Tafsir

Al-Jumu`ah (Friday), and the Orders and Etiquette for Friday

Friday is called Al-Jumu`ah because it is derived from Al-Jam`, literally, gathering. The people of Islam gather weekly, on every Friday in the major places of worship. It was during Friday when Allah finished the creation, the sixth day, during which Allah created the heavens and earth. During Friday, Allah created Adam, and he was placed in Paradise, and ironically, it was a Friday when he was taken out of Paradise. It will be on a Friday when the Last Hour will commence. There is an hour during Friday, wherein no faithful servant asks Allah for something good, but Allah will give him what he asked for. All of this is based upon Hadiths in the authenic collections. In the ancient language Friday was called, `Arubah. It is a fact that previous nations were informed about Friday, but they were led astray from it. The Jews chose Saturday for their holy day, but Adam was not created on Saturday. The Christians chose Sunday, which is the day the creation was initiated. Allah chose Friday for this Ummah, because it is the day the creation was finished.

Al-Bukhari and Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,«نَحْنُ الْاخِرُونَ السَّابِقُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ، بَيْدَ أَنَّهُمْ أُوتُوا الْكِتَابَ مِنْ قَبْلِنَا، ثُمَّ إِنَّ هَذَا يَوْمَهُمُ الَّذِي فَرَضَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِمْ فَاخْتَلَفُوا فِيهِ فَهَدَانَا اللهُ لَهُ، فَالنَّاسُ لَنَا فِيهِ تَبَعٌ، الْيَهُودُ غَدًا وَالنَّصَارَى بَعْدَ غَدٍ»(We are the last (to come) but the first on the Day of Resurrection, though the former nations were given the Scriptures before us. And this was their day (Friday) the celebration of which was made compulsory for them, but they differed about it.

So, Allah gave us guidance to it, and all other people are coming after us: the Jews tomorrow and the Christians the day after tomorrow." This is the wording of Al-Bukhari in another narration of Muslim;«أَضَلَّ اللهُ عَنِ الْجُمُعَةِ مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَنَا، فَكَانَ لِلْيَهُودِ يَوْمُ السَّبْتِ، وَكَانَ لِلنَّصَارَى يَوْمُ الْأَحَدِ، فَجَاءَ اللهُ بِنَا فَهَدَانَا اللهُ لِيَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ، فَجَعَلَ الْجُمُعَةَ وَالسَّبْتَ وَالْأَحَدَ، وَكَذَلِكَ هُمْ تَبَعٌ لَنَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ نَحْنُ الْاخِرُونَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الدُّنْيَا، وَالْأَوَّلُونَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ الْمَقْضِيُّ بَيْنَهُمْ قَبْلَ الْخَلَائِقِ»(Allah diverted those who were before us from Friday. For the Jews there was Saturday, and for the Christians there was Sunday. Allah then brought us and guided us to Friday. He made them; Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and it is in this order they will come after us on the Day of Resurrection.

We are the last of among the people of this world and the first among the created to be judged on the Day of Resurrection.)Necessity of the Remembrance of Allah on Friday, by attending the Khutbah and the Prayer

Allah commanded the believers to gather to worship Him on Friday,يأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْاْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ(O you who believe! When the call is proclaimed for the Salah on Al-Jumu`ah (Friday), then hasten (Fas`aw) to the remembrance of Allah) meaning, go to it and head for it. The meaning of Sa`y (hasten) here does not refer to walking quickly. It only refers to the importance of it. `Umar bin Al-Khattab and Ibn Mas`ud - may Allah be pleased with them - recited it; (فَامْضُوا إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللهِ) ("Then proceed to the remembrance of Allah.") As for walking in haste to the prayer, that was indeed prohibited, since it was recorded in the Two Sahihs from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said,«إِذَا سَمِعْتُمُ الْإِقَامَةَ فَامْشُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّكِينَةَ وَالْوَقَارَ وَلَا تُسْرِعُوا، فَمَا أَدْرَكْتُمْ فَصَلُّوا وَمَا فَاتَكُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا»(When you hear the Iqamah, proceed to offer the prayer with calmness and solemnity and do not rush.

