed” or “blessing” across the Urdu and Arabic languages.
Allah most high says
“Allah and his angels send blessings on the prophet, o you who believe, send blessings on him and salute him with all respect.” [Qur’an, surah AL Ahzab 33:56]
Narrated Abu Huraira R.A:
The Prophet (Sallallahu alyhi wa sallam) said,
“When it is a Friday, the angels stand at the gate of the mosque and keep on writing the names of the persons coming to the mosque in succession according to their arrivals. The example of the one who enters the mosque in the earliest hour is that of one offering a camel (in sacrifice). The one coming next is like one offering a cow and then a ram and then a chicken and then an egg respectively. When the Imam comes out (for Jumua prayer) they (i.e. angels) fold their papers and listen to the Khutba.” Volume 3, Book 49, Number 861: (Sahih Bukhari)
Final Thoughts:
There is absolutely no denying the importance or the significance of the day of Friday. Friday is a day of great importance & virtue. The Prayer of Friday is the best of prayers, and the gravity of abandoning it is more severe than that of others. The Prayer of Friday just gives out a special positive vibe I can’t describe Prepare for it, perform Jummah prayer & make the most of this day by gathering Allah’s blessings. I wish you all a blessed Friday with this friendly reminder on the importance of establishing a connection to Allah through prayers as told to us by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Just a reminder to non-Muslims. “ Islam doesn’t cause division amongst humanity. In fact, It unites people together”.
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