Khaberni - Be keen to follow the Sunnahs of Friday, the best day on which the sun has risen, to enjoy its grace and blessings, to increase your righteous deeds and forgive sins, so prepare with remembrance.
We learn about the Sunnahs of Friday that increase it in blessings and light as stated by the noble Prophet, may peace be upon him, in his saying, "Whoever performs the bath on Friday and goes early, and walks and does not ride, and approaches the Imam and listens, for him for every step is the fasting of a year and its prayer, and that is easy on Allah."
The preparation for Friday comes from welcoming it with a good intention, and striving to perform the worship and Sunnahs in the best form, for its great blessing, as our master Muhammad, may peace be upon him, said:
"The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on this day Adam was created, entered Paradise, and was expelled from it, and the Hour will not begin except on a Friday."
Also, it is the master of days that erases sins and has an hour of response.
Friday is a celebration day for Muslims and the best day of the week. Allah has promised them the forgiveness of sins, acceptance of deeds, and the response to prayers, as the noble Prophet said:
"Allah hid from those before us; for the Jews was Saturday, and for the Christians was Sunday. Then Allah brought us and guided us to Friday, making Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and thus they follow us on the Day of Resurrection. We are the last of the people of the world, and the first on the Day of Resurrection, the ones decreed for on the day of creation."
Therefore, it is necessary to observe the Sunnahs of Friday and be diligent in it to attain its blessings and enjoy its virtues, as it is atonement for sins and holds a special status with Allah and is considered a great blessing bestowed upon us, and the noble Prophet, may peace be upon him, said about Friday, "The five prayers, and from one Friday to the next, are expiations for what is between them, as long as major sins are avoided."
The Sunnahs of Friday and the most beloved deeds on the best of days
Among the most important Sunnahs that are recommended to be followed on Friday are:
1. The prostration and reading on Friday morning
The Egyptian Dar al-Ifta has stated that reading Surah As-Sajdah and Al-Insan during the Fajr prayer are beloved Sunnahs of Friday, which the Prophet used to perform and persistently followed from one Friday to the next.
2. Perfuming and bathing
Friday is a celebration and a day to turn to Allah. Among the Sunnahs of Friday and signs of turning to Him are perfuming and bathing, and the Prophet, may peace be upon him, said
"Whoever performs ablution on Friday does well, but bathing is better,"
meaning that welcoming Friday with bathing, i.e., showering, is more blessed, as if it is purification.
3. Wearing the best clothes
Given the blessings and virtues of Friday, being a day of gathering for Muslims to remember Allah and foster closeness, one of the Sunnahs of Friday is to wear the best clothes and present oneself in a good, acceptable, and comfortable appearance.
The personal cleanliness of a Muslim is his hallmark, and the Prophet, may peace be upon him, said:
"Allah is pure and loves purity, clean and loves cleanliness, generous and loves generosity, giving and loves giving,
which means that a Muslim welcomes Friday in his best attire."
4. Using the Miswak and perfuming
Before going out to the mosque for Friday prayer, a Muslim should use the miswak, i.e., clean between his teeth with a miswak, or an equivalent like toothpaste nowadays, as the goal is to attend the prayer with a clean breath without odor, and in this regard, the Prophet, may peace be upon him, said:
"Whoever eats garlic or onions should avoid us, and our mosque, and stay in his house,"
highlighting the harm of strong, repulsive odors, which means the necessity of cleaning the teeth and perfuming the mouth and body for going to the Friday prayer, as a Muslim emits only good and leaves only a beautiful trace."
5. Going early and walking to the Friday prayer
Friday prayer is obligatory for every resident, able-bodied Muslim male, and the Egyptian Dar al-Ifta clarifies that it is not obligatory for women, the ill, travelers, or children. Preparation involves going early to the mosque, as the Almighty says in His noble book
"O you who have believed, when the call is made for the prayer on Friday, then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you if you only knew" Surah Al-Jumu'ah.
Among the Sunnahs of Friday is for a Muslim to walk to the mosque and go early before the Imam starts his sermon, and the Prophet said
"When it is Friday, every door of the mosque has writers who record the first to arrive. When the Imam comes out, they fold their scrolls and come to listen."