And pray whatever you catch, and complete whatever you have missed.) This is the wording with Al-Bukhari. Abu Qatadah said, "While we were praying behind the Messenger of Allah ﷺ he heard commotion. At the end of the prayer, the Prophet said;«مَا شَأْنُكُمْ»(What is the matter with you) They said, `We hastened to the prayer.' The Prophet said,«فَلَا تَفْعَلُوا، إِذَا أَتَيْتُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَامْشُوا وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّكِينَةَ فَمَا أَدْرَكْتُمْ فَصَلُّوا وَمَا فَاتَكُمْ فَأَتِمُّوا»(Don't do that. When you come for prayer, there should be tranquility upon you. Pray what remains of the prayer and complete what you have missed.)" The Two Sahihs collected this Hadith. Al-Hasan commented, "By Allah! Hastening to the prayer is not accomplished by the feet. Indeed they were prohibited from coming to prayer without tranquility and dignity.

Rather it is about the hearts, the intention, and the submission." Qatadah said,فَاسْعَوْاْ إِلَى ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ"(then hasten to the remembrance of Allah) means that you have to hasten to the prayer with your heart and actions, and walk to it." It is recommended for those coming to the Friday prayer to perform Ghusl (taking bath) before they come. It is collected in the Two Sahihs that `Abdullah bin `Umar said that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said,«إِذَا جَاءَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْجُمُعَةَ فَلْيَغْتَسِلْ»(When one of you comes to the Friday prayer, then let him perform bath.) The Two Sahihs recorded that Abu Sa`id said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,«غُسْلُ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ وَاجِبٌ عَلى كُلِّ مُحْتَلِمٍ»(Ghusl on the day of Jumu`ah is Wajib (required) from every Muhtalim. ) Abu Hurayrah narrated that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said,«حَقٌّ لله عَلى كُلِّ مُسْلِمٍ أَنْ يَغْتَسِلَ فِي كُلِّ سَبْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ، يَغْسِلُ رَأْسَهُ وَجَسَدَهُ»(It is Allah's right on every Muslim to bathe during every seven days, by washing his head and body.) Muslim collected this Hadith.

Jabir narrated that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said,«عَلى كُلِّ رَجُلٍ مُسْلِمٍ فِي كُلِّ سَبْعَةِ أَيَّامٍ غُسْلُ يَوْمٍ وَهُوَ يَوْمُ الْجُمُعَةِ»(Within every seven days, every Muslim man has the obligation to perform Ghusl at least one day, the day of Jumu`ah.) Ahmad, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Hibban collected this Hadith.

Virtues of Jumu`ah

Imam Ahmad recorded that `Aws bin `Aws Ath-Thaqafi said that he heard Allah's Messenger ﷺ say,«مَنْ غَسَّلَ وَاغْتَسَلَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَبَكَّرَ وَابْتَكَرَ وَمَشَى وَلَمْ يَرْكَبْ، وَدَنَا مِنَ الْإِمَامِ وَاسْتَمَعَ وَلَمْ يَلْغُ، كَانَ لَهُ بِكُلِّ خُطْوَةٍ أَجْرُ سَنَةٍ صِيَامُهَا وَقِيَامُهَا»(Whoever performs Ghusl (well) on the day of Jumu`ah, leaves early, walking not riding, and sits close to the Imam and listens without talking, will earn the reward of fasting and performing standing (in prayer) for an entire year for every step he takes.) This Hadith has various chains of narration, the compilers of the Four Sunan collected it, and At-Tirmidhi graded it Hasan.

The Two Sahihs also recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,«مَنِ اغْتَسَلَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ غُسْلَ الْجَنَابَةِ ثُمَّ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الْأُولَى فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ بَدَنَةً، وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الثَّانِيَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ بَقَرَةً، وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الثَّالِثَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ كَبْشًا أَقْرَنَ، وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الرَّابِعَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ دَجَاجَةً، وَمَنْ رَاحَ فِي السَّاعَةِ الْخَامِسَةِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَرَّبَ بَيْضَةً، فَإِذَا خَرَجَ الْإِمَامُ حَضَرَتِ الْمَلَائِكَةُ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الذِّكْرَ»(Any person who takes a bath on Friday like the bath for sexual impurity and then goes for the prayer in the first hour, it is as if he had sacrificed a camel. Whoever goes in the second hour, it is as if he had sacrificed a cow. Whoever goes in the third hour, then it is as if he had sacrificed a horned ram. If one goes in the fourth hour, then it is as if he had sacrificed a hen. Whoever goes in the fifth hour, then it is as if he had offered an egg.

