The Virtues of Friday
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
In the name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful;
All the praise and thanks is due to Allāh, the Lord of al-'ālamīn. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam, is His Messenger.
It should be noted that the entire life of a Muslim is worship of Allāh; there is no special day for worship, for the Muslim is worshipping Allāh all the time. But there is a day which Allāh has made special for this ummah (nation), the nation of Muhammad (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam), and which Allāh has favoured above all the other days of the week. That day is Friday.
There are a number of hadiths which speak of the virtue of the day, including the following:
1- Friday is special day for the Muslims.
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu`anhu) said: The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) said: “We (Muslims) are the last (of the nations) but (we will be) the foremost on the Day of Resurrection, although the former nations were given their scriptures before us and we were given our after them. And this (Friday) is the day concerning which they disputed. So Allāh guided us (to it), tomorrow (i.e., Saturday) is for the Jews and the day after (i.e., Sunday) is for the Christians.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Al-Jumu’ah, 847].
2 - Adam (‘alaihissalām) was created on Friday.
It was also narrated that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. On this day Adam was created, on this day he entered Paradise and on this day he was expelled from it.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari, al-Jumu’ah, 1410]
3 - On Friday Allāh announced to Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wa sallam) that Islam is perfected.
It was narrated that Tariq ibn Shihab (radiyallāhu`anhu) said: “A Jewish man said to ‘Umar, ‘O Commander of the faithful, if this ayah – ‘This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion’ [al-Ma'idah 5:3] – had been revealed to us, we would have taken that day as an ‘Eid (festival).” ‘Umar Al-Khattab (radiyallāhu`anhu) said, “I know on which day this ayat was revealed; it was revealed on the Day of ‘Arafah, which was a Friday.” [Narrated by Al-Bukhari, Al-I’tisam bi’l-Kitab wa’l-Sunnah, 6726].
4 - Reward of an Expiation of the Sins.
Among the hadith which explain the reward for this day is that which was narrated by Abu Hurairah, (radiyallāhu`anhu) which says that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “Each of the five daily prayers and from one Jumu’ah prayer to the next is an expiation for the time in between, so long as one does not commit any major sin.” [Al-Taharah, 342].
Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu‘anhu) said: “The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: ‘When Friday comes, at each door of the mosque there are angels who write down the first ones to come to the mosque. Then when the imām sits down they close their books and come to listen to the sermon. The one who comes early (for Friday prayer) is like who sacrificed a camel, then those who come after him (in order of their coming) are like one who sacrificed a cow, then one who sacrificed a horned ram, then one who sacrificed a chicken, then like one who offered an egg.” [Narrated by al-Bukhari, al-Jumu‘ah, 1416].
5 - The Day to send Many Salawāts to the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam).
It was also narrated in a hadith that the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “One of the best of your days is Friday. On it Adam (‘alaihissalām) was created and on it he died. On it the Trumpet will be blown and on it all creatures will perish (prior to the Resurrection on the Last Day). So send many blessings upon me on that day, for your blessings will be shown to me.” They said, “How will our blessings be shown to you when your body will have become dust?” He said, “Allāh has forbidden the earth to consume our [Prophets’] bodies.” [Narrated by Abu Dawud and al-Nasā’ie; classed as sahih by al-Albāni in Sahih al-Targhib wa’l-Tarheb, no. 695].
Anas ibn Mālik (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported
that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “There are three under the shade of
Allāh on a day when there is no shade except His; the one who relieved a
distress from someone from my nation; the one who gave life to my Sunnah and
the one who invoked blessings on me (Salawāt) the most”. [Recorded in the Mustadrak and the
Musnad of al-Firdaus; Al-Hāfiz as-Suyūtī also recorded it in his Burūj
al-Hilāl.]
Abū Hurayrah (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported
the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “He who sends prayers upon me on Friday eighty times,
Allāh will forgive eighty years of sin”. [Ibn Nu’mān: hasan (good)]
Abū Hurayrah (radiyallāhu’anhu) related
that the Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Increase invoking blessings on me on
Friday, for surely it is presented to me”. [Bukhārī
and At-Tabarānī recorded it and also Ash-Syāfi’īe in his Musnad.]
Another version from Anās Ibn Malik
(radiyallāhu’anhu) that the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Increase invoking blessings upon me on
Friday and the night of Friday. Whoever invokes a single blessing on me, Allāh
will bless him ten times”. [Reported
by al-Hāfidz As-Suyūtī in his al-Saghīr].
Abū ad-Dardā (radiyallāhu’anhu) related
that the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Increase invoking blessings upon me on Friday, it is
witnessed by the Angels” [Ibn
Mājah in which al-Haythamī in his Zawā’id said Sahih.]
