Jumuah Prayer
Allah (SWT) said:
"O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for the prayer on the day
of Friday
come to the remembrance of Allah and leave off business
that is better for you if you did but know!" (Jumuah 62:9)
One of the most important events in the life of the Muslim, which occurs on
a weekly basis, is Salatul Jumuah (the Friday prayer). Indeed, its blessings
are numerous, and its virtues many. Just as Allah has guided Muslims to the
best month (the month of Ramadan), the best days of the year (the 10 days of
Dhul Hijjah), the best nights of the year (the last 10 nights of Ramadan),
and the best night (the night of Qadr), He has guided us to the best day of
the week – Jumuah (Friday). With such bounties bestowed upon us by our Lord,
it is always vital for the Muslim to pursue the knowledge of such blessed
occasions in order to increase and strengthen one’s worship of Allah, Most
High. Hence, this week’s khutbah shall focus on the superiority and virtues
of Jumuah, and its status in the Shariah.
THE SUPERIORITY OF JUMUAH
There are several hadith which illustrate the significance and superiority
of Friday. Indeed, had the previous peoples not differed about Friday, they
would have also received the bounty of Friday. Narrated Abu Huraira, the
Messenger of Allah (saw) said, "We are the last (of the people to come) but
the first (on the Day of Resurrection). They were given their books before
us and we were given it after them. This day was prescribed for them but
they differed about it, so Allah, Most High, guided us to it. It is Friday.
The other people follow us after it, the Jews tomorrow and the Christians
day after tomorrow," (Sahih Bukhari & Muslim). In another version of this
hadith, the Prophet (saw) said, "We will be the first to enter Paradise,"
(Sahih Muslim).
In other hadith, the Prophet (saw) describes its significance and
superiority through certain special characteristics attached to it. Narrated
Abu Huraira, the Prophet (saw) said, "The best day upon which the sun rises
is Friday. On that day Adam was created and on the day he entered Paradise,
and on that day he was expelled from Paradise. And the Hour will be
established on Friday," (Sahih Muslim).
Abu Lubanah al-Badri related that the Prophet (saw) said, "The most
prominent of the days [literally: the leader of the days] is the day of
Jumu’ah and the most honoured in Allah’s sight, and it is more honoured in
Allah’s sight than the day of breaking the fast or the day of Sacrifice. It
has five significant merits: Allah created Adam on this day; on this day
Allah sent Adam down to earth; on this day, Allah caused Adam to die; on
this day, there is a time during which if anyone asks anything of Allah it
will be granted to him unless he asks for something which is forbidden; on
this day, the Hour will be established. There are no angels close to Allah
or sky or earth or wind or mountain or sea who are not worried concerning
the day of Jumu’ah," (Ahmad, Ibn Majah, hadith hasan).
Hence, Jumuah represents an eminently significant occasion for the Believer.
Indeed, if the angels of Allah are so worried, as indicated in the preceding
hadith, shouldn’t we as Believers also express such grave concern for it?
THE VIRTUES OF JUMUAH
It is absolutely imperative that Muslims view this day and Salatul Jumuah in
very serious fashion. Certainly, the proper performance of the Friday prayer
yields significant virtues and forgiveness from Allah. Furthermore, being
lackadaisical and negligent with respect to the Friday prayer leads to one’s
heart being sealed by Allah, as illustrated by a hadith of the Prophet
(saw), to be quoted later.
Narrated Abu Huraira, the Prophet (saw) said, "Whoever makes ablution and
excels in performing the ablution, then goes to the mosque and listens and
remains quiet, then he will be forgiven whatever he did from that Friday to
the previous Friday plus an additional three days," (Sahih Muslim). Another
narration in Ibn Majah adds, "as long as he does not commit a major sin."
The scholars of Islam interpret the forgiveness, of one’s deeds from the
week, to be in reference to one’s minor sins, as understood through the
actual texts of hadith, where one is to still refrain from the major sins
indicating the expiation applies only to the minor sins.
In another hadith, the Prophet (saw) said, "the five daily prayers, one
Friday prayer to the next Friday prayer, from Ramadan to the next Ramadan,
they all expiate whatever is between them as long as the person avoids the
great sins," (Sahih Muslim). Additionally, the Prophet (saw) said, "If a
person performs five deeds in a day, Allah will record him as one of the
inhabitants of Paradise. Those five deeds are: visiting a sick person,
witnesssing a funeral prayer, fasting the day, going early to the Friday
Prayer and freeing a slave," (Ibn Hibban). In this last narration, the
Prophet (saw) stresses the gravity of arriving early for Salatul Jumuah,
with the tremendous blessings which ensue.
There are numerous other hadith, found in different collections of hadith,
which demonstrate that if one performs the Friday prayer properly, by
suitably preparing for it and not disturbing others, the sins since the
previous Friday would be forgiven. For example, Salman al-Farsi related that
the Prophet (saw) said, "No man makes ghusl (takes bath) on Friday and
purifies what he can and puts on some oil of his oil and applies some
perfume from his house, and then goes out without coming between two people,
and then prays what has been written for him to pray, then remains quiet
while the Imam speaks, but he will be forgiven for what he did between that
Friday and the previous one," (Sahih Bukhari).