When the Imam appears, the angels present themselves to listen to Allah's remembrance.) It is recommended that one cleans his body, performs Ghusl, wears his best clothes, applies perfume and uses Siwak (tooth stick) for Jumu`ah.

We mentioned that Abu Sa`id narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,«غُسْلُ يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ وَاجِبٌ عَلى كُلِّ مُحْتَلِمٍ وَالسِّوَاكُ وَأَنْ يَمَسَّ مِنْ طِيبِ أَهْلِهِ»(Ghusl on the day of Jumu`ah is Wajib (required) from every Muhtalim and also using Siwak and applying some of his household's perfume.) Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari said that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, «مَنِ اغْتَسَلَ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ وَمَسَّ مِنْ طِيبِ أَهْلِهِ إِنْ كَانَ عِنْدَهُ وَلَبِسَ مِنْ أَحْسَنِ ثِيَابِهِ ثُمَّ خَرَجَ حَتْى يَأْتِيَ الْمَسْجِدَ فَيَرْكَعَ إِنْ بَدَا لَهُ وَلَمْ يُؤْذِ أَحَدًا، ثُمَّ أَنْصَتَ إِذَا خَرَجَ إِمَامُهُ حَتْى يُصَلِّيَ كَانَتْ كَفَّارَةً لِمَا بَيْنَهَا وَبَيْنَ الْجُمُعَةِ الْأُخْرَى»(Whoever performs Ghusl on Friday and applies perfume, if he has any, wears his best clothes, then goes to the Masjid and performs voluntary prayer, if he wishes, does not bother anyone, listens when the Imam appears until he starts the prayer.

Then all of this will be an expiation for whatever occurs between that Friday and the next Friday.) Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah recorded in their Sunans that `Abdullah bin Salam said that he heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, while on the Minbar:«مَا عَلَى أَحَدِكُمْ لَوِ اشْتَرَى ثَوْبَيْنِ لِيَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ سِوَى ثَوْبَيْ مِهْنَتِهِ»(What harm would it cause if one of you bought two garments for the day of Jumu`ah, other than the garment he wears daily) `A'ishah said that during a speech he gave on a Friday when he saw people wearing Nimar garments, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,«مَا عَلَى أَحَدِكُمْ إِنْ وَجَدَ سَعَةً أَنْ يَتَّخِذَ ثَوْبَيْنِ لِجُمُعَتِهِ سِوَى ثَوْبَيْ مِهْنَتِهِ»(When one of you has wealth, he should keep two garments for Friday, other than the two garments he has for his daily wear.) Ibn Majah collected this Hadith.

The Meaning of the Call in the Ayah is the Adhan that precedes the Khutbah

Allah said,إِذَا نُودِىَ لِلصَّلَوةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ(When the call is proclaimed for the Salah on Friday,) referring to the Adhan which was called, during the time of the Prophet , when he came out of his house and sat on the Minbar. The Adhan would be called before the Prophet near the door of the Masjid. As for the earlier Adhan that the Leader of the faithful, `Uthman bin Affan added, it was done because the Muslims increased in number during his time. Al-Bukhari recorded that As-Sa'ib bin Yazid said, "In the lifetime of the Prophet , Abu Bakr and `Umar, the Adhan for the Friday prayer was pronounced while the Imam sat on the pulpit. But during `Uthman's later time when the Muslims increased in number, an additional call was pronouced upon Az-Zawra', meaning the Adhan was called upon the house which was called Az-Zawra"' Az-Zawra' was the tallest house in Al-Madinah near the Masjid.

Prohibiting buying and selling after the Call on Friday, and the Exhortation to seek Provisions after it

Allah said,وَذَرُواْ الْبَيْعَ(and leave off business.) means, hastening to the remembrance of Allah and abandoning business, when the call to the Friday prayer is made. Therefore, the scholars of Islam agree, it is prohibited for Muslims to engage in business transactions after the second Adhan. Allah's statement,ذَلِكُمْ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ إِن كُنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ(That is better for you if you did but know!) means, `your abandoning buying and selling, and instead, corcentrating your attention to Allah's remembrance and the prayer are better for you in this life and the Hereafter, if you but knew.' Allah's statement,فَإِذَا قُضِيَتِ الصَّلَوةُ(Then when the Salah is complete,) means, when the Friday prayer is finished,فَانتَشِرُواْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ وَابْتَغُواْ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ(you may disperse through the land, and seek the bounty of Allah,) After Allah forbade Muslims from working after hearing the Adhan and ordered them to gather for the Friday prayer, He allowed them to spread throughout the earth and seek bounty after the prayer is finished.