Imām
Ahmad recorded that Abu Talhah al-Ansārī (radiyallāhu’anhu) said: The Messenger
of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) arose one morning in a very pleasant
mood with signs of good tidings apparent on his face. They said, "O
Messenger of Allāh, we see that you look happy.'' He said, (The angel came to me and told me,
"O Muhammad, would it not please you if your Lord, may He be glorified,
says: “No member of your Ummah sends Salāh upon you but I send Salāh upon him
tenfold, and no member of your Ummah sends greetings of Salām upon you but I
send greetings of Salam upon him tenfold”' I
said, "Of course.'') This was also recorded by An-Nasā’ie Ibn Abi Shaybah,
‘Abd bin Hamīd and at-Tirmidzi; Cited with slightly different wording in Imām
Abu Sulayman al-Jazuli's Dala'il al-Khayrat (The Index of Good Things)
‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ūd (radiyallāhu‘anhu)
said that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The
closest to me on the Day of Judgment are those who pray (i.e made salawāt) upon
me more.”[Ahmad, Tirmidzī and Ibn Hibbān said
hasan]
6 - Great reward of Going early to Jumu‘ah.
It was narrated in a hadith that the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “Whoever makes his wife do ghusul and does ghusul himself [i.e., has intercourse] on Friday and goes out early, walking not riding, and comes close to the imam and listens [to the sermon] without interrupting, will have for each step he takes a reward equal to that of fasting and praying at night for one year.”
[Narrated by Ahmad and al-Tirmidzi; classed as sahih by al-Albāni in Sahih al-Targhib wa’l-Tarheb, no. 687]
7- Friday is A Blessing Day.
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (radiyallāhu`anhu) that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) mentioned Friday and said: “On this day there is an hour when no Muslim slave stands and prays and asks Allāh for something, but Allāh will give it to him,” and he gestured with his hand to indicate that whatever he asks for, is as nothing to Allāh. [Narrated by al-Bukhari, al-Jumu’ah, 883]
It was narrated from Anas ibn Malik (radiyallāhu`anhu) that the Prophet (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “Seek the hour in which there is hope that prayers will be answered, on Friday after ‘Asar (mid-afternoon) prayer, until the sun set.” [Narrated by al-Tirmidzi; classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Targhib wa’l-Tarheb, no. 700].
8 - Benefits of Walking and display excellent Akhlaq at Juma‘ah.
If a person walks to Jumu‘ah prayer, for every step he will have the reward of fasting and praying qiyam for one year.
Aws ibn Aws al-Thaqafi (radiyallāhu`anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “Whoever does ghusl on Friday and causes (his wife) to do ghusl, and sets out early, and comes close to the imam and listens and keeps quiet, for every step he takes he will have the reward of fasting and praying qiyam for one year.” [Narrated by al-Tirmidzi, 496; classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Tirmidzi, 410]
Al-Hafiz ibn Hajar Asqalani (rahimahumullah) said, after quoting the hadith which speak of the virtues of Solāh al-Jumu’ah :
“...when taken all together, indicates that the expiation of sins from one Friday to the next is subject to all the conditions mentioned above being met, namely doing ghusl, cleaning oneself, putting on perfume, wearing one's best clothes, walking in a calm and dignified manner, not stepping over people, not pushing between two people, not offending others, performing nawafil solah, listening attentively and avoiding idle talks.”
And Allāh Almighty knows best.
[Adapted from the Fatawas of Al- Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid, published in Islam Q&A]
Addendum
What is the merit of Friday over other days?
Addendum
Virtues of Friday
What is the merit of Friday over other days?
In the name of Allāh, the Most
Gracious, the Most Merciful;
All the praise and thanks is due
to Allāh, the Lord of al-‘ālameen. I testify that there is none worthy of
worship except Allāh, and that Muhammad, Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam is His
Messenger.
Friday has many
distinguishing features and virtues that Allāh has bestowed upon this day and
not others.
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah and Hudhayfah (radiyallāhu’anhum) said:
The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu
‘alayhi wasallam) said: "Allāh led
those who came before us away from Friday. The Jews had Saturday, and the
Christians had Sunday. Then Allāh brought us and Allāh guided us to Friday. So
there is Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and thus they will follow us on the Day
of Resurrection. We are the last of the people of this world but we will be the
first on the Day of Resurrection, and we will be dealt with before all
others."