It is indeed unfortunate, that despite the emphasis on the significance and
virtues of Jumuah, that there are still those who do not deem the Friday
prayer as important. Such people may neglect Jumuah, without any excuse,
except that they find themselves busy. Others may just not consider it
important enough to attend. Yet, such people are surely being heedless, not
just of Jumuah, but of Allah and His Messenger (saw). Indeed, the Prophet
(saw) once said, "I considered appointing someone to lead the prayer, then I
would go to those men who did not attend the Friday prayer and burn down
their houses upon them," (Sahih Muslim).
WARNING AGAINST ITS NEGLIGENCE
The Prophet (saw) sternly warned against missing The Friday prayer for no
valid reason. Indeed, such a person may have his heart sealed if he
continues to miss Salatul Jumuah. The Prophet (saw) said, "The people must
cease from not performing the Friday prayer or Allah will put a seal over
their hearts and they will then become from the heedless," (Sahih Muslim).
On another occasion, the Prophet (saw) said, "Whoever misses three Friday
prayers because he was lackadaisical concerning them, Allah will place a
seal over his heart," (Ahmad, Abu Dawud). Also, the Prophet (saw) said,
"Whoever misses three Friday prayers without any valid excuse is a
hypocrite," (Ibn Hibban and Ibn Khuzaima). Ibn Abbas stated, "If someone
misses 3 consecutive Friday prayers, he has hurled Islam behind him," (Abu
Ya’la).
From the preceding selection of hadith, one can easily see that there is
tremendous bounty in attending Salatul Jumuah. The reward is so magnificent
that no Muslim should ever consider not attending, unless he has a sound and
valid excuse, such as travelling or illness. The status of Jumuah in Islam
is so immense that Allah will seal the hearts of those who refuse to attend
the prayer. Hence, it is quite obvious that attending the Friday prayer
extends beyond merely performing an act of goodness, it is critically
crucial, as it saves one from having his heart sealed by Allah.
THE OBLIGATION OF JUMUAH
It is certainly clear from many evidences that the Friday prayer is fard
‘ain (a personal obligation to be fulfilled). Its obligatory status is
proven from the Qur’an, Sunnah and ‘ijma (consensus) of all scholars.
Allah instructs us in His Qur’an, "O you who believe, when the call is
proclaimed for the prayer on Friday, come to the remembrance of Allah and
leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if you
but knew," (s.62:9) The wording in this verse is in the imperative form,
which always implies obligation unless proven otherwise. Hence, this is an
order by our Lord, to attend Jumuah.
Furthermore, there are the aforementioned hadith of the Prophet (saw)
promising stern punishment for those who fail to attend. This is another
indication of its obligatory status. Indeed, the Prophet (saw) considered
burning down the houses of those who did not attend Jumuah. Such an action
by the Prophet (saw) would only be done with respect to an obligatory act.
Moreover, the Prophet (saw) said, "The Friday prayer is a duty and
obligation upon every Muslim in the community except four: a slave, a woman,
a child (non-adult), or a sick person," (Abu Dawud). Hence, if anyone who is
obliged to attend Jumuah, fails to do so, he has committed a grave sin.
One of the early scholars, renowned for compiling the consensus of the
scholars of Islam, Ibn al-Mundhir, in his al-‘Ijma, states that the scholars
are entirely agreed that "The Friday prayer is obligatory upon all free,
adult, non-travelling men who do not have a valid excuse (for not
attending)."
THOSE WHO ARE EXEMPTED FROM JUMUAH
The Shariah has exempted the following people from the obligation of Jumuah:
Women; as illustrated through the preceding hadith from Abu Dawud. While
there is nothing wrong for women to attend, they are not at all obligated.
Certainly, the prayer of the women is always better in the homes, as
indicated through the hadith of the Prophet (saw), who said, "Their houses
are better for them." Yet, if the women wish to attend, they should not be
prevented from attending the mosques, as explicitly stated by the Prophet
(saw) in a hadith located in Sahih Muslim.
Children; also cited in the aforementioned hadith from Abu Dawud.
Those who are ill; covered by the hadith from Abu Dawud. Hence, if one is
significantly ill, so as to prevent coming to masjid, or going out at all,
then such a person is exempt from Jumuah.
Those who are travelling; The Prophet (saw) said, "There is no Friday prayer
upon the traveller," (al-Tabarani, al-Daraqutni, Abdul-Razzaq).
Those facing environmental constraints; If there occur some severe
environmental constraints, or harsh weather, so as to prevent travel to the
masjid, then one may be exempted from Jumuah.
Aside from the preceding categories, all other Muslims are obligated to
attend Salatul Jumuah, and one’s failure to comply with the Shariah, would
result in severe consequences, as demonstrated by all that has preceded.
May Allah protect and preserve us with this Deen. May Allah make us of those
who are steadfast. May Allah make us of those who are always mindful of our
duties in Islam, and may he protect us from falling into heedlessness. May
Allah help us to be more mindful of Jumuah and reap its full rewards.AMIN.
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