In The Quran, Surah Al-Jumu’ah ayah 9 it says,
“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.”
Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The Friday prayer is obligatory on him who hears the call. [1]
The Prophet in his teachings wanted to emphasize the importance of Friday Salat, so he said that sometimes he wished someone else could lead the jummat instead of him. That way he would be free to collect firewood and go burn the houses of those who did not come to congregation. [2]
In Sunan Abu Dawud 1052, it was also reported that those who miss three Friday prayers because of laziness then Allah will print a stamp on his heart.
He will have to answer for why these prayers were missed.
Mecca’s economy was booming and had many tradesman and merchants. The people obviously had incentives to spend time transacting and growing their wealth. This is why Allah subhana wa ta ala clarified that time spent with Allah is “better than diversion and than a transaction, and Allah is the best of providers”.
The modern day version is no different, people should schedule their lunch breaks around Jummah time so they do not miss the prayer. It is not excusable to want to focus on your career over going to Friday congregation.
We have to realize without Allah’s will nothing is possible, we have to put trust Allah and believe that through our devotion to him he will be sufficient for us.
Importance of Friday
The best day the sun rises over is Friday; on it Allah created Adam. On it, he was made to enter paradise, on it he was expelled from it, and the Last Hour will take place on no other day than Friday. [4]
On Friday, there is a blessed hour where a believer can make prayer asking Allah for anything and Allah will certainly meet his demand. [5]
In another hadith, it tells us the rewards and virtues to those who recite Surah Kahf on Friday:
From Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri, who said: “Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on the night of Jumu’ah, will have a light that will stretch between him and the Ancient House (the Ka’bah).” (Narrated by Al-Darimi, 3407. This hadeeth was classed as Sahih by Shaykh al-Albani in Sahih Al-Jami, 6471)
Although the next hadith narration is from a weak chain there is still merit to reciting Surah Ad-Dukhan.
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever recites Ha Mim Ad-Dukhan during the night, in the morning seventy thousand angels seek forgiveness for him.” [6]
Let’s do some Math…
In a single year we are given the opportunity to preform fajr, zuhr, asr, maghrib and isha for a total of 1773 times. Each instance is a chance for us to grow closer to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. 1773 times to show our passion and love towards Islam and to remember him.
In a single year we are just given 52 times to engage in the Jummah prayer. That’s it, 52 times in a year.
Let’s learn to make the most of this opportunity. We should not let a Jummah prayer go by without having squeezed every ounce of blessings that we can. Friday’s are a chance for us to gain many goods deeds and to ask Allah for his forgiveness.
We will love ourselves on the day of judgement for having the discipline and foresight to take advantage of this time.
References:
[1] Narrated Abdullah ibn Amr: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: The Friday prayer is obligatory on him who hears the call. Abu Dawud said: This tradition has been transmitted by a group of narrators from Sufyan. They did not narrate it as a statement of the Prophet (ﷺ); only Qabisah has transmitted it as saying of the Prophet (ﷺ). Sunan Abi Dawud hadith 1056
[2] Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “By Him in Whose Hand my life is, I sometimes thought of giving orders for firewood to be collected, then for proclaiming the Adhan for Salat. Then I would appoint an Imam to lead Salat, and then go to the houses of those who do not come to perform Salat in congregation, and set fire to their houses on them.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]. From Riyad As Salihin book reference: Book 9, Hadith 1068
[3] Narrated Al-Ja’d ad-Damri: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: He who leaves the Friday prayer (continuously) for three Friday on account of slackness, Allah will print a stamp on his heart Grade: Hasan Sahih (Al-Albani). Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 1052
[4] Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (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 Hour will not be established except on Friday.” Grade: Sahih (Darussalam) Reference: Jami At-Tirmidhi 488 and Sahih Muslim 854 a
[5] Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) (p.b.u.h) talked about Friday and said, “There is an hour (opportune time) on Friday and if a Muslim gets it while praying and asks something from Allah, then Allah will definitely meet his demand.” And he (the Prophet) pointed out the shortness of that time with his hands. Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 935
[6] Grade: Da’if (Darussalam) English reference : Vol. 5, Book 42, Hadith 2888