[Narrated by Muslim, 856]
Al-Nawawi (rahimahullāh) said:
Al-Qādi 'Iyād (rahimahullāh) said:
The apparent meaning is that it was obligatory for them to venerate Friday but this was not stated clearly;
the matter was left to their own reasoning… But they did not manage to work it
out and Allāh did not guide them to it. It was enjoined clearly upon this
ummah, and was not left to their own reasoning, thus they were blessed with it
… It was narrated that Prophet Mūsa (‘alayhis salam) enjoined Friday upon them and told them of its
virtues, but they disputed with him and argued that Saturday was better, and it was said to him, 'Let them be.' Al-Qādi
(rahimahullāh) said: if there had been a clear command, their arguing with him
would not have been valid, rather it would have been said to him that they were
going against the command. I say: it may be that that was clearly enjoined upon
them but they disputed as to whether it was something they had to adhere to or
they could change it to another day; they decided to change it to another day
and they erred greatly thereby.
It comes as no surprise that Friday was specifically enjoined upon
them and they went against that.
Al-Hāfiz Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani (rahimahullāh) said: How can it be
otherwise when they are the ones who said "We
hear and we disobey"?
It was narrated from Aws ibn Aws (radiyallāhu’anhu) that the
Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: "The best of your days is Friday. On that day Adam (‘alayhis salam) was
created; on that day he died; on that day the Trumpet will be blown and on that day all of creation
will swoon. So send a great deal of
blessings upon me, for your blessings will be shown to me." They said,
"O Messenger of Allāh, how will our blessings upon you be shown to you
when you have turned to dust?" He said, "Allāh has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the
Prophets, peace be upon them."
[Narrated by Abu Dawūd, 1047; classed
as sahīh by Ibn al-Qayyim (rahimahullāh) in his comments on Sunan Abi
Dawūd, 4/273;].
Anas ibn Mālik (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported
that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu `alayhi wasallam) said: “There are three under the shade of
Allāh on a day when there is no shade except His; the one who relieved a
distress from someone from my nation; the one who gave life to my Sunnah and
the one who invoked blessings on me (Salawāt) the most”. [Recorded in the Mustadrak and the
Musnad of al-Firdaus; Al-Hāfiz as-Suyūtī also recorded it in his Burūj
al-Hilāl.]
Abū Hurayrah (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported
the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: “He who sends prayers upon me on Friday eighty times,
Allāh will forgive eighty years of sin”. [Ibn Nu’mān: hasan (good)]
Abū Hurayrah (radiyallāhu’anhu) related
that the Rasūlullāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Increase invoking blessings on me on
Friday, for surely it is presented to me”. [Bukhārī
and At-Tabarānī recorded it and also Ash-Shāfi’īe in his Musnad.]
Another version from Anās Ibn Malik
(radiyallāhu’anhu) that the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Increase invoking blessings upon me on
Friday and the night of Friday. Whoever invokes a single blessing on me, Allāh
will bless him ten times”. [Reported
by al-Hāfidz As-Suyūtī in his al-Saghīr].
Abū ad-Dardā (radiyallāhu’anhu) related
that the Prophet (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Increase invoking blessings upon me on Friday, it is
witnessed by the Angels” [Ibn
Mājah in which al-Haythamī in his Zawā’id said Sahih.]
Imām
Ahmad recorded that Abu Talhah al-Ansārī (radiyallāhu’anhu) said: The Messenger
of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) arose one morning in a very pleasant
mood with signs of good tidings apparent on his face. They said, "O
Messenger of Allāh, we see that you look happy.'' He said, (The angel came to me and told me,
"O Muhammad, would it not please you if your Lord, may He be glorified,
says: “No member of your Ummah sends Salāh upon you but I send Salāh upon him
tenfold, and no member of your Ummah sends greetings of Salām upon you but I
send greetings of Salam upon him tenfold”' I
said, "Of course.'') This was also recorded by An-Nasā’ie Ibn Abi Shaybah,
‘Abd bin Hamīd and at-Tirmidzi; Cited with slightly different wording in Imām
Abu Sulayman al-Jazuli's Dala'il al-Khayrat (The Index of Good Things)
‘Abdullah Ibn Mas’ūd (radiyallāhu‘anhu)
said that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The
closest to me on the Day of Judgment are those who pray (i.e made salawāt) upon
me more.”[Ahmad, Tirmidzī and Ibn Hibbān said
hasan]
It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (radiyallāhu’anhu) said: The Messenger
of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said: "The best day
on which the sun rises is Friday. On it Adam (‘alayhis salam) was created, on
it he was admitted to Paradise and on it he was expelled therefrom."
[Narrated by Muslim, 1410]
This hadīth includes some of the
reasons why Friday is regarded as special.
