The Elevated Rank of Jummah Prayer (Friday Prayer) In Islam
The Friday prayer, known as the Jummah prayer (or Jummah Salah, Jummah Namaz, Jummah Rakats) has a very special rank in Islam. It is reported in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 1084 that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
إِنَّ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ سَيِّدُ الْأَيَّامِ، وَأَعْظَمُهَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ، وَهُوَ أَعْظَمُ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ مِنْ يَوْمِ الْأَضْحَى وَيَوْمِ الْفِطْرِ
‘Indeed, the day of Jumu‘ah (Friday) is the best of days and the greatest of them according to Allah Almighty. It is greater according to Allah Almighty than the Day of (Eid) Al Adha and the Day (Eid) of Al Fitr.’
It is an obligatory prayer for every able-bodied, adult male to attend and pray in congregation and is offered instead of Zuhr Prayer, at its appointed time at the post-mid-day. Jummah Salah has been prescribed by Allah Almighty on the best of days, Friday.
Friday is called ‘Sayyid Al Ayaam’ meaning the ‘Leader of All Days’ because of many blessed events that have occurred in human history and many that will come to pass by the blessing of Allah Almighty on Fridays. It is reported in Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 1084 that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
إِنَّ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ سَيِّدُ الْأَيَّامِ، وَأَعْظَمُهَا عِنْدَ اللَّهِ
‘Friday is the best of days…’
It is reported in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 854 that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
خَيْرُ يَوْمٍ طَلَعَتْ عَلَيْهِ الشَّمْسُ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ
‘The best day upon which the sun has risen is Friday…’
These are not casual remarks but in fact part of formal teachings about the significance of Friday. The following are all events which took place or will take place on a Friday:
PAST
- Prophet Adam (AS) was created
- Prophet Adam (AS) was granted entry into Paradise
- Prophet Adam (AS) was sent down to the world
PRESENT AND CONTINUOUS
- Salutations are presented to holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
- There is an hour on Friday in which supplications are accepted
- The one who passes away on Friday, he/she is saved from punishment of the grave
FUTURE
- The trumpet (signalling the Last Hour) will be blown on Friday
- The Day of Judgment will take place on Friday
The Rewards of Offering Jummah Prayer and Warnings Against Missing Jummah Prayer
Allah Almighty has mentioned the Friday prayer specifically in the following verse in the noble Quran at Surah Al Jumuah (62), Verse 9:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِي لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ وَذَرُوا الْبَيْعَ ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
O those of you who are believers, when you are summoned for prayer (by the calling of Adhaan) on the day of Friday; then hasten towards the remembrance of Allah (Almighty); and leave your businesses (for those moments); for this is more advantageous for you, if only you could understand.
Allah Almighty orders the believers to leave their business and general work and to attend the Friday prayers. This confirms that it is obligatory upon each individual male to partake in the Jummah prayers, even if they are busy in worldly matters. It directly shows that the Friday prayer is better for the believers than any other ‘profitable’ business they are engaged in.
The Friday prayer has thus also been singled out by holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ for special praise and guidance as to its blessings. He ﷺ has also given specific instructions and recommendations for those who are going to perform the Jummah Salah.
It is reported in Sahih Bukhari, Hadith 883 that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
لاَ يَغْتَسِلُ رَجُلٌ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ، وَيَتَطَهَّرُ مَا اسْتَطَاعَ مِنْ طُهْرٍ، وَيَدَّهِنُ مِنْ دُهْنِهِ، أَوْ يَمَسُّ مِنْ طِيبِ بَيْتِهِ ثُمَّ يَخْرُجُ، فَلاَ يُفَرِّقُ بَيْنَ اثْنَيْنِ، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي مَا كُتِبَ لَهُ، ثُمَّ يُنْصِتُ إِذَا تَكَلَّمَ الإِمَامُ، إِلاَّ غُفِرَ لَهُ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجُمُعَةِ الأُخْرَى
‘Whoever performs the ritual bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his oil or perfumes himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Jummah prayer) and does not separate two persons sitting together (in the Masjid), then prays what has been prescribed for him and then remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutbah, his sins between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven.’
Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ outlines some of the etiquettes in preparation of the Friday prayer and confirms that whoever performs them, their sins of the past week shall be forgiven.
Further guidance about the virtue and etiquettes of the Friday prayer are also explained in another Hadith. It is reported in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 496 that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
مَنِ اغْتَسَلَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَغَسَّلَ وَبَكَّرَ وَابْتَكَرَ وَدَنَا وَاسْتَمَعَ وَأَنْصَتَ كَانَ لَهُ بِكُلِّ خَطْوَةٍ يَخْطُوهَا أَجْرُ سَنَةٍ صِيَامُهَا وَقِيَامُهَا
‘Whoever performs Ghusul on Friday, and bathes completely, and goes early, arriving early, gets close and listens and is silent, there will be for him in every step he takes the reward of a year of fasting and standing (in prayer).’