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded that when the Friday prayer finished, `Irak bin Malik would stand by the gate of the Masjid and invoke Allah, saying, "O Allah! I have accepted and complied with Your Call, performed the prayer You ordered and dispersed as You ordered me. Therefore, grant me of Your favor and You are the best of those who grant provisions." Allah's statement,وَاذْكُرُواْ اللَّهَ كَثِيراً لَّعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ(and remember Allah much, that you may be successful.) means, while you are buying and selling, giving and taking, remember Allah much and do not let this life busy you from what benefits you in the Hereafter.

There is a Hadith that states,«مَنْ دَخَلَ سُوقًا مِنَ الْأَسْوَاقِ فَقَالَ: لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، كَتَبَ اللهُ لَهُ أَلْفَ أَلْفِ حَسَنَةٍ وَمَحَا عَنْهُ أَلْفَ أَلْفِ سَيِّئَةٍ»(Whoever enters a marketplace and says, "La ilaha illallah, He is alone without partners, His is the sovreignty and His is the praise, and He is Able to do all things." Then Allah will record a thousand-thousand (a million) good deeds for him and will erase a thousand-thousand evil deeds.) Mujahid said, "A servant (of Allah) will not be among those who remember Allah often, until he does so while standing, sitting and lying down."

Commentaryیا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ‌ اللَّـهِ وَذَرُ‌وا الْبَيْعَO you who believe, when the call for salah (prayer) is proclaimed on Friday, hasten for the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business…[ 62:9]The Arabic word for Friday is ‘Yaum-ul-Jumu’ ah1 and is so called because it is the day of congregation for Muslims. Allah created the heavens, the earth and the entire universe in six days, and Friday was the last day when the creation was completed. Prophet ‘Adam (علیہ السلام) was created on that day; he was admitted into Paradise on that day; he was sent down to the earth on that day; the Last Hour or the Day of Resurrection will occur on that day; and one the same day there is moment when supplications are readily accepted. All this is established on the authority of authentic Traditions. [ Ibn Kathir ]Allah had appointed Friday as the day of congregation and festivity for the people, but the previous nations were not fortunate enough to appoint it as their sacred day.

The Jews regarded Saturday as their day of congregation. The Christians made Sunday their day of congregation. Allah gave this Ummah the ability to elect Friday as their day of congregation. [ as transmitted by Bukhari and Muslim on the authority Abu Hurairah ؓ as quoted by Ibn Kathir ]During the Days of Ignorance, Friday was known as ‘Yaum-ul-‘Arubah’. The first Arab to change the name of this day to ‘Yaum-ul-Jumu’ ah’ was Ka’ b Ibn Lu’ ayy. The Quraish used to gather or congregate on this day, and Ka’ b ibn Lu’ ayy used to deliver his sermon. This happened 560 years before the advent of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . Ka’ b ibn Lu’ ayy was among the Holy Prophet’ s ﷺ forefathers. Even during the Days of Ignorance, Allah had kept him away from idol worship and granted him the ability to believe in the Oneness of Allah. He has also given people the glad tidings of the advent of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . His greatness among Quraish may be judged from the fact that the year of his death, which occurred 560 years before the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، was marked as the new calendar era for computation of dates.

In Arabia, at first the calendar era was established when Ka’ bah was built and dates were computed accordingly. Then Ka’ b ibn Lu’ ayy’ s death marked another era, and the date were computed on that basis. When the Event of the Elephant occurred in the year of the birth of the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، that set in a new era of Arab calendar, and the dates were computed accordingly. In sum, the importance of ‘Yaum-ul-Jumu’ ah’ had been that set in a new era of Arab calendar, and the dates were computed accordingly. In sum, the importance of ‘Yaum-ul-Jumu’ ah’ had been recognized in Arabia before Islam in the time of Ka’ b ibn Lu’ ayy, to whom is ascribed the naming of the day as ‘Yaum-ul-Jumu’ ah’. [ Mazhari ] According to some narrations, the Ansar of Madinah used to gather and pray, before migration, on Friday before Jumu’ ah prayer became obligatory, and they organized this on the basis of their own Ijtihad (assessment).

