Friday (Jumu'ah) Guide

Why Friday is special

The Prophet (saw) said: "The best day on which the sun rises is Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he was made to enter Paradise, and on it he was expelled from it. The Hour will not come except on a Friday." (Sahih Muslim 854)

The Prophet (saw) said there is an hour on Friday in which Allah accepts every dua (supplication). Most scholars identify it as the time between Asr and Maghrib, or the last moments before sunset. Spend it in dua.

"The five prayers and Friday prayer to Friday prayer are expiation for what is between them, as long as major sins are avoided." (Sahih Muslim 233). Attending Jumu'ah wipes the minor sins accumulated since the previous Friday.

Read Surah Al-Kahf on Fridays. "Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on the day of Jumu'ah, a light will shine for him between the two Fridays." (Al-Mustadrak, authenticated by Al-Hakim and Al-Albani). Read it from after Fajr until Maghrib.

"Send abundant blessings upon me on Friday." (Sunan Abu Dawud 1047). Sending salawat (Allahumma salli ala Muhammad...) frequently throughout Friday is a major Sunnah of the day.

Sunnahs of Friday Morning

Taking a full Ghusl on Friday is a Sunnah mu'akkadah (confirmed Sunnah) for those attending Jumu'ah. "The Ghusl of Friday is obligatory on every adult." (Agreed upon). Whether it is obligatory or confirmed Sunnah is debated; most scholars say Sunnah.

Using the miswak (tooth stick) and wearing clean, best clothes is recommended. The Prophet (saw) encouraged this specifically on Friday. Wearing white is most recommended.

Men are encouraged to apply perfume before Jumu'ah. The Prophet (saw) said: "Whoever takes a bath on Friday, puts on his best clothes, applies whatever perfume he has... his sins between this Friday and the next will be forgiven." (Sunan Ibn Majah 1097)

"On the day of Jumu'ah, the angels stand at the doors of the mosque and record those who come - the first, then the next... When the Imam sits down, the scrolls are rolled up." (Sahih Bukhari 929). Go as early as possible.

Walking to the mosque on Friday is Sunnah. Each step raises a degree and erases a sin. If the mosque is nearby, walk.

Jumu'ah Prayer - For Men

Friday prayer is obligatory (fardh) upon every adult, sane, free, resident Muslim man. The Quran commands: "O believers! When the call to prayer is made on Friday, rush to the remembrance of Allah and leave off your business." (62:9)

"People must stop neglecting the Friday prayer, or Allah will seal their hearts and they will be among the heedless." (Sahih Muslim 865). Missing three consecutive Jumu'ahs without valid excuse is a grave sin.

Illness that prevents travel, genuine fear for life or safety, severe weather making travel dangerous, being a traveler (musafir), or being a slave. One who cannot attend prays Dhuhr instead.

Two khutbahs are delivered before the prayer. Listening is obligatory. Do not talk during the khutbah, even to say "be quiet" to someone else. Do not play with your clothes or phone. The khutbah counts as dhikr of Allah.

Two rakahs are prayed, led by the Imam, after the two khutbahs. This replaces Dhuhr for those who attend. The Imam recites aloud. Sunnah prayers before and after can be prayed but there is no fixed number - 2 or 4 after are common.

Sit as close to the front and the Imam as possible. The Prophet (saw) disliked people sitting at the back while spaces in front were empty.

Jumu'ah - For Women

No. Jumu'ah is not obligatory upon women. They pray Dhuhr instead. However, women are permitted - and encouraged - to attend the mosque for Jumu'ah if they wish. The Prophet (saw) said: "Do not prevent the female servants of Allah from the mosques." (Sahih Muslim 442)

A woman who attends and prays with the congregation fulfills Dhuhr. She does not need to pray Dhuhr again. Her Jumu'ah prayer counts in full.

The blessings of Friday - reading Surah Al-Kahf, sending salawat, making dua in the blessed hour, and ghusl - apply equally to men and women. Friday is a blessed day for all Muslims.

A woman can listen to the khutbah at the mosque. Some mosques have separate areas for women. Online or recorded khutbahs are also listened to by many women who cannot attend.

After Jumu'ah

"When the prayer is ended, disperse through the land and seek the bounty of Allah, and remember Allah much so that you may succeed." (Quran 62:10). Return to your work and daily life with the remembrance of Allah.

The Prophet (saw) prayed two or four rakaahs after Jumu'ah. (Sahih Muslim 881). If praying at home, four rakaahs. If at the mosque, two then leave, or four at the mosque. All are established from the Sunnah.

Stay alert for the special hour of accepted dua. Many scholars place it in the last hour before Maghrib on Friday. Sit and make sincere dua for yourself, your family, and the ummah.

If you did not read Surah Al-Kahf in the morning, it can be read until Maghrib time on Friday. The light of the surah protects until the following Friday.

Common Mistakes

This is prohibited. Even telling someone else to be quiet invalidates the reward of Jumu'ah. "If you say to your companion during the khutbah on Friday: Be quiet, you have engaged in idle talk." (Agreed upon).

The khutbah is part of Jumu'ah. Arriving only for the prayer misses the full reward. Come early, listen to both khutbahs.

"I saw the Prophet (saw) forbid a man from stepping over the necks of people on Friday." (Sunan Abu Dawud). If you arrive late, sit where you are, do not push to the front.

Skipping the Friday ghusl is a missed Sunnah. It is easy and takes just a few minutes. The Prophet (saw) made it strongly recommended for those attending Jumu'ah.

This falls under the prohibition against idle talk. Your phone should be silent and put away during the khutbah and prayer. Give Friday its respect.