In addition to the above, holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ also warned against missing Jummah prayers, due to its significance and importance. It is reported in Sahih Muslim, Hadith 865 that holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
لَيَنْتَهِيَنَّ أَقْوَامٌ عَنْ وَدْعِهِمُ الْجُمُعَاتِ أَوْ لَيَخْتِمَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى قُلُوبِهِمْ ثُمَّ لَيَكُونُنَّ مِنَ الْغَافِلِينَ
‘People must cease to neglect the Friday prayer or Allah Almighty will seal their hearts and then they will be among the negligent.’
Missing Jummah prayers deliberately is a sinful action as this prayer is obligatory for Muslims. It is especially detrimental for anyone who abandons, avoids, or misses Jummah Salah without good reason as they are missing out on its innumerable blessings.
If a person is at work or school and cannot get time off to attend the Jummah prayers, then it is advisable to arrange an onsite Jummah prayer for all the Muslims on site. If this cannot be arranged, then there is no specific compensatory prayer or action to make up for missing Jummah, except that it remains obligatory for the person to offer the Zuhr prayer as normal.
Wisdom of Unity & Congregation
The Jummah Salah must be prayed in congregation and cannot be prayed alone.
During the week, every person offers their own prayers either in the home or anywhere else they may be. But on Jummah, they all come together at the same time.
Jummah is a highly blessed means through which the entire community comes together and worships Allah Almighty. It is a guaranteed way in which the community can be united in spending time together and able to share news and strengthen bonds.
Who Must Read Jummah Salah?
As with all aspects of Islamic life, Allah Almighty has made prayer easy for people without diminishing the reward for them. As such, the Jummah prayer is obligatory upon every mature, sane Muslim man apart from the following exceptions:
- A traveller
- An ill person
- A very old person who cannot attend the Masjid
Females are not obligated to attend Jummah prayer to reduce any burden or hardship on them. However, females are welcomed to join this blessed prayer if they can, and it will be accepted from them in place of the Zuhr prayer.
Details of Jummah Salah
There are certain acts and requirements for the Jummah Salah which are not needed for any other prayer. This includes the Two Adhaans (Calls to Prayer), the Khutbah (Formal Sermon), and the Fard (Obligatory) Rakats offered.
Sequence of the Acts of Worship:
- First Adhaan
- 4 Sunnah Mua’akkadah (Regularly performed, emphasised Sunnah) Rakats
- Second Adhaan
- Public Sermon (if being offered)
- Arabic Khutbah
- 2 Fard (Obligatory) Rakats in congregation
- 4 Sunnah Mua’akkadah Rakats
- 2 Sunnah Mua’akkadah Rakats
- 2 Nafal (Optional) Rakats
Two Adhaans
At the time of holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ there was only one Adhaan (Call to Prayer) at the time of Jummah. However, as the Muslim community began to spread and grow large, Murshid Khalifa Uthman (RA) decided to add a second Adhaan at the beginning of the prayer time in order to give the community time to finish their trade and get ready for the prayer. This accepted practice has been preserved and acts as a reminder that the Jummah prayer is about to commence.
The Imam Holds a Staff When Delivering the Khutbah
It has been narrated by some of the Blessed Prophetic Companions (RA) that they saw holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ leaning on a staff or bow when reciting the Jummah Khutbah. In the past, Prophets of Allah Almighty (AS) also used to carry a staff in their hands, as they were deemed to be the shepherds of the people. This Sunnah has been preserved as a sign of authority that befits the leader of the congregational act of worship. This is why the Imam (Congregational prayer leader) holds a staff while delivering the Arabic Khutbah.
The Optional Public Sermon and The Obligatory Khutbah in Arabic
In Jummah, two sermons are offered before the Salah is performed, but only the second is a formal requirement.
The first optional public speech is for general guidance and calling to good; it is a sermon for public education. It should be on a topic that is relevant to the needs and development of the community and society of the time. It can be given in the language of the local community by any respected person or dignitary in the local community and does not have to be given by the Imam. If it is given by the Imam, then he will sit before rising to give the Arabic Khutbah as a way to demarcate between the two.
The second sermon is the obligatory, Khutbah which is a formal act of worship, and must be recited in the Arabic language, just as all other acts of worship are. The Imam delivers the Arabic Khutbah as the leader and representative of the congregation.
All over the world, Jummah Salah brings together Muslims to worship Allah Almighty in a unified manner. We should be grateful for this great opportunity and make the utmost effort to make sure we join in Jummah Salah.