[ as transmitted by Abd-ur-Razzaq with an authentic chain of narrators on the authority of Muhammad Ibn Sirin, as quoted by Mazhari’إِذَا نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ (…when the call for salah (prayer) is proclaimed on Friday, hasten for the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business…62:9). The word nida’ refers to adhan or call for prayer. In the sentence فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ‌ اللَّـهِ (…hasten to Allah’ s remembrance…) the word sa’ y means to ‘run or rush’ as well as to ‘take care of a task consciously’. In this context, the word is used in the latter sense, because the Holy Prophet ﷺ has prohibited to go to prayer running or walking quickly. He said when anyone hears the iqamah, he should proceed to offer the prayer with calmness and dignity. The verse implies that when believers are called ot prayer on the Day of Jumu’ ah, they should proceed to the remembrance of Allah, that is, they should carefully go to the mosque for Jumu’ ah prayer and its Sermon.

Just as a person running towards something does not pay heed to anything else, a Muslim should not pay attention, after the call, to anything besides adhan and khutbah.[ ibn Kathir ]. The phrase ذِکرِ اللہِ (…Allah’ s remembrance…) could refer to Jumu’ ah prayer as well as of Jumu’ ah Sermon, which is one of the conditions of the validity of Jumu’ ah prayer. Therefore, the phrase may most appropriately be interpreted as referring to the package of Jumu’ ah prayer and Jumu’ ah Sermon. [ Mazhari and others ]وَذَرُ‌وا الْبَيْعَ (…and leave off business…) The literal meaning of the word ‘bai’ is ‘sale’. Although the intent is to ban all activities of buying and selling, the verse has mentioned ‘sale’ only, because when one aspect of trading is abandoned, the other aspect would automatically come to an end. If there is no one to sell, there will be no one to buy, because trade is a bilateral transaction.

The verse under comment indicates that the bar on the activities of buying and selling after the adhan of Jumu’ ah needs to be implemented for particular purposes in such a way that the shops are closed at that particular time, so that all trading activities automatically come to a halt. The underlying wisdom is that there are uncountable number of customers and buyers, and it would not be possible to stop them all. The sellers and shopkeepers, however, are limited and they can be stopped. It they are stopped from selling, the buyers automatically will stop buying. Hence, the verse deemed it sufficient to impose the bar on ‘sale’.

Special Note

The purport of the verse is to forbid, after the adhan of Jumu’ ah, all activities that hamper preparation for Jumu’ ah prayer and sermon activities such as trading, agriculture, labour or anything else, - but the Qur’ an mentions only selling. This could imply that only people living in towns and cities are commanded to offer the Jumu’ ah prayer, and not the people residing in small villages, rural areas and jungles. Thus activities that are carried out by people in towns and cities, such as agricultural activities, are generally carried out in rural areas where Jumu’ ah prayer is not required. Therefore, such activities are not mentioned here. However, The jurists of the Ummah unanimously agree that the word ‘ba’ occurring in the verse does not refer only to ‘selling’ but to all such activities that can hinder preparing for and proceeding to the Jumu’ ah prayer. Thus eating, drinking, sleeping, talking, and even studying are forbidden after Jumu’ ah adhan. Only activities related to Jumu’ ah may be carried out.

Adhan of Jumu’ ah

In the beginning, there was only one adhan for Jumu’ ah, which was called at the time of the Khutbah in front of the Imam. This situation existed in the time of the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، and this practice continued in the time of Sayyidna Abu Bakr and Umar ؓ . However, the Muslim population grew by leaps and bounds in the time of Sayyidna ‘Usman ؓ and spread in the outskirts of Madinah. The adhan that was given in front of the Imam at the time of khutbah could not be heard by the large Muslim population in the distance. He therefore initiated another adhan that was called in the trading area further from the mosque at his house in az-Zaura’, which could be heard throughout Madinah. None of the noble Companions objected to this. Thus this first adhan by consensus of the Companions became instituted.

All trading and other activities that were forbidden after the Jumu’ ah adhan before the Imam are now forbidden after the Jumu’ ah adhan before the Imam are now forbidden after the first adhan introduced by Sayyidna ‘Usman ؓ ، taking into account the wordings of the Qur’ an نُودِيَ لِلصَّلَاةِ مِن يَوْمِ الْجُمُعَةِ (when the call for salah (prayer) is proclaimed on Friday,). Details are available in the canonical collections of Traditions, commentaries and jurisprudence. There is no disagreement on the issue.