Al-Nawawi (rahimahullāh) said:
Al-Qaadi 'Iyād (rahimahullāh) said: The
apparent meaning is that these virtues do not mean that Friday is regarded as
special because Adam (‘alayhis salam) was expelled on a Friday and
the Hour will begin on a Friday. Rather it
is meant to explain what momentous events took place and will take place on
this day, so that people will make the most of this day to do righteous deeds,
so as to attain the mercy of Allāh and ward off His punishment. This is the view of Al-Qādi. Abu Bakr Ibn Al-'Arabi (rahimahullāh)
said in his book Al-Ahwadhi fi Sharh al-Tirmidzi: All of these
events are good and add to the virtue of Friday. The expulsion of Adam (‘alayhis salam)
from Paradise is the reason why his offspring and the Messengers, the Prophets,
the righteous and the awliya' exist. He was not expelled from it as such, but
rather it was for a purpose, then he will return to it. With regard to the
Hour beginning on a Friday, the reason is so that the reward may be hastened
for the Prophets, believers in truth, awliya' and others, and their honour and
high status may be made manifest. This hadīth points to the virtues of Friday
and its high status in relation to the other days.
It was narrated that Abu Lubābah Ibn 'Abd
Al-Mundhir (radiyallāhu’anhu) reported, who said: The Prophet
(Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"Friday is the
master of days and the greatest of them before Allāh. It is greater before Allāh than the day of Al-Adha and the day of Al-Fitr.
It has five characteristics: on this day Allāh created Adam, on it He sent Adam
down to the earth, on this day Allāh caused Adam to die, on it there is a time
when a person does not ask Allāh for anything but He gives it to him, so long
as he does not ask for anything harām, and on it the Hour will begin. There is no angel who is close to Allāh, no
heaven, no earth, no wind, no mountain and no sea that does not fear
Friday."
[Narrated by Ibn Mājah, 1084; classed
as hasan]
Al-Sanadi (rahimahullāh) said:
"They fear
Friday" means they fear the onset of the Hour. This indicates that all
created beings are aware of the days and they know that the Day of Resurrection
will come on a Friday.
The virtues of this
day include the following:
1 - On it is Solāh
al-Jumu'ah (Friday prayer), which is the best of prayer.
Allāh says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"O you who believe (the Muslims)
! When the call is proclaimed for the Solāh (prayer) on Friday (Solah Jumu'ah),
come to the remembrance of Allāh [Jumu'ah sermon (Khutbah) and Solāh] and leave
off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if you did but
know!"
[Al-Jumu'ah 62:9]
Abu Hurayrah (radiyallāhu’anhu) narrated
that the Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"The five
daily prayers and from one Jumu'ah to the next is an expiation for whatever
sins come in between them, so long as one does not commit a major sin." [Muslim (233)]
2 - Praying Fajr in
congregation on Fridays is the best prayer that the Muslim can pray during the
week.
It was narrated that Ibn 'Umar (radiyallāhu’anhu)
said:
The Messenger (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi
wasallam) said: "The best prayer
before Allāh is Fajr prayer on Friday in congregation."
[Narrated by Al-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab
al-Emān; classified as sahīh]
One of the special features of Fajr
prayer on Friday is that it is Sunnah to recite Sūrah Al-Sajdah in the first
rak'ah and Sūrah al-Insān in the second.
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (radiyallāhu’anhu) that the Prophet
(Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) used to recite in Fajr prayer in Fridays Alif-Lām-Meem
Tanzīl (Sūrah al-Sajdah) in the first rak'ah and Hal ata
'ala'l-insān hīnun min al-dahr lam yakun shay'an madhkūran (Sūrah
al-Insān) in the second.
[Narrated by al-Bukhāri, 851; Muslim,
880].
Al-Hāfiz Ibn Hajar Al-Asqalani (rahimahullāh)
said:
It was said that the reason why these
two sūrahs are recited is because they mention the creation of Adam (‘alayhis Salam)
and what will happen on the Day of Resurrection,
because that will come to pass on a Friday.
3 - Whoever dies
during the day or night of Friday, Allāh will protect him from the trial of the
grave.
It was narrated that 'Abdallāh Ibn 'Amr
(radiyallāhu’anhu) said: The Messenger of Allāh (Sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) said:
"There is no Muslim who dies during the day of Friday or the night of
Friday but Allāh will protect him from the trial of the grave."
[Narrated by Al-Tirmidzi, 1074; classified as sahīh]
And Allāh Almighty Knows best.
[Via Islam Way Date: 18 Rabi' al-Thani 1429 (4/24/08)]
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