6. Sending blessings upon the Prophet
There is no remembrance better than sending blessings upon the Prophet on Friday, our intercessor on the Day of Resurrection, and the key to the gate of Paradise. It is one of the closest and greatest acts of obedience, and Allah the Almighty says in the Quran
"Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace." Surah Al-Ahzab
Therefore, one of the preferred Sunnahs on Friday is to frequently send blessings on the Prophet.
The Egyptian Dar al-Ifta clarifies the virtue of sending blessings on him on Friday, as reported by Aws ibn Aws that the Prophet said:
"Indeed, the best of your days is Friday; Adam was created on it, and on it is the blowing (of the Trumpet) and the stunning (by death),
so increase your blessings on me on it, for your prayers are presented to me. A man asked: O Messenger of Allah,
how are our prayers presented to you while you have passed away? He replied: Indeed, Allah prohibited the earth from consuming the bodies of the prophets."
7. Remembrance and daily recitations
It is important to be diligent in reciting plenty of Quran and performing daily recitations, so you can attain the blessings and grace of Friday, as the deeds are multiplied and accepted.
8. Reading Surah Al-Kahf
The jurists and religious scholars agree that one of the commendable Sunnahs on Friday is reading Surah Al-Kahf. Some prefer that it be done at the onset of the night of Friday so as not to forget about it throughout the day, and the Prophet, may peace be upon him, said:
"Whoever reads Surah Al-Kahf on Friday will have a light shining from beneath his feet to the skies that will illuminate for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will be forgiven what occurs between the two Fridays,"
and its reading is intercessory, and it is preferable to do it on the night of Friday, but there is no specific time."
9. Making dua during the hour of acceptance
Among the virtues of Friday and its blessings is that it contains an hour during which supplications are not rejected, and therefore, one of the Sunnahs of Friday is to be keen on making dua and persisting in it, as supplication is one of the most beloved forms of worship to Allah Almighty. Identifying the hour of acceptance on Friday is one of Allah's blessings on His servants, and scholars differ in determining this hour.
The Prophet, may peace be upon him, said:
"There is indeed an hour on Friday during which no Muslim coincides with it asking Allah for good but He will grant him it."
Many believe it is in the time between the afternoon prayer and the sunset prayer, according to the noble Prophet
"Friday is twelve hours, within which is an hour; no Muslim servant encountering it asking Allah for anything except that He will grant it, so seek it in the last hour after the afternoon prayer."
Some jurists lean toward it being the hour between the two sermons during the Friday prayer, according to the noble Prophet
"It is between when the Imam sits down until the prayer is over."
However, the most likely scenario is that we do not know it precisely due to the Hadith of the Prophet
"I used to be informed of it - referring to the hour on Friday - then I forgot it just as I forgot the Night of Decree."
which means making dua whenever possible, as it is a subtle and gentle hour that he who is given success will find."
10. Maintaining family ties
Every deed on Friday appears more significant and greater in the eyes of Allah. If a Muslim is keen on maintaining ties with his kin through visiting, inquiring, and caring, especially on Friday, this brings a multiplied reward, and the Prophet said
"Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should honor his guest, and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should maintain ties with his kin, and whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should either speak good or remain silent."
Is there any Sunnah in the Friday prayer?
The Egyptian Dar al-Ifta answered about the obligatory Sunnah of the Friday prayer, confirming that it is similar to the Dhuhr prayer, meaning performing 4 units of prayer before it and 4 units after it, as the Hadith of the Prophet says
"Whoever among you prays after Friday, then let him pray four."
Sunnahs of Friday for women
The Friday prayer is obligatory for a healthy Muslim male, and it is not mandatory for women, travelers, children, or the ill, yet this does not negate their ability to attend the Friday prayer, nor does it prevent them from performing many of the Sunnahs of Friday mentioned above, such as reading Surah Al-Kahf, the Quran, the remembrance, and making dua during the hour of acceptance, and sending blessings upon the Prophet.
Concerning the Messenger of Allah, the good treatment of a woman toward her husband, paying attention to her family and home grants her the reward of Friday and the acts and Sunnahs, as it equates to all the rewards of her husband's work. If any woman wishes to go to the mosque and perform the Friday prayer, she may do so, and she receives its full reward and blessing.
Follow the Sunnahs of Friday and seek its bounty from Allah, and take the noble Prophet as a good example; send blessings upon him, remember Allah greatly, and persevere in supplication until the moment of acceptance is achieved.