There is consensus of the entire Ummah that on Friday Salat-ul-Jumu’ ah shall be performed instead of Salat-uz-duhur and there is also consensus that is not like the five daily prayers. There are some additional pre-requisites attached to it. The five daily prayers can be performed in congregation with only two individuals. Salat-ul-Jumu’ ah, on the other hand, is not valid without congregation. There is disagreement among the jurists about the number of individuals that can constitute a congregation. The five daily prayers may validly be held anywhere, on the sea, ocean, and mountains or in the jungles. But Salat-ul-Jumu’ ah, on the other hand, is not valid in jungles or deserts according to any of the jurists. It is not obligatory on women, the sickly or the wayfarers. The latter should perform Duhur prayer instead of Jumu’ ah. There is disagreement among the jurists about the type of locality where Jumu’ ah prayer may be held. According to Imam shafi’ i, Salat-ul-Jumu’ ah is not valid in a habitation where forty free, sane and adult men reside.

If there are less than forty such men, it is not valid. According to Imam Malik (رح) ، the habitation must be such as to have houses adjacent to one another, and it must also have a bazaar or a market-place. According to Imam Abu Hanifah (رح) ، for Salat-ul-Jumu’ ah to be held validly the following pre-requisites are necessary. The habitation must be a town, city or a very large village which has streets, market places, a Muslim ruler and a judge who can restore the rights of people and decide cases of dispute.

This is no occasion to go into details of the issue and proofs thereof. Venerable scholars have written separate books on the topic and clarified the position.

In brief, the generality of the command to attend Salat-ul-Jumu’ ah is restricted to a specific sector of the addressees. It is not obligatory on every member of the Muslim community, but for it to be compulsory, there are some conditions and pre-requisites. The disagreement exists only in identifying the pre-requisites. But where the pre-requisites apply and Salat-ul-Jumu’ ah becomes obligatory according to any school of thought, it is very important to observe it, and there is grave warnings for those who neglect it without any vaid reason in terms of Shari’ ah. On the other hand, there is a promise of great reward and blessings for those who offer in fulfilling all its conditions and pre-requisites.

إنما سميت الجمعة جمعة ; لأنها مشتقة من الجمع ، فإن أهل الإسلام يجتمعون فيه في كل أسبوع مرة بالمعابد الكبار وفيه كمل جميع الخلائق ، فإنه اليوم السادس من الستة التي خلق الله فيها السماوات والأرض . وفيه خلق آدم وفيه أدخل الجنة ، وفيه أخرج منها . وفيه تقوم الساعة . وفيه ساعة لا يوافقها عبد مؤمن يسأل الله فيها خيرا إلا أعطاه إياه كما ثبتت بذلك الأحاديث الصحاحوقال ابن أبي حاتم : حدثنا الحسن بن عرفة ، حدثنا عبيدة بن حميد ، عن منصور ، عن أبي معشر ، عن إبراهيم ، عن علقمة ، عن قرثع الضبي ، حدثنا سلمان قال : قال أبو القاسم - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " يا سلمان ما يوم الجمعة ؟ " . قلت : الله ورسوله أعلم . فقال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " يوم جمع فيه أبواك - أو أبوكم "وقد روي عن أبي هريرة من كلامه ، نحو هذا ، فالله أعلم .وقد كان يقال له في اللغة القديمة يوم العروبة .

وثبت أن الأمم قبلنا أمروا به فضلوا عنه ، واختار اليهود يوم السبت الذي لم يقع فيه خلق واختار النصارى يوم الأحد الذي ابتدئ فيه الخلق ، واختار الله لهذه الأمة يوم الجمعة الذي أكمل الله فيه الخليقة ، كما أخرجه البخاري ، ومسلم من حديث عبد الرزاق ، عن معمر ، عن همام بن منبه قال : هذا ما حدثنا أبو هريرة قال : قال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " نحن الآخرون السابقون يوم القيامة ، بيد أنهم أوتوا الكتاب من قبلنا . ثم هذا يومهم الذي فرض الله عليهم ، فاختلفوا فيه ، فهدانا الله له ، فالناس لنا فيه تبع اليهود غدا ، والنصارى بعد غد " لفظ البخاري .وفي لفظ لمسلم : " أضل الله من كان قبلنا فكان لليهود يوم السبت ، وكان للنصارى يوم الأحد .

فجاء الله بنا فهدانا الله ليوم الجمعة ، فجعل الجمعة والسبت والأحد ، وكذلك هم تبع لنا يوم القيامة ، نحن الآخرون من أهل الدنيا ، والأولون يوم القيامة ، المقضي بينهم قبل الخلائق " .وقد أمر الله المؤمنين بالاجتماع لعبادته يوم الجمعة ، فقال : ( يا أيها الذين آمنوا إذا نودي للصلاة من يوم الجمعة فاسعوا إلى ذكر الله ) أي : اقصدوا واعمدوا واهتموا في مسيركم إليها ، وليس المراد بالسعي ها هنا المشي السريع ، وإنما هو الاهتمام بها ، كقوله تعالى : ( ومن أراد الآخرة وسعى لها سعيها وهو مؤمن ) [ الإسراء : 19 ] وكان عمر بن الخطاب وابن مسعود رضي الله عنهما يقرآنها : " فامضوا إلى ذكر الله " . فأما المشي السريع إلى الصلاة فقد نهي عنه ، لما أخرجاه في الصحيحين ، عن أبي هريرة عن النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قال : " إذا سمعتم الإقامة فامشوا إلى الصلاة ، وعليكم السكينة والوقار ، ولا تسرعوا ، فما أدركتم فصلوا ، وما فاتكم فأتموا " . لفظ البخاريوعن أبي قتادة قال : بينما نحن نصلي مع النبي - صلى الله عليه وسلم - إذ سمع جلبة رجال ، فلما صلى قال : " ما شأنكم ؟ " . قالوا : استعجلنا إلى الصلاة . قال : " فلا تفعلوا ، إذا أتيتم الصلاة فامشوا وعليكم بالسكينة فما أدركتم فصلوا ، وما فاتكم فأتموا " .

أخرجاهوقال عبد الرزاق : أخبرنا معمر ، عن الزهري ، عن سعيد بن المسيب ، عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " إذا أقيمت الصلاة فلا تأتوها تسعون ، ولكن ائتوها تمشون ، وعليكم السكينة والوقار ، فما أدركتم فصلوا ، وما فاتكم فأتموا " .رواه الترمذي من حديث عبد الرزاق كذلك ، وأخرجه من طريق يزيد بن زريع ، عن معمر ، عن الزهري ، عن أبي سلمة ، عن أبي هريرة بمثلهقال الحسن أما والله ما هو بالسعي على الأقدام ، ولقد نهوا أن يأتوا الصلاة إلا وعليهم السكينة والوقار ، ولكن بالقلوب والنية والخشوع .وقال قتادة في قوله : ( فاسعوا إلى ذكر الله ) يعني : أن تسعى بقلبك وعملك ، وهو المشي إليها ، وكان يتأول قوله تعالى : ( فلما بلغ معه السعي ) [ الصافات : 102 ] أي : المشي معه .

روي عن محمد بن كعب ، وزيد بن أسلم وغيرهما نحو ذلك .ويستحب لمن جاء الجمعة أن يغتسل قبل مجيئه إليها ، لما ثبت في الصحيحين عن عبد الله بن عمر أن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قال : " إذا جاء أحدكم الجمعة فليغتسل "ولهما عن أبي سعيد رضي الله عنه ، قال : قال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - " غسل يوم الجمعة واجب على كل محتلم "وعن أبي هريرة قال : قال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " حق لله على كل مسلم أن يغتسل في كل سبعة أيام ، يغسل رأسه وجسده " . رواه مسلموعن جابر رضي الله عنه ، قال : قال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : " على كل رجل مسلم في كل سبعة أيام غسل يوم ، وهو يوم الجمعة " .

رواه أحمد ، والنسائي ، وابن حبانوقال الإمام أحمد : حدثنا يحيى بن آدم ، حدثنا ابن المبارك ، عن الأوزاعي ، عن حسان بن عطية ، عن أبي الأشعث الصنعاني ، عن أوس بن أوس الثقفي قال : سمعت رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يقول : " من غسل واغتسل يوم الجمعة ، وبكر وابتكر ، ومشى ولم يركب ، ودنا من الإمام واستمع ولم يلغ كان له بكل خطوة أجر سنة ، أجر صيامها وقيامها " .وهذا الحديث له طرق وألفاظ ، وقد أخرجه أهل السنن الأربعة وحسنه الترمذيوعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه ، أن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - قال : " من اغتسل يوم الجمعة غسل الجنابة ، ثم راح فكأنما قرب بدنة ، ومن راح في الساعة الثانية فكأنما قرب بقرة ، ومن راح في الساعة الثالثة فكأنما قرب كبشا أقرن ، ومن راح في الساعة الرابعة فكأنما قرب دجاجة ، ومن راح في الساعة الخامسة فكأنما قرب بيضة ، فإذا خرج الإمام حضرت الملائكة يستمعون الذكر " أخرجاهويستحب له أن يلبس أحسن ثيابه ، ويتطيب ويتسوك ، ويتنظف ويتطهر .

وفي حديث أبي سعيد المتقدم : " غسل يوم الجمعة واجب على كل محتلم ، والسواك ، وأن يمس من طيب أهله " .وقال الإمام أحمد : حدثنا يعقوب ، حدثنا أبي ، عن محمد بن إسحاق ، حدثني محمد بن إبراهيم التيمي ، عن عمران بن أبي يحيى ، عن عبد الله بن كعب بن مالك ، عن أبي أيوب الأنصاري : سمعت رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يقول : " من اغتسل يوم الجمعة ومس من طيب أهله - إن كان عنده - ولبس من أحسن ثيابه ، ثم خرج حتى يأتي المسجد فيركع - إن بدا له - ولم يؤذ أحدا ، ثم أنصت إذا خرج إمامه حتى يصلي ، كانت كفارة لما بينها وبين الجمعة الأخرى "وفي سنن أبي داود ، وابن ماجه عن عبد الله بن سلام رضي الله عنه ، أنه سمع رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - يقول على المنبر : " ما على أحدكم لو اشترى ثوبين ليوم الجمعة سوى ثوبي مهنته "وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها : أن رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - خطب الناس يوم الجمعة ، فرأى عليهم ثياب النمار ، فقال : " ما على أحدكم إن وجد سعة أن يتخذ ثوبين لجمعته ، سوى ثوبي مهنته " .

رواه ابن ماجهوقوله تعالى : ( إذا نودي للصلاة ) المراد بهذا النداء هو النداء الثاني الذي كان يفعل بين يدي رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - إذا خرج فجلس على المنبر ، فإنه كان حينئذ يؤذن بين يديه ، فهذا هو المراد ، فأما النداء الأول الذي زاده أمير المؤمنين عثمان بن عفان رضي الله عنه ، فإنما كان هذا لكثرة الناس ، كما رواه البخاري رحمه الله حيث قال : حدثنا آدم - هو ابن أبي إياس - حدثنا ابن أبي ذئب ، عن الزهري ، عن السائب بن يزيد قال : كان النداء يوم الجمعة أوله إذا جلس الإمام على المنبر على عهد رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - ، وأبي بكر ، وعمر فلما كان عثمان بعد زمن وكثر الناس ، زاد النداء الثاني على الزوراء يعني : يؤذن به على الدار التي تسمى بالزوراء ، وكانت أرفع دار بالمدينة بقرب المسجد .وقال ابن أبي حاتم : حدثنا أبي ، حدثنا أبو نعيم ، حدثنا محمد بن راشد المكحولي ، عن مكحول : أن النداء كان في يوم الجمعة مؤذن واحد حين يخرج الإمام ، ثم تقام الصلاة ، وذلك النداء الذي يحرم عنده البيع والشراء إذا نودي به ، فأمر عثمان رضي الله عنه ، أن ينادى قبل خروج الإمام حتى يجتمع الناس .وإنما يؤمر بحضور الجمعة الرجال الأحرار دون النساء ، والعبيد ، والصبيان ويعذر المسافر ، والمريض ، وقيم المريض ، وما أشبه ذلك من الأعذار ، كما هو مقرر في كتب الفروع .وقوله : ( وذروا البيع ) أي : اسعوا إلى ذكر الله واتركوا البيع إذا نودي للصلاة : ولهذا اتفق العلماء رضي الله عنهم على تحريم البيع بعد النداء الثاني .

واختلفوا : هل يصح إذا تعاطاه متعاط أم لا ؟ على قولين ، وظاهر الآية عدم الصحة كما هو مقرر في موضعه ، والله أعلم .وقوله : ( ذلكم خير لكم إن كنتم تعلمون ) أي : ترككم البيع وإقبالكم إلى ذكر الله وإلى الصلاة خير لكم ، أي : في الدنيا والآخرة إن كنتم تعلمون .